Diono Review: Baby Carriers & Travel Accessories

The crash was deafening. The car was hit on the driver’s side. On the same side, where the little boy was sitting. The front of the van was an absolute wreck. There was a guardian angel. The little boy was unhurt in the crash.

These accidents are all too common nowadays. It’s scary if you think about it one moment you’re riding along maybe even having fun and in the next, you’re getting T-boned. Hopefully, none of us will go through an experience like this.

This is why it’s so important to get the absolute best for your kids. What would’ve happened with the little boy if the parents would’ve chosen a second hand or a cheap car seat? I will not go there.

Luckily the Diono did its job. The little fellow was safe and sound. This is what we like to hear. Yet policemen tell different tales. Since they see all types of accidents, I won’t include those horror ones.

Before we get any further, let me give you a quick preview. It’s a Canadian made car seat. It serves three purposes: rear-facing, front-facing, and booster. It has a narrow profile so that you can do 3 across. This car seat grows as your child grows.

The safety rating is amazing. It offers protection from all sides. It comes with side protection. It’s easy to install thanks to the Superlatch system.

Let’s get this Diono Radian 3RXT review started. If you stick with me until the end, I will tell you the pros/cons. Some of them are unexpected, to say the least.

Who is the Diono Radian 3RXT All-in-One Convertible Car Seat for?

It’s called the Cadillac of car seats. This car seat is for parents who want the convenience of 3 across and the safety of a tank. Plus, if you want to keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, you can do it with this car seat.

What can the Diono Radian 3RXT car seat do for you?

They went above and beyond with safety. As one of the parents mentioned, “they have over-engineered it.” No wonder it’s a hassle to install and adjust. The design was on the backburner with this car seat.

Once you get passed this, you will see it’s a tank. Better yet, it’s bombproof. No matter what happens, your child will be safe. It’s roomy so you can use it in rear-facing mode for a long, long time. This is very important for many parents.

You see, rear-facing mode gives the most protection. In some European countries, 4 year rear-facing is mandatory.

It’s sturdy and well built. Guess what it’s actually foldable. This means that you can carry around this tank. Better yet, it’s FAA approved. This car seat is not the lightest one for air travel, but if you don’t have anything else, it will do.

Most of the weight comes from the steel frame. This is a must for absolute protection.

This car seat delivers much quality and great value for the money. It came highly recommended all across the board.

Diono Radian 3RXT shortcomings

Every car seat has flaws. For you to get the full picture, I will tell you which of these are the most important. So you will know ahead of time, and there will be no surprises.

It’s not the most intuitive car seat to install. If you want to save on your nerves, check out the manual first. Only after that, try to install it. To tell you the truth, the instructions aren’t the best. So your safest bet is checking out some YouTube videos.

The biggest issue with this car seat comes from the straps. You have to manually rethread them if you’re adjusting the height of the seat.

It’s a heavy seat which folds to my surprise. So you can take it on trips but do you want to haul it with you?

If you want to utilize the rear-facing mode as long as possible, then you have to mount it in the middle. As your little one grows, you will have to recline the seat. This takes up a lot of space. It fits in a Tesla Model 3 perfectly.

Last but not least, I want to mention that this seat supports three across, but that’s bare.

How To Get The Most Out Of Diono Radian 3RXT All-in-One Convertible Car Seat?

The most important thing with this car seat is to get it installed right. As you have read above, it’s not the easiest one to do. So grab the manual or hit YouTube. Make sure that everything is tight. Just in case you want to be safe, ask a licensed professional’s opinion.

The next thing you have to consider is the place you will put the car seat. Obviously, the safest place is in the middle. No matter if it’s front or rear-facing the middle is the most protected part of the car.

Since this car seat takes up a lot of room in the rear-facing mode, you have no choice other than the middle install. This car seat delivers. Some people called it bombproof. As you have seen in the intro, the little boy was not injured in the bad crash.

They have bought the same car seat after the accident. Once you have unwantedly tested it and delivered, you will stick with it to the end.

Pros

• Finally, a car seat where the baby isn’t slouching or sliding down
• It’s lightweight and easy to move around
• It’s soft and padded plus it comes with side impact protection

Cons

• The gray fabric is not that stain friendly
• You can’t remove the fabric the only solution is spot cleaning

Conclusion for the Diono Radian 3RXT Review

Many happy parents rave about this car seat. It’s heavy and safe at the same time. You can fold it and take it with you during traveling.

It has a narrow profile, so 3 across can be done.

We have reached the end of this review. I hope you have found valuable info about this car seat. By knowing the drawback, you have gotten the full picture. Take action and buy the car seat if it’s the right fit for you.

Also, I love to hear some feedback if you had experience with the Diono brand. If you have questions, do reach out.

Catch you next time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Diono Radian RXT safe?

Yes the Diono Radian RXT is a safe car seat. As a matter of fact, they have over-engineered the safety features.

Is Diono a good brand?

Diono is a great brand to go with. They have won many awards. In many comparison categories, they came out on top.

Which is better Diono or Britax?

Diono has only a few car seats to choose from. Britax is the winner. For more detailed comparison check out the Diono vs Britax article.

How can you install the Diono Radian convertible car seat?

The Diono Radian is a convertible car seat. This means that you can install it in front facing position and rear facing position. The Diono car seat supports both latch connectors (latch anchors) and vehicle seat belt. The lap belt path is a newer version to use the shoulder belt and there’s enough lap belt cushion for comfort. As you probably know the seat belt has to be fed through the belt path. To access the belt path you have to remove the back of the seat. Before you get started do check out the user manual.

What kind of safety features does the best Diono car seat have?

First of all, I have to mention the frame. It’s made out of steel alloy frame. The side walls are made from aluminum. The steel frame provides the best protection for your child. The side is made out of energy absorbing EPS foam. There’s a top tether harness as well. With the top tether harness, you remove any wiggle from the car seat. Your little one will be kept in place thanks to the 5 point harness. The memory foam seat bottom keeps sore bums at bay.

How good is the Diono Radian?

You can’t go wrong with it. It’s one of the best convertible car seats you can buy.

What are the weight limits for the Diono Radian 3RXT?

The weight limits are as follows: 5 to 120 pounds. The upper weight limit for rear facing is 40 pounds. This car seat weight 28.1 pounds.

Is this an infant car seat?

Yes, the Diono is an infant car seat. It comes with an infant insert to make it comfortable for your little one. It doesn’t look like it but it’s one of the best infant seats out there. After that, it can be converted into a child seat. The final stage is the booster mode. When your child grows it will turn into a booster seat. Now that’s what I call a great convertible car seat. Of course, it is one of the best booster seats you can choose from.

What kind of straps does this car seat have?

It comes with: harness straps, carry strap, harness strap slot, adjustment strap.

Is the seat cover washable?

Yes, the back cover and the fabric cover it’s machine washable. Also, it has a cup holder that is washable as well.

Can you fit three across?

This convertible car seat Diono has a narrow profile so you will be able to do 3 across with ease. Not many vehicle seats can do this. It’s one of the few vehicle seats that actually folds flat for easy carry. Even though it may seem bulky the front seat will have enough legroom. You can recline the seat back for comfort.

How big is the harness height?

It’s one of the tallest car seats you can go with the harness height is 28.4″. It comes with a magnetic chest clip.

What other features does this car seat have?

It has an angle adjuster, splitter plate, recline angle, memory foam. And it doesn’t have a ratcheting system.

Diono Radian vs Rainier which car seat is the better choice?

Both car seats are quite good, but the Diono Radian is the better choice.