Overview
Diono is one heck of a brand when it comes to car seats. These seats are not only secure but are comfortable for your child as well. You just need to make sure that you pick the right car seat according to the age and size of your kid. Most people don’t do that and then end up complaining about the product.
Diono car seats are effortless to install and they come with an appropriate amount of padding as well. Therefore, they not only are easy to use but your child will feel comfortable and safe in these seats.
We have developed a list of best Diono car seat reviews. And we will review them with some other top products available on the market. Scroll down to read everything about it!
Who Should Get This?
If you are looking to provide your kids with the best comfort and support while keeping them secure in their seat, you need to choose Diono. You will find the Diono car seats very useful if you…
- Have kids who are growing – At an earlier age, kids grow very quickly, and with time their height and weight increase. Therefore, your car seat needs to come with plenty of adjustability options to cater to the changing body characteristics.
- Are a frequent traveler – These car seats are a blessing in disguise if you travel a lot with your kids. It’s not all about vacation and holidays. Even going out for groceries and errands is quite a thing.
- Have to take your kids with you when going outside – If you are a single parent or live in an apartment where you can’t leave your kids behind for any reason at all.
- Drop them off or pick them up from school – This is an obvious one! If you are the one who is going to drop them off at the school in the morning, then pick them later, then you need a car seat for them.
- Are planning a long vacation – If you are planning a long vacation with your kids then you will need a seat that can keep them comfortable even if they stay in it for long hours while on the road.
How We Picked the Car Seat?
Picking up a car seat for your kids is a matter to which you need to pay a lot of attention. Your kids need to be in a very comfortable position to enjoy the trip just like you want to be. Therefore, you need to pick the right kind of car seat for them that provides them with adequate security and comfort.
Here is a list of what you need to consider when buying the right car seat for your kids.
Safety
The most important factor that you must keep in mind is how safe a car seat is for your kids. Since you are going to use it in your vehicle, it needs to meet some safety criteria. The standards set by the NHTSA regulate the matters associated with what kind of car seats can you use for your kids.
You must consider buying a car seat that meets these safety standards. Some manufacturers even crash-test their car seats to ensure safety compliance.
Comfort
It’s not just about safety when it comes to car seats. These seats must also provide users with enough comfort. And for this, the car seats need to come with a lot of padding on every corner of the seat. But it’s just not about padding!
The foam that has been used for the adding must be of high quality too. It should be durable because kids can be very mischievous. Even the harnesses of the seat should come with padding and they must be straightforward to use. The most important areas that need to come with padding are headrest, backrest, and armrest.
Age and size of your kid
Since your child is in a growing stage, the car seat that you are looking for must also grow with him/her. Hence, you must consider buying a car seat that comes with different modes and harness points.
For example, when your kid is small, you should be able to remove the backrest altogether. You must also be able to make adjustments to the headrest according to the size of your kid. And of course, you must also take into account your child’s weight and choose a seat that can accommodate it.
Materials
Make sure the car seat that you are considering can take some toll. And for that, it needs to be made with high-quality materials. It should be well constructed and there shouldn’t be any kind of sharp edges anywhere on the seat.
There needs to be plenty of padding, and only high-quality metal or plastic components should be there. It is going to matter a lot if you are looking for a seat that can stand the test of time. All the components need to be assembled sturdily to ensure that the seat remains intact without much maintenance requirements.
Easy installation and use
Be sure to choose a car seat that makes things easier when it comes to installation. If you can’t get your car seat done quickly then you will become frustrated. You will have to take a lot of time to set up the seat whenever you are going to use your car.
Similarly, the car seat needs to be easy to use and it needs to come with a lot of adjustability options. These adjustability options must be straightforward to access. The seat should be compatible with your vehicle. It is going to matter a lot if you travel around with your kids quite often.
Easy cleaning
Another crucial factor you must not ignore is that you must be able to clean and maintain the car seat comfortably. In most cases look for a car seat that comes with machine-washable fabric.
Kids can create a lot of mess and if you get the convenience of machine washable fabrics then your life will become a lot easier. You can use a piece of cloth to clean up those metal or plastic components as well.
Diono Car Seat Reviews:
Diono 2020 Radian 3R – Best overall
The first one up in our Diono car seat reviews is the Radian 3R 2020 and it’s the original 3-across model. It has such a compact design that you can place three of them right next to each other inside your vehicle on the back seat. If you have multiple kids that are bound to car seats then the Radian 3R is the right choice for you.
This car seat offers an optimal level of comfort and security for your kid whether you choose a front-facing position or rear-facing. It has a powerful frame made of steel while the padding features memory foam. All walls of this car seat are made of aluminum and are adequately lined with layers of foam that absorb energy.
The Radian 3R is extremely comfortable to use and it will grow with your child. The rear-facing option of this car seat tops out at 40 pounds while the front-facing option does that 65 pounds. The booster seat option can hold up to 100 pounds.
With the Radian 3R, convenience is at its best since the seat is incredibly easy to install. It comes with the audible click SuperLatch along with a visual locking indicator. There are five shoulder and three buckle positions and the footrest is also expandable and there’s a non-slip base made of rubber to keep it in place.
Pros
- Extremely compact construction.
- Folds well for easy storage.
- Can fit 3 seats in a row in the backseat of your vehicle.
- Plenty of padding.
- Different adjustability options.
Cons
- Straps are a bit difficult to adjust and lock-in.
Diono 2020 Radian 3RXT – Best for compact design
Just like the 3R, the 3RXT also comes with a 3-across compact design and it is a suitable option for mid-sized vehicles. The seat fabric is removable and washing machine safe.
But Diono recommends air dry so you don’t have to deal with any shrinkage issues. The frame of this car seat features a high-quality steel alloy with aluminum walls. Diono has used EPS foam in the construction of this seat to assist in cushioning impacts well.
The seat comes with an adjustable headrest and it will grow as your kid grows for their comfort and safety. With the rear face up the seat tops out at 45 pounds with the front face up its max load capacity is 65 pounds and with a booster on its capacity is 120 pounds.
Pros
- Easy to adjust the headrest.
- The steel frame is reinforced with aluminum sidewalls.
- Plenty of EPS foam padding.
- Removable fabric.
- Machine washable.
- Plenty of attachments available.
Cons
- Not very easy to install.
Diono Monterey XT Latch – Best for impact absorption
Number 3 on our list of Diono car seat reviews is the Monterey XT and it can easily accommodate a kid ranging in weight from 40 pounds to 120 pounds. The sidewalls are again reinforced with aluminum and there is plenty of padding available featuring EPS foam. This type of foam is excellent when it comes to impact absorbing.
This car seat can grow with your kid as the headrest comes with 11 different positions to conveniently accommodate the height of your shield. You can conveniently make adjustments to it with a very simple to use dial right at it back.
The seat is immensely easy to install as there are different latch connectors along with front adjusters. You can also remove the back effortlessly. It comes with an angled bottom and it is long to prevent sinking and provide support to the growing legs of your child.
Pros
- Comes with retractable cups and snack holders.
- Easily foldable in and out.
- Excellent fit and easy to install.
- You can use it until your kid is 63 inches tall.
- Very sturdy construction.
Cons
- Not much padding is there
Diono Cambria 2 Latch Booster Seat – Best for comfort
If you are looking for a booster car seat because your kid has outgrown those front-facing limitations then you can choose the Diono Cambria 2.
You can easily convert the Cambria 2 from high back to backless and it is extremely portable as well. The seat comes with a couple of retractable cup holders. This car seat can recline and your kid can use six different headrest positions.
If you are looking for a highly comfortable car seat for your child then there is nothing better than Cambria 2. It grows with your child and comes with easy adjustability options. The seat has a very sturdy construction and it is made of quality materials as well.
Last but not least…. This car seat can easily hold up to 120 pounds and it will make sure that your kid can use it for as long as s/he possibly can.
Pros
- Quality booster seat.
- Numerous features for supreme comfort.
- Retractable cup holders.
- Easy adjustability.
- Doesn’t take much time to install.
Cons
- Not for small vehicles.
- Self-buckling is not an option.
Diono Radian 3R vs. Britax Marathon ClickTight
The Radian 3R is the original 3-across design which means that it has extremely lean and fits well in the back seat of almost any type of vehicle. With a learner profile, you will notice that if you have an older kid or toddler, you will be comfortable with the Radian 3R. The Britax Marathon on the other hand is broader and you will find it a better option in case of a baby.
In terms of comfort and safety, there is not much difference between the two. But the Britax Marathon does take a lead when it comes to ease of installation and how well it holds its place. The turn-knob along with the threading in the seat belt ensures that you can get your Britax ready in no time and it stays securely in place as well.
Diono had the Latch system which means Lower Anchor & Tether for Child. Since the car seat laws have changed, the company has given up on this feature. But it has made immense progress when it comes to the overall durability of the Radian 3R. These car seats are built to last and are extremely safe. On the other hand, if padding is what you are looking for then you need to go for the Britax Marathon.
Diono Radian 3RXT vs. Britax Marathon ClickTight
The difference between these two is very close to what we have elaborated on in the previous difference between the Radian 3R and the Marathon ClickTight. But the 3RXT comes with a better weight capacity.
The 3RXT can easily hold a kid who is 120 pounds when you set the seat in its booster mode. It means that the 3RXT comes with better capabilities to grow with your child. And it is a true all-in-one car seat for your kid.
But specs are in favor of the Britax Marathon because with more cushioning and border profile, you will consider it to be better options for smaller children or babies. Just like the previous comparison, you will find that for younger kids or babies, Britax Marathon is the better option but with growth (toddlers and onwards) you will find Diono Radian 3RXT more practical.
The Britax Marathon is again simpler to install as compared to the Radian 3RXT. Installing the 3RXT is not that easy and you will have to learn a few techniques to do it. But that is not the case when we talk about the Britax Marathon. But the Radian 3RXT also has a price advantage on its side and that is why more parents prefer to use it over the Britax Marathon.
Diono Radian 3RXT vs Britax Boulevard ClickTight
The Radian 3RXT is again at an advantage here over the Boulevard ClickTight by Britax as it comes with a better max load capacity and any position. The Radian 3RXT is better in terms of easy to fit in the back of the seat as it is leaner than the Boulevard ClickTight. But it is also taller than the latter so it can hold bigger kids too.
However, the Boulevard ClickTight is much fun to install as compared to the 3RXT either front or rear-facing. Both these seats are extremely safe to use but the 3RXT is very durable with steel reinforcements. Another advantage that the 3RXT has over the Boulevard is that it comes with machine-washable fabric. But the Boulevard comes with a no-rethreading harness which means latching becomes very easy
All-in-all you will find that the Boulevard is better suited for the parents with babies while the 3RXT is suitable for the parents with toddlers and above. Both the seats are extremely sturdy while the Boulevard focuses more on ease of installation and comfort, the 3RXT emphasizes durability and longevity.
The Conclusion for You – Diono Car Seat Reviews
After going through all the Diono car seat reviews the winner turns out to be the Diono 2020 Radian 3R with the Diono 2020 Radian 3RXT being a close second. Both these designs are compact and they are the best fit if you have multiple kids. These car seats might require some expert assembly but they are very sturdy with steel and aluminum reinforcement.
They also come with impact-absorbing EPS foam to provide proper comfort and support to your little one. Adjustability is their primary feature with both the seats accommodating up to 120 pounds. It means that you can conveniently use them as your kid grows. This is something of great value in the long run.
So which one of these are you interested in? Have you tried any of these Diono car seats previously? What was your experience? Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for us? Leave your comments and suggestions below.
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