UPPAbaby Knox vs. Nuna RAVA Convertible Seat

Keeping our children safe and happy is the number one priority of parents. One of the most important products to keep your little one safe is a car seat — after all, it is the first thing your newborn will use when riding home from the hospital.

UPPAbaby and Nuna are two of the most trusted brands in the baby game, so we are comparing two of their popular convertible car seat models; the UPPAbaby Knox Convertible Car Seat and the Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat.

We will walk you through everything you need to know about these two seats, so you can decide if one is right for your growing baby.

The Specs

UPPAbaby Knox:

• Suitable for children 14 – 65 lbs, or up to 49" tall
• Infant Insert: 14 –25 lbs
• Rear-Facing: 14 – 40 lbs
• Forward-Facing: 25 – 65 lbs. 
• Weight: 30 lbs
• Dimensions: 23.8"L x 18.8"W x 27.4" – 32.4” H (Height reflects headrest in lowest and highest positions)
• Recline Positions: 4
• Headrest Positions: 10
• Strap Positions: 1

Nuna RAVA:

• Suitable for children from birth- 5lbs up to 65lbs or 49” tall
• Rear-facing 5 – 40 lbs.
• Forward-facing 25 – 65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 27.25"L x 19"W x 27"H
• Weight: 27.2 lbs
• Recline Positions: 10
• Headrest Positions: 10
• Strap Positions: 2

These seats have similar specifications, however, the RAVA can be used from birth (5 lbs), while the Knox can’t be used until your baby is over 14 lbs. This means parents interested in the Knox will have to start off with an infant car seat like the UPPAbaby Mesa V2 and later transition to the convertible car seat.

Both seats have infant inserts that can be removed when your baby outgrows them, and have multi-position headrests to accommodate your child. The RAVA has a one-hand ten-position headrest and the Knox has eight.

The RAVA also features “laid back legroom”, giving babies up to 2 inches more space to stretch out in rear-facing mode and extra support for forward-facing riders.

Both seats come with cup holders; on the UPPAbaby Knox, the cup holder can be removed for cleaning, while the Nuna RAVA has integrated cup holders that are not removable for washing but can be flipped down when not in use.

Safety

When it comes to safety, Knox has covered all the bases.

Knox is the first convertible car seat from UPPAbaby. The Knox has a multi-directional tether for rear and forward-facing travel that reduces seat rotation and stress on the child’s head and neck upon impact. UPPAbaby did independent crash testing, and the results showed that the tether reduced crash forces by 45 percent when used rear-facing.

This seat is made from Koroyd, “an advanced energy absorber made up of thousands of co-polymer extruded tubes that are thermally welded together to create a fully engineered core.” The shell is made out of EPP, the most outstanding energy-absorption foam on the market.

On the other hand, the RAVA has great safety features too. This seat has SIP (Side Impact Protection) pods on both sides of the seat; with a simple click, these pods come out for protection. The RAVA is made of steel and energy-absorbing foam. Also, its fabric is flame resistant and contains no added fire-retardant chemicals. The RAVA is also equipped with an anti-rebound bar that reduces rotation by helping stabilize the car seat in a collision; this bar is intended to be used when the car seat is installed in rear-facing mode.

Both seats feature a no re-thread 5-point harness for easy adjustments as your child grows.

Installation

Nuna describes their installation as “Bubble-free, muscle-free, and hassle-free.” The RAVA car seat will only require your vehicle’s seat belt, as opposed to lower anchors. This eliminates the confusion of when to switch from Lower Anchors to Vehicle Seat Belt, plus allows the seat to fit more vehicle makes and more seating positions.

Installation is painless, just open the True Tension doors and follow the instructions.

The Knox has more steps to its installation. Its tethering system may require a little muscle, but it has an indicator that will turn green when the seat is secured correctly.

We will always recommend having a CSPT help you to ensure you’ve installed your car seat correctly.

The Highlights

Below we have compared and contrasted some key features of these two convertible seats to help you decide which one best suits your needs.

UPPAbaby Knox:

Pro:

• The seat base is made with Koroyd crumple technology (the only seat in the market with this technology).
• Side Impact Protection throughout the shell and in the EPP foam headrest
• Safety tether strap can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing.
• 8-position, no re-thread harness to adjust easily as your child grows
• SmartSecure installation system signals proper tightness with indicators
• Bead level indicators to confirm your seat is at the correct angle for your child’s age/stage/development
• Seat base fabric zips off and can be washed on a gentle cycle and laid flat to dry.
• The price of this seat is about $200 less than the RAVA

Con:

• Starting capacity of 14 lbs. makes this seat unsuitable for newborns, so you would have to invest in an infant car seat first.
• Does not have additional legroom support like the RAVA
• It is heavier and larger than the RAVA.*
  
  It is worth noting that depending on the size of your vehicle, additional space might be required when the seat is rear-facing; while adjusting the inclination to the weight of the child, the front seats of the car might interfere.

Nuna RAVA:

Pro:

• Can be used right from birth (5 lbs), so you won’t have to purchase an infant car seat (this offsets the extra cost of the seat.)
• The TrueTension doors offer an easy installation
• Offers 6 recline positions (1 recline position rear-facing and 5 recline positions forward-facing. The Knox has 4)
• With the side colour-coded recline options (no level indicator), this seat can be reclined from either side.
• Energy-absorbing foam and side impact protection (SIP) pods
• Anti-rebound bar
• Has a “no re-thread” 5-point harness and a 2-position crotch strap to grow with your child.
• Adjustable legroom support extends the seat by two inches for better comfort.
• Fabrics are flame resistant and contain no added fire-retardant chemicals. Plus, they are removable and machine washable!

Con:

• Does not include the crumple technology used in Knox
• The tether strap is intended to be used in forward-facing only.
• $200 more than the Knox (but saves you from having to buy an infant car seat)
  

Final Verdict

Both the RAVA and Knox Convertible Car Seats have amazing safety features, so there is no right or wrong decision. Your child will be safe and comfortable in either seat.

However, we recommend considering what sets these seats apart, like installation, comfort, ease to use, and your vehicle’s available space to determine which one makes the most sense for your family.

To learn more information about these car seats be sure to take a look at their independent written and video reviews. For more information about the RAVA , click HERE. For more information about the Knox, click HERE.

Happy Shopping!