Bugaboo Donkey vs UPPAbaby Vista: Side-by-Side or Inline Double?

The verdict: the UPPAbaby Vista V3 is the better buy for most growing families, because it does the single-to-double job for hundreds less, weighs far less, and has a deeper from-birth ecosystem. The Bugaboo Donkey is the one to choose if you specifically want a side-by-side double, where both children get an equal view and their own recline, and you're willing to pay a premium for it.

This is the premium tier of the single-to-double category, and the two strollers solve the "second child" problem in fundamentally different ways. The Vista converts inline -- the second seat stacks above or behind the first, keeping the stroller narrow. The Donkey converts side-by-side -- the two seats sit next to each other, so both children get the same view and the same recline. That single architectural choice, plus a significant price gap, is what this whole decision comes down to.

A note on versions before we start: Amazon US currently carries the UPPAbaby Vista V3 (around $999) and the Bugaboo Donkey 6 (around $1,699). Amazon UK is a generation behind on both, carrying the Vista V2 (around £599) and the Donkey 5 (around £972) -- the same brands, the same trade-offs, at lower prices. I cover the Vista against UPPAbaby's smaller Cruz in the UPPAbaby Vista vs Cruz guide; this comparison is about Vista versus the side-by-side Bugaboo.

What we looked at

Research draws from parent communities -- r/BeyondTheBump and r/UKParenting, where the inline-versus-side-by-side debate runs and runs -- alongside the UPPAbaby and Bugaboo manufacturer specs and the consensus from professional reviewers. Both are long-established premium strollers with deep owner feedback. Prices reflect current Amazon listings (US generations: Vista V3 and Donkey 6); both move in and out of stock, so check availability when you buy.

The UPPAbaby Vista V3

The Vista is the default premium answer to "what do we get if we might have a second child". It starts as a full-featured single and converts to a double by adding a RumbleSeat, with over 30 configurations across the family's growing years.

The defining choice is that the Vista goes inline. In double mode the second seat stacks rather than sitting beside the first, which keeps the stroller no wider than it was as a single -- it stays within standard doorways, shop aisles, and lifts. It gets taller and a little longer, not wider. For city and suburban families who worry about a side-by-side double being too wide for daily life, this is the whole appeal.

It's also lighter and cheaper than the Donkey. At 27 lb it's well under the Donkey 6's 40 lb, which you feel folding it into a boot or carrying it up steps. The extra-large basket takes 30 lb, the all-wheel FlexRide suspension smooths out rough pavement, and the magnetic no-rethread harness is genuinely easier to use day to day. It's a from-birth travel system too: the bassinet and UPPAbaby's Mesa and Aria car seats attach directly without adapters. It folds in one step and stands when folded. And UPPAbaby's resale value is among the strongest in the category, which softens the already-lower price over time.

The honest limitation is the inline double itself. When both seats are in use, the lower or rear child has a more enclosed view, and getting two children in and out of a stacked configuration is fiddlier than a side-by-side. For two children who both want to see out and interact, the inline layout is the compromise you're accepting in exchange for the narrower footprint.

Where it wins: hundreds cheaper than the Donkey, much lighter at 27 lb, stays narrow in double mode, deep from-birth ecosystem with no-adapter car seat compatibility, strong resale value.

Where it loses: inline double gives the second child a more enclosed view, two-kid loading is fiddlier than side-by-side, gets tall and long rather than wide.

The Bugaboo Donkey 6

The Donkey is Bugaboo's side-by-side answer, and it exists for the families the Vista's inline layout doesn't satisfy. It converts from a single (mono) to a side-by-side double in three clicks, with more than 20 configurations.

The side-by-side layout is the entire point. Both children sit next to each other, both get the same view out, and both have their own independent recline -- so one can nap fully reclined while the other sits up and watches the world. For twins, or two children close in age who both want to see out and be part of the same experience, this is a genuinely better arrangement than any inline double, and it's the reason families choose the Donkey despite the price.

Bugaboo's clever engineering is keeping it narrow for the type. In single (mono) mode it's just 60 cm (23.6 in) wide, and even in side-by-side double mode it's designed to glide through standard doorways -- the historic objection to side-by-side doubles. It rides on XL puncture-proof all-terrain wheels, has a huge 70 L underseat basket (up to 15 kg), and the bassinet is spacious and breezy for newborns.

The honest trade-offs are price and weight. At around $1,699 in the US it's roughly $700 more than the Vista, and at 40 lb it's noticeably heavier. Even with Bugaboo's narrow engineering, a side-by-side double is wider in use than an inline one, so in the tightest spaces the Vista still has the edge. You're paying more, and carrying more, for the side-by-side layout.

Where it wins: side-by-side double with equal view and independent recline for both children, narrow for a side-by-side, huge 70 L basket, all-terrain wheels, classic Bugaboo build.

Where it loses: much more expensive than the Vista, heavier at 40 lb, wider in double use than an inline stroller, Amazon UK still carries the older Donkey 5.

Head-to-Head

What owners say

Across r/BeyondTheBump and the UK parenting groups, the divide is exactly the inline-versus-side-by-side one. Vista owners overwhelmingly cite the narrower footprint and the lower price as why they chose it, and the recurring frustration is the rear-seat view and the faff of loading two children into the stacked configuration. Donkey owners are emphatic that the side-by-side layout was worth it -- the equal view and independent recline come up constantly, especially from parents of twins or two-under-two -- and the recurring complaint is the price and, to a lesser extent, the weight. Across both camps, almost nobody regrets going premium; the regret stories are from parents who bought a cheap double and replaced it.

Which one to buy

These four scenarios make the decision concrete:

**You want the premium single-to-double for the lowest sensible price.** The Vista V3. It does the convertible job for around $700 less than the Donkey in the US (and meaningfully less in the UK), it's lighter, and it stays narrow in double mode. For most growing families, it's the better-value premium choice.

**You have twins or two children who both want the view.** The Donkey 6. The side-by-side layout gives both children an equal view and their own recline, which no inline double can match. For twins or two-under-two who both want to see out and be part of the same outing, this is the layout that actually fits the family.

You live somewhere tight -- narrow doorways, small lifts, packed transit. The Vista V3. Even with Bugaboo's narrow engineering, a side-by-side is wider in use than an inline double. If your daily life involves squeezing through tight spaces, the Vista's stays-single-width double is the safer call.

You lift the stroller a lot and weight matters. The Vista V3. At 27 lb versus the Donkey's 40 lb, the difference is felt every time you fold it into a boot or carry it up steps. For anyone managing the stroller solo, the lighter Vista is the easier daily companion.

The honest case against each

The honest case against the Vista: the inline double is a real compromise. The rear or lower child gets a more enclosed view, and loading two children into a stacked configuration is fiddlier than lifting them side by side. If both children will be in the stroller often and both want to see out, the Vista's layout will frustrate you in a way the price saving may not offset.

The honest case against the Donkey: it's expensive and heavy. At around $1,699 in the US it's a significant premium over the Vista, and at 40 lb it's a lot of stroller to lift. A side-by-side is also wider in use, so in the tightest spaces you give up the doorway-friendliness the Vista keeps. Unless the side-by-side layout is specifically what you need, the Donkey asks you to pay more and carry more for a feature you might not use.

Frequently asked questions

Is the UPPAbaby Vista or the Bugaboo Donkey better?

For most growing families, the UPPAbaby Vista is the better buy: it converts to a double for hundreds less, weighs far less (27 lb versus 40 lb), and stays narrow in double mode. The Bugaboo Donkey is better if you specifically want a side-by-side double -- both children get an equal view and independent recline, which is ideal for twins or two children close in age. The decision comes down to inline versus side-by-side, and to whether the Donkey's premium is worth that layout to you.

What's the difference between an inline and a side-by-side double stroller?

An inline double (like the Vista) stacks the second seat above or behind the first, so the stroller stays as narrow as a single but gets taller and longer. A side-by-side double (like the Donkey) places the two seats next to each other, so both children get the same view and their own recline, at the cost of extra width. Inline is better for tight spaces and lighter weight; side-by-side is better for equal experience and easy access to both children.

Why is the Bugaboo Donkey so much more expensive than the Vista?

The Donkey commands a premium for its side-by-side convertible design and Bugaboo's brand and build. In the US, the current Donkey 6 is around $1,699 versus the Vista V3's $999. Some of that gap is the engineering required to make a side-by-side double narrow enough for doorways, and some is brand positioning. Whether it's worth it depends entirely on whether you need the side-by-side layout -- if you don't, the Vista delivers the convertible function for far less.

Which versions are sold on Amazon US and UK?

Amazon US currently carries the UPPAbaby Vista V3 (around $999) and the Bugaboo Donkey 6 (around $1,699). Amazon UK is a generation behind on both, carrying the Vista V2 (around £599) and the Donkey 5 (around £972). The fundamental comparison -- inline Vista versus side-by-side Donkey -- is the same across both markets; only the generation and price differ. UK buyers get the previous generation at a lower price.

Does the Vista or the Donkey work better for twins?

The Bugaboo Donkey is generally the better twin stroller because its side-by-side layout gives both babies an equal view and their own full recline from birth, which matters when both are newborns napping at the same time. The Vista can take two bassinets but in a stacked arrangement, which some twin parents find less practical than side-by-side. For twins specifically, the Donkey's layout is the more natural fit -- if the price and weight are acceptable.

What to Avoid

Buying the Donkey for the brand if you don't need side-by-side. The Donkey's whole reason to cost more is its side-by-side layout. If an inline double would suit your family, you're paying roughly $700 extra (in the US) and carrying 13 lb more for a feature you won't use. Be honest about whether side-by-side actually matters to you before paying the premium.

**Buying the Vista expecting a side-by-side experience.** The Vista is an inline double. The rear or lower child gets a more enclosed view, and two-kid loading is fiddlier than side-by-side. If both children will ride often and both want to see out, the Vista's layout will frustrate you -- the Donkey is the right tool for that.

Assuming the UK gets the same generation as the US. Amazon UK carries the previous-generation Vista V2 and Donkey 5, not the V3 and Donkey 6 sold in the US. The trade-offs are the same, but check exactly which version a UK listing is before comparing prices against US figures.

Underestimating the Donkey's weight and width. Even with Bugaboo's narrow engineering, the Donkey is 40 lb and wider in double mode than the inline Vista. If you have a small car boot, tight doorways, or do a lot of solo lifting, factor that in -- the narrow-for-a-side-by-side claim is real, but it's still a side-by-side.

What We'd Buy Today

For most growing families: the **UPPAbaby Vista V3**. It converts to a double for around $700 less than the Donkey in the US, it's far lighter at 27 lb, it stays narrow in double mode, and the from-birth ecosystem and resale value make the already-lower price easier still to justify.

Get the UPPAbaby Vista V3 on Amazon ->

For families set on a side-by-side double -- twins, or two children who both want the view: the **Bugaboo Donkey 6**. Nothing else gives both children an equal view and their own recline while staying this manageable in the doorways. You pay a premium, but for the side-by-side layout it's the benchmark.

Get the Bugaboo Donkey 6 on Amazon ->

UK readers: Amazon UK carries the previous-generation UPPAbaby Vista V2 (around £599) and Bugaboo Donkey 5 (around £972) -- the same inline-versus-side-by-side decision, at lower prices.

Both are the real thing. Choose inline and save with the Vista, or pay for the side-by-side Donkey, and either way your second child is sorted.