Every year, expecting parents ask us the same question during their showroom appointment: "Which infant seat actually protects best in a crash?" After two decades of installing car seats for Boston-area families, our answer hasn't changed much — Nuna's PIPA line remains one of the seats our certified passenger safety technicians (CPSTs) reach for first, especially for parents who want extra reinforcement without a steep learning curve on installation.
The lineup has evolved since we first wrote about this seat. Here's what's actually on our showroom floor in 2026:
Nuna PIPA RX + RELX Base ($550) — the current standard-bearer. It keeps the True Lock RELX base with an integrated anti-rebound bar and load leg, both of which add a second layer of crash energy management beyond what federal standards require. Rated for babies 4–32 lbs, and it can also be installed base-free using the European belt path in a pinch — handy for grandparents' cars or rideshares.
Nuna PIPA Aire RX + RELX Base ($650) — the lightest full-featured seat in the PIPA family at 6.2 lbs (shell only), for parents who are carrying the seat on and off a stroller frame multiple times a day and don't want the extra weight fighting them.
Nuna PIPA urbn Flex System ($750) and the PIPA urbn + TRIV LX Travel System ($1,300) — Nuna's newer baseless design, which clicks directly onto a compatible stroller frame or into the car with a built-in load leg, no separate base required. It's the option we point city families toward when trunk space or multi-car installs are the main headache.
What hasn't changed is our advice: the safest seat is the one that's installed correctly, every time. We include a free certified car seat installation with every seat we sell — no appointment needed for a quick check, though most first-time parents book one of our baby gear appointments to go over the base install, stroller compatibility, and travel-system click-in together. Stop by our South End showroom to test the click-and-lock on all four PIPA variants side by side, or read more about our free installation program. South Shore families can also book our Hingham concierge visit if a trip into Boston isn't in the cards.
See the full lineup, current colors, and availability on our Nuna collection page.