Choosing Between the Nuna RAVA and Nuna EXEC: Convertible Car Seat Comparison

August 30, 2023 Lindsey Swenson

Every parent will need a convertible car seat at some point in their child's life! Whether you decide to use one from birth, or opt for an infant car seat for the first year, you will be weighing your options and picking a convertible car seat before you know it! And although there are plenty of options out there to choose from, two of our all time FAVORITE convertible car seats on the market are the Nuna EXEC and the Nuna RAVA!

There's no denying that Nuna makes some of the best baby gear on the market. They truly go above and beyond when it comes to infant and child safety, style, and comfort. From the incredible Nuna PIPA infant car seats that are repeatedly some of our best selling car seats year after year, to their strollers and even playards, Nuna makes some pretty incredible products.

And although I love how sleek their products are, what makes me choose Nuna for my own kids really comes down to the additional safety features they include in their products, such as fool-proof car seat installations and Greenguard-gold certified fabrics that ensure my kids aren't breathing harmful chemicals.

But what else makes Nuna so special?

Durable: Nuna gear is designed with quality materials that are built to stand up to frequent use, wear, and tear which ensures your baby gear will last for years and years.
Sustainable: Many products are GOTS™ certified. This means you're spending your hard earned money on products that are sustainably produced from start to finish.
Built BY Parents FOR Parents: Practical and functional designs that simplify parenthood down to the tiniest of details.
Gorgeous Designs: Simple and timeless products that are inspired by Dutch design.
Global Brand: Nuna performs ADDITIONAL testing and must hold up to higher standards than your average car seat to ensure the products can be used in more than just the US. This means safer and higher quality gear!
Highest Quality Materials: No matter what product you get, the fabric used will be Greenguard gold certified, meaning there aren't harmful chemical emissions being released from the product. All the products are also FR-chemical free. In addition, some of Nuna's gear, such as a few of their car seat models, come with organic cotton inserts that are OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 providing a chemical and allergen free product. Additional products also feature Nuna's special merino wool TENCEL™ lyocell blend that is both soft and naturally wicks moisture away.

Now let's dive in and take a look at Nuna's top selling convertible car seats, the Nuna EXEC and Nuna RAVA!

Left: Nuna EXEC in Caviar; Right: Nuna RAVA in Caviar

Nuna EXEC

The Nuna EXEC is definitely one of the finest convertible car seats on the market. So if you are wanting a luxury seat, look no further! Featuring the highest quality Merino wool fabrics that allow for ultimate breathability and temperature regulation, your child will remain comfortable and cozy whether you live in hot or cold climates. These fabrics are also sustainably produced, naturally flame retardant free, and Greenguard gold certified, ensuring your little one is not exposed to any harmful chemicals.

But the comfort and safety the EXEC provides doesn't stop there! The EXEC features an all-steel frame, aeroflex energy-absorbing foam, and side impact protection pods to absorb those intense crash forces so your child's little body doesn't have to! The EXEC is also designed to make installation a breeze with its Simply™ secure installation! This ensures you get a proper install every time and removes the error and guesswork.

What truly sets the EXEC apart, though, is the unique, adjustable foot rest. This provides added comfort, giving your child additional leg support when forward facing and a whopping 2.5 more inches of leg space when rear facing. Aside from comfort, this additional leg room also allows your child to stay rear-facing longer, which is extremely important for your toddler's safety! The leg rest additionally functions as an anti-rebound panel, which helps keep the car seat from rotating during a collision that could otherwise lead to increased injuries.

Some may worry that the EXEC is too expensive to fit their budget. While this may be true for some (and it is always important that you find a seat that fits within your budget), buying the EXEC from the get-go MAY actually be cheaper than purchasing an infant car seat, convertible, and then a booster. This is because the Nuna EXEC is all-in-one seat, eliminating the need for three separate seats as your child grows!

Nuna EXEC in granite

Nuna EXEC in Granite

Specifications

Price: $750
Color Options: Granite, Lake, Caviar, Riveted, Ocean, Oak
Fabric Type: Bamboo-polyester blend knit fabric in the seat; Merino wool TENCEL™ lyocell blend knit infant inserts; GOTS certified organic cotton inserts
Weight: 26.6 lbs
Dimensions: 22.5" L x 18.5" W x 26-33" H

What's in the Box?

Nuna EXEC Convertible Car Seat
Dual flip-open cup holders
Machine washable quilted leg rest slip cover
Merino wool body and head inserts
Additional GOTS™ certified organic cotton fabric & dye insert, harness covers & crotch cover

Nuna EXEC Rear Facing

Longevity

Rear-facing:

Weight with seat belt install: 5-50 lbs
Weight with lower anchor belt install: 5-35 lbs
Height: 49" or less
Suggested usage up to at least 2 years of age (longer is recommended if child hasn't reached height or weight limits yet)

Forward-facing:

Weight with seat belt install: 25-65 lbs
Weight with lower anchor belt install: 25-40 lbs
Height: 49" or less
Suggested usage 2 years of age or older

Booster:

Weight: 40-120 lbs
Height: 38-57"
4 years+

(5-point harness stores inside the seat when in booster mode)

Safety Features

Fabrics:

Flame resistant without use of flame-retardant chemicals
Greenguard gold certified to reduce chemical emissions
GOTS-certified

Frame:

All-steel frame makes the car seat incredible strong to hold up against intense crash forces
Energy absorbing Aeroflex foam
Side impact protection (SIP) pods

Additional features:

Reinforced belt path
Leg rest doubles as an anti-rebound panel when in rear-facing mode
Booster mode belt path features spring touch shoulder belt guides to help big kids buckle up safely

Nuna EXEC older girl buckling self into seat

Installation

Simply™ secure installation with:

Bubble-free recline angle guides that clearly confirm the perfect riding angle
True tension™ doors for an ultra-secure fit without the struggle

Slim design that allows for 3 side by side in most mid-size cars and SUV's
With seatbelt or LATCH system (*Note: Seatbelt is recommended as LATCH system has lower weight limits. Installing with a seat belt means you don't have to remember to reinstall once your child hits those limits).

Nuna EXEC rear facing with footrest

Convenience

No rethread harness and crotch strap
Easily adjustable headrest
Magnets keep harness out of the way when buckling
Removable and machine washable fabrics
Included quilted leg rest cover that can quickly be removed and thrown in the wash

Nuna EXEC slipcover

Comfort

Recline: 8 positions (4 for rear-facing and 4 for forward-facing)
Headrest: 12 positions
Crotch-strap: 2 positions (with no-rethread capability)
Additional Features:

Ventilation panels within the shell to prevent overheating
Soft and cushy Merino wool blend fabric (Optimal for breathability and temperature regulation)
Adjustable leg rest provides 2.5 more inches of leg room when rear facing
2 cup holders that flip out of the way when not in use

Nuna EXEC three kids side by side

Nuna RAVA

Although the Nuna RAVA is cheaper than the EXEC, that does not mean it is inferior in any way. The RAVA offers MANY of the same features that we love from the EXEC, making the RAVA another incredible pick for parents!

Just like the EXEC, the Nuna RAVA has gone through rigorous testing to ensure it EXCEEDS safety standards in the US and Europe, providing you with the peace of mind that you're doing all you can to keep your child safe. The RAVA also features the same Simply™ secure installation to make it easy to put your car seat into your vehicle safely, as well as an all steel reinforced frame, Side impact protection, soft AND chemical free fabrics and more!

What makes the RAVA different from the EXEC though, is it does NOT convert to a booster seat. So if you truly want an all-in-one product so that you don't have to buy multiple seats, the RAVA may not be for you.

The RAVA also does not have a fully extendable leg rest that converts to an anti-rebound bar. However, the RAVA is still thoughtfully designed with a one-position adjustable calf support to provide up to 2 inches more leg room for kiddos compared to other convertible car seats, providing greater comfort on long car rides. The RAVA also has more recline positions than the EXEC, allowing for even greater customizability!

Nuna RAVA in Granite

Nuna RAVA in Granite