Diono Radian 3QX – Introduction
It is genuinely an all-in-one child car seat that can be used from birth until your child outgrows car seats altogether.
It is one of the seats that replaces the older R Series of Diono car seats, although you can still find some Diono R Series seats to buy now.
Whilst the Diono Radian 3QX seat comes with many of the same safety and convenience features that were developed by Diono when manufacturing the older R Series seats, there have been some significant changes and upgrades.
Some of the improvements on the Diono Radian 3QX are obvious from just looking at it, but others are not.
There are 3 different seats in the Diono Q Series range of seats. The 3 seats are:
The Diono Radian 3QX seat is the most basic model within their latest Q Series of convertible / harness-to-booster car seats and, as a result, it comes with the fewest convenience and safety features that Diono has to offer.
That does not, however, mean that it is not a good option if your budget can’t quite stretch to buying the 3QXT or 3QXT Plus versions. If you want to better understand the differences and similarities between the Radian 3QX and Radian 3QXT Plus models, you can read my comparison review of those seats here.
The Diono Radian seats have been very popular with parents and car seat technicians for many years now. They are quite rightly regarded as high-quality premium car seats and ought to be towards the top of any shortlist, whether you are looking for a single child car seat for use from birth for the next 10 years or are transitioning your child from an infant seat because they have outgrown it.
Another big positive thing about the Diono Radian Q Series of seats is that they are the narrowest convertible / harness to booster seats on the US market, which makes them perfect for fitting 3 seats side-by-side in a vehicle.
So, what are the main features that can be found on the Diono Radian 3QX Car Seat?
Here is my Diono Radian 3QX Car Seat Review.
Diono Radian 3QX – The Key Features
1. Child Height & Weight Limits
The Diono Radian 3QX car seat comes with very generous child height and weight limits, which means that it can be safely used from birth right up until your child no longer needs to use a car seat.
The overall weight limits for using the seat are between 4 and 120 pounds, but you need to be aware that each specific mode of use comes with different safe usage limits.
Those weight limits are:
- Rear-facing: 4 – 50 lbs
- Forwards-facing in harness: 22 to 65 lbs
- Forwards-facing using seatbelt: 40 to 120 lbs
The overall maximum height limit for the Radian 3QX seat is 57 inches, but you should check the user manual for more specific height limit instructions in relation to each mode of use.
Also, don’t forget to keep your child in the rear-facing position for as long as they remain within the safe use height and weight limits. Just because they just about qualify to switch over to forwards-facing or use of the vehicle seatbelt, that does not mean it is best to do so straight away.
Rear-facing is generally safer than forwards-facing and using the 5-point harness is generally better than using the vehicle seatbelt, provided that the limits have not yet been exceeded.
2. Seat Width
One of the most distinctive features of the Diono Radian Q Series of child car seats is that they measure just 17 inches across at their widest point. This makes them the narrowest convertible / booster seats on the US market and means that they are capable of fitting inside most standard sized family vehicles 3 in a row!
This is one of Diono’s main marketing boasts about the Radian car seats and it is well justified. The Diono Radian 3QX seat measures just 17 inches across despite the fact that it comes with 6 layers of side impact protection.
So, if you have (or intend to have) a large family, the narrow width of this seat can make a massive difference and possibly help you to avoid the need to buy a larger vehicle with 3 rows of seating just so that you can fit all of the child car seats inside.
3. Infant Head & Body Support Cushions
The Radian 3QX seat comes with a full head and body infant support cushion to help you to ensure a nice snug fit whilst your baby is very small. Unlike the previous R series of Diono Seats, the infant inserts are also made of memory foam for an even more comfortable fit.
4. Steel Frame and Aluminium Reinforced Sides
You can’t actually see this feature because it is hidden away inside the frame of the seat itself.
Not all child car seats come with a steel frame and metal reinforced sides and so this is a nice extra premium safety feature.
The steel frame brings added strength and stability to the seats in the event of a collision.
5. Headrest Adjustment
The seat comes with an adjustable headrest with 12 different positions to make it easier to achieve the best possible fit for your growing child.
This means that these seats come with 22% more headrest adjustment options than the older R Series range of seats.
The more headrest adjustment options that you have, the more chance you have of achieving the best possible fit for your child.
The headrest adjustment mechanism is quick and simple to use and only requires one hand to operate it.
6. Side Impact Protection Layers
Unlike the 3QXT and 3QXT Plus versions, the Diono Radian 3QX seat comes with 6 layers of side impact protection rather than 8 layers.
If you look carefully at the image of the Radian 3QXT seat below, you ought to be able to see the extra silver colored Side Impact Management Pods on the outside of the seat itself.
The Radian 3QXT and 3QXT Plus seats also come supplied with an upgraded infant insert cushion over the one that comes with the 3QX version.
The 6 layers or side impact protection that come with the Radian 3QX is still much more than you will find on a budget car seat and many premium car seats, but it is obviously a slight compromise when compared with the 3QXT and 3QXT Plus seats.
7. Anti-Rebound Bar / Panel
Unlike most of the older seats in the Diono R Series of seats, the 3QX seat comes with anti-rebound features.
The Radian 3QX seat comes with a standard anti-rebound bar at the front.
The anti-rebound bar is made of steel and is designed to increase stability of the seat in the event of a collision. The bar is said to reduce rebound rotation in certain crash situations by up to 50% over seats without an anti-rebound bar fitted.
The Radian 3QXT Plus has a very different anti-rebound bar/panel, which you can read about here.
8. Other Features
The Diono Radian 3QX seat also comes with the following features:
- SuperLATCH Installation
- Safe+ Newborn Baby Travel High Wedge
- NCAP crash tested
- Sits low on vehicle seat to make loading easier and improve safety performance
- Cup Holder
- Machine washable seat cover
- FAA approved for aircraft use
- Folds flat for easy carriage and storage
- 10 year product life
CHECK OUT THE Radian 3QX COLOR OPTIONS HERE
Diono Radian 3QX – Video Reviews
So, here are some videos about the Diono Radian 3QX car seat.
Diono Radian 3QX – My Verdict
The Diono Radian 3QX seat is a high-end product that is packed full of safety and comfort features, but it is the most basic of the Q Range of Diono car seats. The Radian 3QXT and 3QXT Plus models undoubtedly have a little more to offer, but for a higher price.
If you don’t want (or can’t afford) to pay extra for the 2-in-1 anti-rebound panel that comes with the 3QXT Plus version, or the extra layers of side impact protection that come with both the Radian 3QXT and 3QXT Plus seats, the Radian 3QX could be the best option for you.
Check Best Price of the Radian 3QX
Read User Reviews of the Radian 3QX
Find Diono Radian Seats in Canada
Find the Latest Canadian Prices and User Reviews.
Safety Information
After purchasing any child car seat, you should always read the User Manual thoroughly before using it. It is also advisable to visit your local Fire Department or NHTSA Child Car Seat Inspection Centre to ensure that the seat is definitely suitable for your child’s specific requirements and that you have installed it correctly. These services are usually provided free of charge.
You can find your nearest NHTSA Centre here.
Get in Touch
If you have any comments to share or questions to ask about my Diono Radian 3QX Car Seat Review, please leave a comment in the box below.
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