Whenever my husband (Mike) and I (Susie) visit the Brookfield Zoo, it feels like we see more strollers than animals. One we’ve been seeing a lot lately is the UPPAbaby G-Luxe. Having reviewed the Vista and Cruz recently, I figured it was time I figured out what the big deal was about the G-Luxe. I surfed over to Amazon, picked it up with free shipping, and it showed up on our doorstep around four days later in a big brown box. Let’s take a look at it together.

To give you a bird’s eye view of things, let’s start by talking about what kind of stroller the G-Luxe is and isn’t. The 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe stroller is a lightweight luxury umbrella-style stroller, and an update to the previous 2014 G-Luxe. It weighs 15 pounds and works well for parents who are on the move and in search of an errand, travel, and vacation stroller.

In the luxury umbrella stroller, it competes with strollers like the UPPAbaby G-Lite.

It comes with goodies like a deep recline that you can operate with one hand, an adjustable foot rest, and a single, roomy, and tall seat that’s toddler-friendly. You can use it with kids from 3 months of age onward until they weigh 55 pounds. You can’t use it with infant car seats (Mike’s reviewed tons of these if you’re in search of a good one for an upcoming baby…or two…or three), and you also can’t use it with bassinets. You get additional goodies like all-wheel suspension, stain resistant fabrics, pop-out sunvisors, tall handle bars, and an automatic lock. You can also leave it standing on its own once it’s folded. It also comes in a range of colors; I went with Ella, which is UPPAbaby speak for green.

Overall, I’d rate it as a 5 out of 5 star stroller in the umbrella category. I’m a fan of the deep recline, large canopy, and comfortable seat. The suspension is also pretty awesome, as you just don’t see those on umbrella strollers. There’s not much I don’t like on it besides the lack of 5-point harness padding and the lack of a peekaboo window.

The best price I’ve come across so far for the 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe stroller is here on Amazon, where I took advantage of free shipping and free returns. Depending on your state, you might also be able to get it without sales tax.

Buy the 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe stroller on Sale at Amazon.

Pros of the 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe

Good canopy with secret sunvisor. The canopy by itself isn’t anything to write home about, but that’s before you learn about the secret super-sized sunvisor hidden beneath it. It’s pretty much like watching Clark Kent turn into Superman, if Superman were a stroller canopy. It’s also SPF 50+ rated, which means your little one’s sunburn risks are quite low. The biggest drawback is a lack of a peekaboo window; you get used to that in high end reversible strollers, but remember that this is an umbrella stroller at heart.

Ergonomic handle bars. The handle bars are fixed at 42″ in height. They work decently for both tall and short parents, but it would be nice if they were adjustable. I do like the foam covering used on them; it makes steering easy.

Comfortable seat with a deep recline. The seat is 12″ wide and 27″ tall as measured from the seat bottom to the canopy top. My toddler finds it comfortable, and it does feel good under the fingers. The manual and my daughter’s rotation of juices agree that it’s stain resistant. You can also remove and machine wash the seat pad. A 5-point harness helps keep your little one in. It’s not padded, but that’s a rarity in umbrella strollers.

I like the fact that you can recline the seat in 3 positions and that you can get a rather deep recline with the lowest setting. Keep in mind that you aren’t going to get a flat recline from the G-Luxe, so this isn’t a stroller you’ll want to use with newborns. UPPAbaby suggests you start at 3 months and stop when your child reaches 55 pounds. That’s pretty standard with most single seat strollers, so I can’t complain here.

In front of the seat, your little one will quickly discover the adjustable foot rest, which is nice for when you want to encourage a nap.

Generous mesh storage basket. Beneath the G-Luxe is a surprisingly large mesh basket; I don’t typically see them this large on umbrella strollers, and was pleasantly surprised in this case. Access from the back is easy, and I was easily able to fit a decent-sized diaper bag in there.

Good wheels, suspension, and brakes. The wheels are made of solid rubber and are 5.75″ in diameter. That’s good enough to get over mild bumps and cracks in the sidewalk, but you’re not going to be doing any off-roading with this stroller beyond crossing mulch-covered playgrounds. You can lock the front wheels if you want, and you’ve got 4-wheel suspension to help smooth out the ride. You don’t see that often on umbrella strollers. There’s a parking brake that you can activate with your shoe, although it takes more force than I’d like when wearing flip flops.

Easy to fold. I like that you don’t need much effort to fold the G-Luxe. You use a pair of triggers on both sides of the stroller, and yes, you’ll need both hands to do it. The stroller locks automatically and stands on its own, which is another rarity in the umbrella stroller world. It’s 12″ wide, 8.5″ tall, and 42.5″ long when folded.

Buy the 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe stroller on Sale at Amazon.

Cons of the 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe

No peekaboo window. This is a minor flaw, but it would be nice to be able to sneak a peek at your little one through the canopy while on the go. You can always pull back the canopy, but it’s a luxury I’ve gotten used to in high-end single- and double-strollers.

Unpadded harness. This is more for your kids’ comfort than for yours, and it’s a small con, but worth pointing out.

Specifications of and Warranty for the 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe

The G-Luxe weighs 15 pounds and can be used with children who weigh up to 55 pounds. It’s 33″ long, 19″ wide, and has a handle bar height of 42.” The wheels are 5.75″ in diameter, and when folded, the stroller is 12″ wide, 8.5″ long, and 42.5″ tall. A 2-year warranty is offered by UPPAbaby; you need to be the original owner and the clock starts ticking the day you buy the stroller. You can read more about the warranty here.

Where to Buy the 2015 UPPAbaby G-Luxe

Whenever possible, I buy my strollers, car seats, and other baby goodies on Amazon, since their prices tend to be the lowest I come across. They also sweeten the pot with free shipping and free returns, and you typically don’t pay sales tax with them unless you’re in a state that charges it.

When it comes to high-end single seat umbrella strollers, the UPPAbaby G-Luxe is hard to beat. If you’re looking for a compact and light frame with a great canopy and deep recline, you ought to consider it. Urban and suburban parents are likely to appreciate the go-anywhere, pack-in-an-instant nature of the G-Luxe.

You can buy the G-Luxe in Sebby (teal), Ani (gold), Denny (red), Ella (green), Jake (black), or Makena (purple). You can buy a rain shield for it here and a travel bag here. The 2013 version is available at a discount here.

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If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.