Diono Radian RXT Review: All-in-One Convertible Car Seat

Editor's rating:
9.0
Reviewed by Brankica Ivanova
User's rating:
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We like

The car seat that can accommodate newborns (5 pounds) up to kids who weigh 120 pounds

12 positions of adjustability of the headrest

Steel frame and sides reinforced with aluminum

The seat can be installed in rear-position, forward-position and booster mode

We don’t like

Heavyweight

You may need to purchase angle adjuster for the rear-position of the seat

Pricy

How it works

Choosing a car seat that will meet all the safety and comfort requirements, fit to the size of your vehicle size, budget, and many other criteria have never been an easy job for the parents, especially with so many products on the market that claim to be the best. Today we are reviewing a car seat that belongs to the convertible car seats and can accommodate your child from the birth and it has a weight limit of 120 pounds which is impressive. The car seat belongs to the line of Diono brand which has a reputation of great safety and it is one of the few convertible seats that offer the child to be seated in the rear position of the car seat for kids up to 50 pounds. If you are in a search of a convertible car seat that is with good quality and durable take time and read our review of the Diono Radian RXT seat.

Product specifics

Product specifics

The Diono Radian RXT is a type of convertible car seat that is specially designed with growing kids in mind. This is a seat that is called convertible because you can start using it from the very beginnings i.e when the baby is still a newborn and up to weight restriction of 120 pounds of the child. This covers years of extended use. The seat is pretty heavy with a weight of 31 lbs but on the positive side is that its dimensions of 17 inches wide and 28.5 inches high actually make this seat compatible with many vehicles, which means that you do not have to have a big car to fit this car seat but it can be fit in the majority of the vehicles with middle-size. One of the features that this product is advertised with is the narrowness of the car seat’s profile that makes it possible for up to three car seats to be positioned on the backseat of the car and this is one unbeatable or at least hard to beat feature.
Who is it for?

Who is it for?

As this is a convertible car seat it is intended to be used for babies and kids at different developmental stages. It can be used for newborn babies who have at least 5 pounds or around 2.26 kg and the weight limit is 120 pounds or 54 kg, which means that if you decide to buy this convertible seat it is probably going to cover the whole childhood period and can be used up to around 10 years of age. The seat also specifies different weight as well as restrictions regarding height in reference to the facing positions of the seat, meaning the different stages the child is in. The rear-facing position is recommendable for the youngest from their birth weight up to 45 lbs and height up to 44 inches. With the growth of the child, the seat grows too and is transformed into a seat that is to be used in a forward-facing position, which accommodates kids with weight in a range from 22 up to 65 lbs and height range of 30 to 57 inches. The last position and option of the car seat is a booster seat with high-back and as such, it is intended for kids from 50 and limited to 120 pounds and height limit up to 57 inches. It is important to abide by the use of different positions in respect to the weight and height restrictions because of the harness and the safety features. With the narrow dimensions, it is also suitable for families who have middle-sized vehicles.

Ease of installation

Ease of installation

The product comes with an instruction of use that contains guidelines for installation of the different facing positions of the car seat. The instructions are straightforward and they have a good organization so users find them easy to follow. The car seat features a system of SuperLATCH, which means that the installation should be done in a few simple steps and this system also guarantees a secure installation. Majority of the customers who have used this car seat also verify that when it comes to installation of connectors to the backseat it is an easy job but it gets harder and more challenging when you want to secure the car seat tightly with the seat belt. How difficult it would be to install it, also depends very much on the type of a car you own, meaning the size of the car, and what is worth mentioning is that when installing the seat in a rear position most of the users had to move the front seats -the driver’s and the co-driver seat a bit forward in order the car seat to fit properly in this rear position. Regarding the proper angle of installation also there are some reported issues but this is something that can be achieved with a base that is detachable. There is also an option for an angle adjuster but this does not come together with the package and if you want to purchase it, make sure you add the cost to the final value of the seat, but this is only used for rare position. The height of the seat also in rear position is a little bit problematic because it is a tall seat and what can happen is that you might not be able to see the child properly. The moment you convert the position from the rear into forward-facing you will need to take away this base that is detachable and the installation and the use is easier with the forward position. So, basically, there are three types of installation again depending on the position of the seat - using the LATCH system, seat belt, and top tether. The booster mode is without a harness.
Material

Material

One of the reasons why this car seat is so heavy is the fact that there is a steel frame. There is an addition of aluminum on the sides of the car seat as well as in the headrest. The steel and the added aluminum make the seat sturdy and the users agree that the car seat is made of high-quality materials. For extra comfort and security of the child seated in the car seat, there is a foam -EPS on the seat pad. The seat cover is made of fabric, which can be removed and is machine-washable when it is really dirty. In general, it is material that absorbs and this is why many parents ask themselves whether this will make the material not easy to clean. The fabric is nice and soft and adds to the comfort of the child. To maintain it, you can use a mild washing soap. The restraint system belts are also padded which is good compared to some other car seats that have no padded belts.
Safety

Safety

The safety of this car seat among other things is guaranteed with 5 point harness system. The restraint system feels secure and sits tightly but comfortably when the child is seated in the car seat. It is important to mention that the restraint system can be used only in forward-facing positions. The restraint straps are easily adjustable according to the size of the child and the clips can be fastened without any difficulties. This car seat has a period of use of 10 years and once it reaches 10 years you should stop using it because it is a risk against safety. This 10 year period is calculated from the date of the first purchase of the seat. The seat has a headrest that is aluminum and EPS foam supported and this contributes to the safety regarding the prevention and reduction of impacts. The protection for side impacts on both sides of the headrest will ensure the protection of the head. The seat also has a feature called SafeStop, whose function is to reduce the strength in an event of a crash especially around the area of the upper part of the body of the child when the seat is in the forward position.
Comfort

Comfort

For the additional comfort of the newborn baby, the package includes a support pad specially designed for the coziness of the newborns. The package also includes a cup holder that can be detached and a lap cushion. The cupholder can be extremely useful especially on long trips. The seat can be folded for easier transport and portability although as mentioned the seat is really heavy so it is not much recommended nor intended to be moved from one vehicle to another. If the seat is folded it can be released by a buckle that users claim that sometimes can be hard to release. For greater comfort, besides safety, the headrest can be adjusted in 12 positions. Besides the 5 point shoulder restraint system there is a 3 point buckle system or there are three slots for adjustment of the buckle and this is very important when we are talking about a growing child that requires adjustment. The fabric that the seat is made of feels soft and contributes to the feeling of comfort. The parts of the seat that are padded with extra foam is a great feature for the comfort. The head restraint is adjustable up and down. There is a Velcro system that you have to use on both sides if you want to move the head restraint in the two possible positions, so you can pull down or move it up. The sides of the seat where the child is seating at the bottom also adjust inward and outwards but unfortunately, there are no armrests. One of the prominent features of the car seat is that it was actually certified by FAA (Federal Administration) and it can be used on plane rides.
Value

Value

This convertible seat has a price that belongs to the high-range price and it is one of the more expensive seats. The car seat is with a lifespan of 10 years and taking into mind that this is a convertible seat that will cover the period of newborn, infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool the purchase is worth considering. The assembly can be done with few steps and the extra safety features also make this seat attractive for purchase. Other thing worth mentioning when you are thinking about the value of the product is that the seat can be folded and if there are different comments about the level of difficulty for the assembly, majority of the customers agree that the seat is very easy to disassemble if there is a need to use the car for example only by adults.

Bottom line

The Convertible seat RXT by Diono is a seat that is much appreciated because of the versatility that it offers regarding the use and the age of the kids. It may be the only seat that you will need to buy as it is suitable for newborns and the weight limit is pretty high for a toddler (120 pounds). This allows kids with varying weight and height characteristics to be able to use the car seat comfortably and feel secure. This is one of the rare seats that when used in a rear position it can accommodate kids even up to 2 years of age and safety experts do recommend the use of rear position as long as possible. Although really heavy still it is good to know that this seat is narrow and this is why you can fit three of these in the backseat of a standard car. The users of this car seat especially like the safety features of the seat such as the steel frame and the extra padded sides for protection. Besides of the safety, this seat also offers comfort for the child with soft fabric of the cover that can be removed and put in the machine for washing.
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