Nuna RAVA Next vs UPPAbaby Rove: Which Convertible Car Seat Is Right for You?

Choose the RAVA Next for newborns; the Rove costs less and suits older babies.

The Nuna RAVA Next and UPPAbaby Rove are both premium convertible car seats we carry, and on paper they look almost the same: each rear-faces to 50 pounds, forward-faces to 65, and clears our non-negotiable bar of GREENGUARD Gold certification and fire-retardant-free construction, foam included. What really separates them is when you can start using them, what they cost, and the install and comfort features each brand builds in. The chart breaks it down.

Does the RAVA Next or Rove fit a newborn?

Only the RAVA Next fits from birth. It rear-faces from 5 pounds, so it works for a newborn on day one. The Rove starts at 14 pounds, around three months, even with its included Comfort Inlay infant insert. If you want a convertible you can use straight from the hospital, the RAVA Next is the one. The Rove assumes you're starting with an infant seat first, or already have a bigger baby.

How long can a child use the RAVA Next and Rove?

Both rear-face to 50 pounds and forward-face to 65 pounds. That's the same generous ceiling: extended rear-facing all the way to 50 pounds, so you can keep your child rear-facing for years, right up to the seat’s limit, then a harnessed forward-facing stretch to 65. We're firm on keeping children rear-facing as long as the seat allows, and both of these go the distance. The difference between them is where they start, not where they finish.

Both also carry a manufacturer expiration date stamped on the shell; for how long a seat stays safe to use, see our guide on How long is a car seat good for.

Do the RAVA Next or Rove convert into booster seats?

No. Both harness to 65 pounds, then you switch. "Convertible" means the seat converts between rear-facing and forward-facing, not into a booster. A seat that also becomes a booster is an "all-in-one." We're fine with that: we'd rather keep a child in a five-point harness to its 65-pound limit and move to a dedicated booster afterward than rush the booster step. (If you'd rather buy one seat that carries a child from rear-facing through the booster years, browse our all-in-one car seats.)

RAVA Next vs Rove: what does the price get you?

The Rove costs less; the RAVA Next adds more. At about $500 versus $580, the Rove is a little cheaper, and its cover zips off for the wash. The RAVA Next puts the extra money into a steel-reinforced frame, up to two inches more rear-facing legroom, and a 10-position headrest, one more than the Rove. Both seats have Side Impact Protection pods, a no-rethread harness, and our GREENGUARD Gold and fire-retardant-free standard, foam included, so they are evenly matched on materials and pass the same federal crash rating.

Should you buy the RAVA Next or the Rove?

With either seat, you cannot go wrong. Choose the RAVA Next if you need it from the first ride home, want the extra rear-facing legroom, or you're already a Nuna family. Choose the Rove if you're starting with an older baby, want to spend a bit less, and love a cover that zips off for the wash. Either way, you get premium safety, extended rear-facing to 50 pounds, a harness to 65, and our full non-toxic standard.

See both models alongside the rest of our convertible car seats.