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First published: October 2026 · Specs and prices checked against bugaboo.com, uppababy.co.uk and UK retailer listings October 2026
Our verdict
The Bugaboo Dragonfly wins — for my money, it ticks more boxes.
It’s 4.4kg lighter, folds one-handed and stands on its own, and it steers easily in crowds and tight spaces. Choose the UPPAbaby Cruz V3 instead if you want a full-size seat that’s ready from birth out of the box, with a high 58cm seat — but its fold needs two hands, and it lets itself down with the fold and the handling.
How we compared them
Bugaboo Dragonfly: hands-on at Disneyland Paris, outside Casey’s Corner on Main Street USA during a parade wait — crowd manoeuvrability, steering, fold, build quality and the front wheels on kerbs.
UPPAbaby Cruz V3: shop-tested in September 2026 with Janette and a lovely assistant named Jill — pushing, steering, folding, lifting, the recline and the handlebar.
Specs and prices: checked against bugaboo.com, uppababy.co.uk and UK retailer listings in October 2026.
Bugaboo Dragonfly — official product image
Bugaboo Dragonfly
7.5/10
7.9kg with seat · One-handed freestanding fold · City pushchair
UPPAbaby Cruz V3 — official product image
UPPAbaby Cruz V3
7/10
12.3kg with seat · 56.9cm wide · Two-handed fold
Choose the Dragonfly if…
your daily life is city streets, cafés and public transport, you fold it often, and you want a pushchair that’s easy to lift — at 7.9kg it’s a different proposition to the Cruz.
Choose the Cruz V3 if…
you want a full-size single with a high seat, ready from birth with the infant insert, and you’ll usually fold it with both hands free.
Dragonfly vs Cruz V3: where they differ
← Swipe to see the full table →
| Factor | Bugaboo Dragonfly | UPPAbaby Cruz V3 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | Dragonfly |
| Weight with seat | 7.9kg | 12.3kg | Dragonfly — 4.4kg lighter |
| Fold | One-handed, freestanding and compact | Two hands in our test; seat forward-facing and handlebar lowered; stands on its own; no carry handle | Dragonfly |
| Manoeuvrability | Easy to steer in crowds and tight spaces — tested in exactly those conditions | Easy and nimble on the flat | Dragonfly |
| Kerbs and rough ground | Front wheels showed limits on kerbs — smooth surfaces only | Quite hard tyres — bobbly on rougher ground | Level — neither is for rough ground |
| Seat | Reversible — seat removal required to switch | Parent- or forward-facing; 58cm seat height when I tested it | Cruz V3, for the high seat |
| From birth | With the carrycot (£250) or a car seat | Infant insert included | Cruz V3 |
| Build | Premium throughout — immediately obvious | Fairly sturdy — Janette’s view as well as mine | Dragonfly |
| Price | £695 for the Dragonfly Complete, £945 with the carrycot — often discounted, £449 at Mamas & Papas at our check | £749.99 at UPPAbaby, £749.95 at Natural Baby Shower — from birth | Depends on current deals — Cruz V3 cheaper from birth at full price |
| Warranty | 2 years — 4 years if you register it with Bugaboo | 3-year limited | Bugaboo, if registered |
Prices at our October 2026 check. Dragonfly figures are for the Dragonfly; the newer Dragonfly Plus is heavier, at 9.9kg with the seat. Bundles differ in what’s included, so check exactly what you’re getting — and prices change often.
What makes the Bugaboo Dragonfly stand out
I tested the Dragonfly at Disneyland Paris — outside Casey’s Corner on Main Street USA, during a parade wait. It’s exactly the kind of environment a city pushchair like this is built for: crowds, smooth surfaces, constant stopping and starting, frequent direction changes. The Dragonfly handled it well. The fold is one of its strongest features — one-handed, compact, and it stands unsupported once folded.
The front wheels were the honest limitation. On smooth surfaces they’re fine — confident and easy. But the moment you encounter a kerb or a surface transition, they show their limits. And the seat is reversible rather than rotating, so switching direction means removing the seat.
Read our full Bugaboo Dragonfly review →
What makes the UPPAbaby Cruz V3 stand out
The Cruz V3 is UPPAbaby’s full-size single. It handles well, it’s easy to push, it’s easy to steer and it feels fairly nimble… on the flat. It’s fairly sturdy, and the seat is high — 58cm when I tested it, and you very much notice this height. It’s suitable from birth, with the infant insert included.
But it’s OK rather than exceptional. It has a full-size footprint, which gives added weight, yet it isn’t all-terrain. The fold needs two hands, so you’ll not be able to keep baby in arms while you do it, and there’s no carry handle once folded.
Read our full UPPAbaby Cruz V3 review →
⚠️ Janette’s note on the Cruz V3
Janette felt it to be fairly sturdy, and she liked that when it’s folded it stands on its rear wheels and frame bumper, which stops the fabrics from getting dirty on the ground.
The question that decides it
How often will you lift and fold it? If it’s in and out of the car, on and off buses, and folded several times a day, the Dragonfly’s one-handed fold and 7.9kg make a real difference every single day. The Cruz V3’s two-handed fold and 12.3kg are the things you’d notice most.
If you’d rather have a full-size seat with a high view, ready from birth without buying a carrycot, the Cruz V3 makes its case — and if you’re a city dweller, shops and pavements, you need not worry, it will do the job. Neither is the pushchair for kerb-heavy or rough routes. As I always say, before buying a pushchair you need to understand where you will use it and how you will use it.
💬 If this were my money…
My money would buy the Bugaboo Dragonfly. The Dragonfly ticks more boxes — the Cruz V3 lets itself down with the fold and the handling. As always, choose the right pushchair for your needs and budget.
Choose the Bugaboo Dragonfly if:
- You fold and lift it several times a day
- City streets, cafés and public transport are your daily routes
- You want a one-handed, freestanding fold
- You’re happy to buy the carrycot for the newborn months
Choose the UPPAbaby Cruz V3 if:
- You want a full-size seat with a high view
- You want it ready from birth with the infant insert
- You’ll usually fold it with both hands free
- You’d like a 3-year warranty without registering
Also on Amazon: Dragonfly → · Cruz V3 →
Also worth reading
- Bugaboo Dragonfly Review — Casey’s Corner and the full scorecard
- UPPAbaby Cruz V3 Review — the shop test and the full scorecard
- UPPAbaby Vista V3 vs Cruz V3 — if a second child is part of the plan
- Bugaboo Dragonfly vs Stokke YOYO³
- Bugaboo Dragonfly vs Bugaboo Butterfly 2
- Best Pushchairs for Public Transport
Frequently asked questions
Which is lighter, the Bugaboo Dragonfly or the UPPAbaby Cruz V3?
The Dragonfly, by a long way. It weighs 7.9kg with the seat against the Cruz V3’s 12.3kg.
Which has the better fold?
The Dragonfly. It folds one-handed and stands unsupported once folded. In our test the Cruz V3 needed two hands, a forward-facing seat and a lowered handlebar, and it has no carry handle.
Are both suitable from birth?
The Cruz V3 is suitable from birth with its included infant insert. The Dragonfly is suitable from birth with the Bugaboo carrycot, sold separately, or a compatible car seat.
Is either good on kerbs or rough ground?
Not especially. The Dragonfly’s front wheels showed limits on kerbs, and the Cruz V3’s tyres are quite hard, which will make it bobbly on rougher ground. Both are city pushchairs.
Which would you buy?
My money would buy the Bugaboo Dragonfly. It ticks more boxes, and the Cruz V3 lets itself down with the fold and the handling. As always, choose the right pushchair for your needs and budget.
📋 See all our Bugaboo reviews: Bugaboo Pushchairs →
📋 See all our UPPAbaby reviews: UPPAbaby Pushchairs →
About this comparison
Mark founded MyPushchair.co.uk in 2006 after struggling to find honest, straightforward pushchair advice as a new dad. For this comparison he tested the Dragonfly at Disneyland Paris, outside Casey’s Corner on Main Street USA, and shop-tested the Cruz V3 with Janette in September 2026.
Mark Hartshorne · Founder, MyPushchair.co.uk · How we review pushchairs →
Still torn between the Dragonfly and the Cruz V3? Get in touch — happy to help.