Tested by:
Joe has been testing this product with his newborn daughter in a car and with his iCandy pram using universal car seat adapters (which aren’t included).
What were your first impressions of the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx?
As soon as you take this car seat out of the box, you can tell it is a quality product – from the on-trend grey merino wool inserts right through to the leather carry handle, this is a car seat that, believe it or not, can turn heads.
How is the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx different from the Nuna Pipa?
The main differences between the two are the price and weight – the Nuna Pipa is about £100 cheaper than the Lite Lx, but it is also about 3kg heavier. Cosmetically, the Lite Lx is more chic – it’s been streamlined slightly and has a higher-quality finish in terms of the carry-handle material and the padding inserts. But it’s important to note that both seats have identical safety features.
What age is the seat suitable for?
It’s a Group 0+ car seat, which means you can use it until your child weighs 13kg (when they’re about 12-15 months). We used it straight from the hospital for my daughter’s trip home and she was relatively small at just over 3kg. The seat is so well padded that it feels more than suitable for a newborn, and as you are able to remove the padding as your child gets bigger, it’s certainly a car seat that will last the distance.
How easy was the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx to assemble?
I found the instructions a waste of time – they’re all pictures, and not very detailed ones at that, so I resorted to a bit of trial and error when it came to assembly.
How easy is it to install in the car?
The installation is smooth and simple – the seat comes with its own Isofix base, which I personally found far easier to use than the Maxi-Cosi Isofix base which we have had for the past few years for our elder daughter.
The Nuna base has identical Isofix connectors on each side – which aren’t adjustable (like the Maxi-Cosi) – which means you simply clip the seat onto the Isofix connectors in your car and both sides will click from red to green. I always found that the adjustable extenders on the Maxi-Cosi caused the connection to feel a little wobbly and the Nuna method completely eliminates this.
The seat will only work with a base – and it isn’t compatible with any other Isofix base. This means if you’re looking to take this seat in taxis or in other people’s cars who already have a more common Isofix base installed then this isn’t the seat for you.
Does the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx feel securely installed, once in place?
Once in place, it feels really sturdy – I’ve been really impressed with how solid and safe the product feels.
How easy is it to use the harness?
For me, this was an area that could be improved. The straps and harness are of great quality with sufficient padding, but to loosen the straps you have to press a button and pull the straps at the same time, which means that it’s not possible to put your child into the seat with one hand.
Does the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx feel sturdy and safe?
Although the seat is very lightweight, it is clear that safety was at the forefront of the product’s design – it comes complete with aeroflex foam for support, a shock-absorbing shell, a 3-point harness and side-impact protection for maximum safety.
What are its main safety features?
The seat doesn’t comply with the new i-Size regulations. These are new European-wide car seat regulations which aim to make car seats safer by keeping children rear-facing for longer, providing better side impact protection and making car seats easier to fit correctly – see our article on this.
But I wouldn’t let this put you off the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx, as the seat is packed full of safety features – including the Isofix connector, a rear-facing position, side impact protection with energy-absorbing aeroflex foam, a 3-point harness and a 'crumple zone' within the stability leg that absorbs impact.
Does the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx recline?
No.
How do you adjust the size of the seat as your child grows?
There is no way of adjusting the height or size of the seat as such – although you can remove sections of the internal padding in order to give your little one more space as they get bigger.
How comfortable is the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx for your child?
I can honestly say that our youngest child has the most comfortable ride in the whole car – the padding is so luxurious to touch and it has a softness I’ve not come across in other child’s seats before.
It is also highly adjustable so you can mix and match the padding to ensure your child has a super snug and cosy fit.
What did you think of the hood on the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx?
The hood and drape are great features to ensure your baby is protected from the sun and the light if they’re having a nap.
The Dream Drape is especially snazzy – you simply unzip it from the canopy and it magnetically clips to the bottom of the seat, ensuring your baby can sleep in a cool, dark environment in the summer and stay dry during the winter.
The only problem is it’s too big for the frame, meaning you have to push it under the handle which is annoying.
What do you think of the size and weight of the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx car seat?
Weighing only 2.6kg, I believe this is the lightest seat on the market in the same category – its nearest rivals, such as the Cybex Cloud Z, weigh nearly double at 5kg.
This lightweight construction makes moving it in and out of the car a doddle – even with one hand.
Is it easy to clean?
The internal padding of the car seat is machine washable, which makes it easy to clean.
It also comes with a spare set of padding so you don’t have to wait for it to dry before using the car seat.
What feature of the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx do you like most?
The major selling point is how light it is – but I also like how sturdy it feels on the Nuna Isofix base as well as the luxurious touches such as the leather carry handle and the plush padding.
Is it a stylish product?
Yes – I haven’t seen a more stylish car seat on the market.
Is it good value?
Pricewise, it’s certainly at the top end of the car seat market – but when you bear in mind that it comes with an Isofix base, I actually think it’s a competitively priced product.
Where can you buy the Nuna Pipa Lite Lx?
It’s available from John Lewis and Mamas and Papas.
What’s in the box?
- 1 x group 0+ car seat
- 1 x set of harness pads and inserts
- 1 x user manual
- 1 x canopy including Dream Drape
- 1 x additional certified organic cotton fabric and dye insert
- 1 x Pipafix Isofix base
- 1 x Isofix insertion guide
What accessories are available?
- Organic cotton fabric and dye insert
- Wheeled travel bag
- Car seat guides
- Pepp Next car seat adaptors
- Pipa adapter for 2015 and later UPPABaby Vista and Cruz
- Mixx car seat adapters
- Pipa series car seat adapter for Bugaboo Cameleon3 (2015 and newer models)
- Pipa series car seat adapter for BOB single strollers (2016 and newer models)
Which type of family is this car seat best for?
The Nuna Pipa Lite Lux is ideal for a stylish family who is after a car seat that looks as good as it feels. The lightness of it also means it’s well suited to parents who need to get their seat in and out of a vehicle or on and off a pram on a regular basis.
This is a well-designed, lightweight, luxury car seat that is comfortable and stylish for your baby – although it does come at a price.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that the much-trumpeted canopy is too big for the frame, meaning you have to push it under the handle, and I found the fact you have to press a button to loosen the straps incredibly annoying – so much parenting is done with one hand, so not being able to put your baby into the seat while also loosening the straps at the same time, is a major design flaw. But if you can put up with these two things and swallow the price, then I firmly believe this is one of the best car seats on the market and I'd recommend it.
Read more...
