Diono RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat Reviews

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We have 3 children ages 7, 3 and 3 months. I have used various seats from infant to booster over the years for my children. In addition to being an end user of these types of products, I am also an 18 year firefighter a major metro city fire department. I have seen more motor vehicle accidents involving children than I care to recall. My endorsement of this seat falls into two categories; first as a parent, second as an emergency worker.

As a parent this seat is extremely well thought through. If you've used other seats you have asked yourself "why didn't they do this?" you will have finally found the seat that answers that question. If you are new to car seats... you are making a very good choice.

Something as simple as having the buckle fall forward when not in use. Not having to dig out the buckle from under your child's rear end is genius. Big buckles that are easy for an adult for operate one handed. Our 3 year-old has been an escape artist in every other seat has finally met her match. The buckle is simply too big for her hands to manipulate simultaneously. One of the best conveniences is not having to swap out car seats when picking or dropping off other kids from school, practice, etc...

As an emergency responder these seats look like they are designed for a NASCAR. It seems to me that relatively, all car seats provide some reasonable protection during a crash. The incidents I have responded to that a child was injured was due to the child not being properly secured in the seat. This seat sets itself apart because it is very easy to buckle your child properly with one hand. No fishing around for buckles, no way for buckles to improperly latch (or not be latched).

We have placed our 3 year old and 3 month old in this seat. It takes less than a minute to make the necessary adjustments.

This is great, convenient seat that is very well engineered that will last a long time and accomadate one child through the years or adjust to many types of children that you may be transporting.

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Unboxing:

First impressions of this car seat are daunting to say the least. I pulled it out of the box (a big box) and found I had to dig for the instructions right away. It comes in the collapsed mode, which allows you to attach straps and carry it as a backpack, very handy for traveling, say, on an airplane. By the way, this seat is fully airline compliant, so you shouldn't have any trouble bringing it on a plane.

Anyway, as per the directions, the base of the seat folds out for use, and does so via a simple-to-operate latch. The back of the car seat holds all the various LATCH straps and belts needed for installation either rearor forward-facing, as well as a seat belt clip for cars built before 2001 that do not have a LATCH system. Also in the box are the backpack straps previously mentioned, as well as the infant padding you can see in the picture above, which will nicely snug in your newborn. Our son is now about 20 lbs and too big to need the extra padding.

First Impressions:

This Radian RXT is somewhat large, as you can see. Given that it can hold children all the way up to 120 lbs (which is heavier than some adults!), it should be. The headrest portion is adjustable so that the aluminum-framed head supports align correctly with your child's head.

Though tall, the seat is not especially wide, a feature Dioni says allows this seat to be installed 3-across in a vehicle. The construction is very strong and durable, composed of both heavy plastic as in most car seats and aluminum framing in certain places.

The straps are all adjustable of course, and this was the fastest part of setup for me, in contrast to many other car seats that make you remove covers and padding and whatnot; this was very straightforward to adjust to our toddler's height. A nice feature that complements the adjustable shoulder straps is the tensioner at the front of the seat which ratchets rather than just pulls, so you don't risk getting it too tight all at once when fitting it to your child.

It's a big plus to have a seat that you can take your baby home from the hospital in and not have to buy another seat until they're big enough to not need one any longer, so I was looking forward to installing it and trying it out.

Installation:

Installing the Radian RXT turned out to be very challenging with our two vehicles that I tried it in. The big disclaimer here is that unfortunately we don't have a modern SUV or minivan, so installation was doubtless more difficult than it would have been had we had one. I first tried installing it in our 2000 Isuzu Rodeo, which unfortunately does not have a LATCH system, and after struggling with it for about 30 minutes and reading the directions over and over, ultimately had to give up. The design of the seat is such that the belt path under the seat is a closed tunnel, which first of all means you need small hands to be able to thread the belts through, which wanted to get hung up inside. But once I got the seat belt through, a larger obstacle cropped up. Because the belt tunnel is so low and closed off from the top (unlike a traditional car seat base), I was unable to tighten the belt enough because the car buckle of course cannot bend around the angle of the tunnel. This was with the rear-facing base attachment properly secured, but it was still as if the belt tunnel was too low to be able to tighten the belt enough. Compounding this in a car without a LATCH system is the fact that you have to secure the belt clip and then fasten the seat belt. However, with the Radian, there was absolutely no way once I secured the belt clip to snake the tightened belt back through the tunnel and clip it into the buckle since you usually have to have lots of leverage to do that, and I'm sorry, but my fingertips just aren't strong enough to manage that.

So, on to option two, the BMW 3-series sedan. It's a 2001, so it does have a LATCH system fortunately. However, given the size of the Radian RXT, I found it couldn't be installed behind the driver's seat, which is where the current car seat goes, because the high headrest of the Radian would have meant that the drivers seat would have had to go forward too far for anyone except a little person. I'm sure it would have worked okay forward-facing, but we can't do that until the baby is bigger.

So I finally got it installed on the passenger side of the car, but seemed to have a similar problem tightening the LATCH straps, due to the belt tunnel seeming too low. But in actuality, when tightened down as absolutely as I could, the manual says that when gripped at the tunnel, the seat should not move more than an inch in any direction, which it doesn't. However, it didn't seem right at first because shaking the seat from the headrest resulted in a lot of play. I guess this is to be expected since there's lots of leverage there, it's just that the manual didn't say anything about how much the headrest could be expected to move, and it seemed like a lot compared to the compact car seat we were currently using.

Use:

So the installation was rough, and took almost an hour before it was finally installed. But once it was in, use is as simple as any other car seat, and the quality of the buckles across the chest and between the legs definitely seems a notch above. As mentioned earlier, all adjust easily and connect positively. I also liked how once our son was in there that it seemed more open and airy than a traditional car seat while holding him securely. In any case, I see no issues with further use, and I know it will prove to be an excellent car seat whenever we finally do get a modern minivan.

Final Thoughts:

The Radian RXT from Diono is very well-built and versatile. You could buy 2 or 3 car seats for your young one until they don't need them, or you could get the one Radian RXT. It's adjustability and quality of materials is definitely above par. I just wish the belt tunnel had been designed to make installation without a LATCH system less painless. That said, my difficulties with installation could just be that a fault of general ineptitude with car seats, mechanical prowess in many other areas notwithstanding, and not so much a fault with the seat. The Radian has lots of great reviews on Amazon, including one I read from a lady who has two in her Honda Civic, so maybe it was just a bad combination of an older car and installing while tired. In any case, the Radian RXT is a great carseat and one that I know will be able to handle all the abuse a baby/toddler/child can throw at it.

Best Deals for Diono RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat

I bought this seat for my tall (38in) and thin (28lb) 2 year old daughter. I was impressed with the height the seat allowed for, given that my child will out grow a seat in height long before weight. I needed a seat that would fit in a 2012 Focus and was FAA cerified. The seat is very compact. It was easy to install using the seat belt and the latch. Since the seat is so compact I had enough room to get in the car and put my knee in the seat to help get a solid install. I was able to do this myself in just a few minutes, even in an airport parking lot.

My kiddo loved the purple color. That particular color is a micro suede type fabric that is super easy to clean. The wings support her head well when she is sleeping. She can climb in and out of the seat very easily since it is much shorter in rise than her old seat (an Evenflo Symphony). The clips are all great quality and the shoulder pads are nice and soft. She feels less boxed in sitting in this seat. She loves that she can reach things if she drops them next to her seat.

I used this seat for air travel shortly after purchase. I found it fairly simple to deal with. I am a 5'5" woman with a broader frame. I travelled by myself with two kiddos, 2 and 8 years. We did not check anything, we carried all our luggage on. So that fact that this seat can be carried like a backpack was very helpful.

Some tips for air travel with this seat:

Get two (2) carry straps for the seat so you can wear it as a backpack. This makes the weight easier to bare, is better for your back and keeps your hands free.

Have rubber bands handy to roll up extra strap length. The latch straps are very long and can get in the way when trying to install on the plane.

Pros:

Compact

Easy to install (FF, I have not used it RF)

Easy to clean

Weight and Height limits

Mulitple (up to 4) cup holders can be used

Easy to carry as a backpack for travel

Cupholders can be removed and washed in the dishwasher if they get icky.

Cons:

Heavy

Cup holders can be removed by child (This has never bothered me.)

Pricey

Overall this is an awesome seat. I'd recommend it to all that can afford it.

Diono Radian RXT vs. Britax Frontier 85:

If you're like me your decision has probably come down to these two seats. My daughter rides in both seats. I have the Radian in my vehicle (2012 Focus hatchback). My husband has the Frontier in his vehicle (2009 Vibe). She is equally happy with bith seats.

My husband and I are pleased with both seats. We have likes and dislikes for each. I'll try to give a good comparision.

Seat installation:

The Frontier wins here simply because it is lighter.

Both seats were super easy to install in either car. The bothe all install well in our 2005 Trailblazer on the odd occassion we use that car. I have never in stalled the Radian RF so I can not comment on that. We use th latch system on both seats. I have also used the belt paths when using in other people's cars. Belt path installation is also easy. The Radian is much heavier than the Frontier, making it more difficult to lift.

Seat Maitenance:

Here I feel the Radian wins.

The cover on the Radian is machine washable and is easily removed. The cover is one piece. The straps do have to be unthreaded to remove the cover. The cup holders can be put in the dishwasher.

The cover on the Frontier is supposed to be handwashednot machine washable. Seriously... hand wash something my kid vomited on. Anyway, my washing machine has a handwash cycle so I used that. It turned out fine. Britax sells the cover for $80. The cup holders are intergrated into the seat so you have to wipe them out.

Seat adjustments:

It's a tie. Both seats have to be completely remove from the car to make adjustments.

The Radian has straps that need to be rethreaded to adjust. But, it's super easy. The crotch strap is easier to move than the Frontier. But, the head wings can be a pain. I have to put my knee in the seat and apply a lot of force to move them. But this means the stay in place once adjusted. When putting a kiddo in the seat the ratchet mechanism to tighten the straps can be annoying. My husband does not care for it.

The Frontier has a mechanism on the back that moves the straps and head rest up and dowm. But the adjuster is the piece I always seem to grab when picking up the seat causing the straps to move. I then have to wrangle my daughter to sit in it so I can adjust the straps again. Sort of annoying. Once she is in the seat adjustments are easy. But we didn't like the HUGS. They made her sweat under them so we took them off.

Seat size:

The Radian is much narrower than the Britax. This could make a big difference if you want to fit 3 across a back seat or have a tiny car. Otherwise It does not matter.

Travel:

I have only used the Radian for air travel. It is easier to bring into an airport, hands down. I wouldn't even consider air travel with the Frontier.

All in all, either seat is a good pick. It will just depend on your needs. I have found I really like them both and would recommend them equally.

Honest reviews on Diono RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat

After months of researching convertible car seats, I finally settled on the Diono Radian RXT (in the Storm color) for my then-15 month-old, who was about to finally outgrow the height limitation on her infant car seat. I chose the Diono Radian RXT mainly because it's the only convertible/toddler car seat besides the (extremely expensive) Orbit Baby G2 which isn't doused with hazardous chemical flame retardants. For obvious reasons, car seats must be flame resistant, so they must either be made of inherently flame resistant materials or be treated with flame retardant chemicals. Fortunately, the seat-pad of the Diono Radian RXT in the Storm and Rugby colors is made of a microfiber material that meets flame-resistance regulations without the need for treatment with chemical flame retardants. (NOTE: The other colors of the Radian RXT have seat pads made of a material that is not inherently flame-resistant, and are therefore still treated with chemical flame retardants. Please be sure to choose the Rugby or Storm colors if this issue is a concern for you).

While I initially chose the Diono Radian RXT because of its low toxicity profile, I quickly came to appreciate it for its many other features. First off, it was very easy to install. My husband and I used the LATCH connectors in our car as well as the top-tether belt to install the car seat rear-facing, behind the passenger seat of our Lexus RX350 SUV. It took us a total of 15 minutes, even with our curious/active toddler poking around! The user manual was very easy to follow, and if you prefer a more visual demonstration, there are scan codes throughout the manual that you can scan with your iPhone or Android phone to access installation help videos from Diono.

Plus, my daughter took to the Radian RXT car seat right away, without any of the fussing and squirming that would often accompany my efforts to put her in her infant car seat, especially when it began to get a bit cramped. It's pretty easy to get my little-one in and out of her Radian RXT. Sometimes, I do have to fish the shoulder straps out from behind her back and the buckle from under her bum before fastening the restraint system, but it doesn't seem to bother her any so it's fine with me. The Radian RXT is a long, slim car seat, so we had to move the passenger seat so far forward in order to accommodate the car seat that the passenger seat became virtually unusable. The Diono Radian Angle Adjuster was a quick, easy and inexpensive solution to this problem. The Angle Adjuster foam pad tilts the rear-facing car seat forward by about 20 degrees (towards the rear of the car), freeing up space between the car seat back and the back of the passenger seat. Thanks to the ten-dollar Angle Adjuster, a 6-foot adult can now sit comfortably in the passenger seat of our car with the car seat safely installed behind it.

I only have a couple of minor complaints regarding the Radian RXT. Firstly, the harness adjuster can be tricky to use with the car seat in the rear-facing position. In this position, there is just a tiny amount of space between the harness adjuster and the back seat of your car, so there's not much room to pull out and down on the harness adjuster strap in order to tighten the shoulder straps, especially if your child is already in the car seat. It doesn't help that the harness adjuster mechanism is pretty stiff, so I have to give the shoulder straps a pretty strong yank in order to loosen them enough for my daughter to fit comfortably in the restraint system wearing bulkier winter clothes. Secondly, the cup-holder feels a bit loose, even when properly installed. (I actually re-installed it twice before realizing that the issue was with the cup-holder itself and not my installation). My toddler doesn't yet do a lot of drinking while in her car seat, so this isn't really a problem for us yet. But I could see how it might become one if the cup-holder can't stay steady when drinks are put in it. (Potential for back-seat spills).

But, other than those two minor issues, I'm very pleased with the Diono Radian RXT (in Storm). I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, and would definitely recommend it as a solid choice for anyone shopping for a convertible/toddler car seat.

Grade: A-

UPDATE: A couple of weeks after writing this review, we had to stop using the cup-holder that came with the Radian, because it was getting too dangerous. No matter what we tried, we just couldn't get it to install securely. And then, my 18 month-old daughter started pulling it out of the car seat and playing with it while we were driving. There's no latch or other mechanism for snapping the cup-holder securely into place when properly installed, so it's very easy for curious toddlers to pull out. The cup-holder has an "arm" that you install by pushing it into a hole in the car seat, and that arm tapers to an extremely pointy tip. It's all-too-easy for a young child to poke him/herself in the eye with this sharp tip; or worse yet, it could become an extremely hazardous projectile in the event of an accident (even a low-speed one). I actually contacted Diono's customer service department about this issue, and the representative told me that they're aware of the problems with the cup-holder and are working to correct it for future versions of the Radian. I ended up tossing the Radian cup-holder and getting the BRICA Deluxe Snack Pod Stroller Drink and Snack Holder, Gray, which clamps onto the car seat. It's not a perfect work-around, but it'll have to suffice until Diono (or 3rd-party manufacturer) comes up with a better cup-holder alternative.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Diono RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat

My Toyota Sienna was a total loss after a guy ran a stop sign at a speed of at least 45 MPH. Kids, ages 4 and 6, were in car seats and only six year old experienced minor bruising. Thank you Diono Radian RXT car seats.