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Diono Radian 3QXT Plus vs 3RXT Safe Plus

November 8, 2022 By Kristian

Diono Radian 3QXT Plus                  Diono Radian 3RXT Safe Plus

   vs

Diono Radian convertible harness to booster car seats have been around for many years now and they have always been one of the most popular options for parents looking either for a seat to use from birth or as an upgrade from an infant car seat.

The Diono Radian 3QXT Plus and Diono Radian 3RXT Safe Plus are 2 of the best models that are currently available to buy in the USA and Canada.

However, the Diono Radian 3QXT Plus and Radian 3RXT Safe Plus car seats are actually from different ranges of Diono seats. The Radian 3RXT Safe Plus seat is the top-of-the-range model from the older RX series of seats, whereas the Diono Radian 3QXT Plus is the top-of-the-range model from the latest QX series of seats.

The 3QXT Plus seat is newer than the 3RXT Safe Plus seat and, although it looks very similar to the older 3RXT Safe Plus seat and comes with many of the same features, there are some important safety  and convenience upgrades and enhancements for you to consider before making a purchase.

So, what are the similarities and differences between the Diono Radian 3QXT Plus and Diono Radian 3RXT Safe Plus car seats?

Is the Radian 3QXT Plus version worth the extra money?

Here is my comparison review of the Diono Radian 3QXT Plus and Radian 3RXT Safe Plus convertible harness to booster car seats.

Radian 3QXT Plus vs Radian 3RXT Safe Plus – Similarities

1. Child Height & Weight Limits

The Diono Radian 3QXT Plus and Radian 3RXT Safe Plus seats both have the same child height and weight limits.

The overall weight limits for using both seats is 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 both seats 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 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 3QXT Plus and 3RXT Safe Plus seats measure just 17 inches across.

So, if you have (or intend to have) a large family, the narrow width of these seats 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 seats inside.

3. 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.

4. EPS Foam & Side Impact Protection

In addition to the metal sub-structure, both seats have the same energy-absorbing EPS foam and side impact protection features that exceed the relevant Federal safety standards.

Note: The Diono Radian 3QXT Plus seat comes with extra side impact protection features that are explained below.

5. Headrest Adjustment

Both seats come 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 headrest adjustment mechanism is quick and simple to use and only requires one hand to operate it.

6. Other Shared Features

The Diono Radian 3QXT Plus and Radian 3RTX Safe Plus seats also share 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

Radian 3QXT Plus vs Radian 3RXT Safe Plus – Differences

1. Infant Head & Body Support Cushions

The Radian 3QXT Plus and the Radian 3RXT Safe Plus seats both come with full head and body infant support cushions to help you to ensure a nice snug fit whilst your baby is very small.

There are some differences between the seats when it comes to the infant support cushions though.

Firstly, the infant support cushions on the 3QXT Plus seat are made of memory foam for a more comfortable fit.

Secondly, as you can also see from the image below, the Radian 3QXT Plus seat comes with an extra infant side impact protection cushion (light gray in color) that wraps around your child. It also has padded harness straps.

2. Anti-Rebound Bar / Panel

Both seats both come with anti-rebound features.

The anti-rebound features on the 2 seats are very different though.

The Radian 3RXT Safe Plus seat comes with a traditional looking anti-rebound bar. 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 seat, however, comes with a 2-in-1 anti-rebound panel rather than just a standard anti-rebound bar. While your child is using the seat in the rear-facing mode, this anti-rebound panel works just like the regular anti-rebound bar that comes with the Radian 3QX and Radian 3QXT seats.

However, once your child outgrows the rear-facing mode, the anti-rebound panel on the Radian 3QXT Plus seat converts into a forwards-facing adjustable calf support for your growing child (see seat image above). This calf support is covered with a comfort liner to ease the transition to forwards-facing without your child having to deal with the potential discomfort of simply having their legs hanging unsupported over the edge of the seat.

3. Side Impact Protection Layers

Another difference between the Radian 3QXT Plus and Radian 3RXT Safe Plus car seats is that the Diono Radian 3QXT Plus seat comes with more layers of side impact protection than the 3RXT Safe Plus model.

The Radian 3QXT Plus seat comes with 8 layers as opposed to the Radian 3RXT Safe Plus seat, which comes with 6 layers.

If you look carefully at the image of the Radian 3QXT Plus seat below, you ought to be able to see the extra Side Impact Management Pods on the outside of the seat itself.

If you look carefully at the images of these 2 seats and watch the comparison video review below, you will see that the infant insert cushion supplied with the 3QXT Plus seat has extra side impact protection built into it, as described above.

CHECK OUT THE 3QXT Plus & 3RXT SAFE PLUS COLOR OPTIONS HERE

Radian 3QXT Plus vs Radian 3RXT Safe Plus – Video Reviews

So, here are some video reviews of the Diono Radian 3QXT and 3RXT Safe Plus car seats …




Radian 3QXT Plus vs Radian 3RXT Safe Plus – My Verdict

Both of these seats are excellent options for any parent looking for a high-quality premium convertible harness to booster car seat.

They are the perfect choice for anyone looking to fit 3 car seats in a single row, since they are the slimmest products available.

The only real decision to make is whether or not you want to pay extra for the newer Radian 3QXT Plus seat in order to enjoy the benefits of its additional infant inserts and padded straps, the extra 2 layers of side impact protection, and the 2-in-1 anti-rebound panel.

If you can afford it, I’d definitely recommend the Radian 3QXT Plus seat. Otherwise, the Radian 3RXT Safe Plus would be just fine.

Check Best Price of the Radian 3QXT Plus

Read User Reviews of the Radian 3QXT Plus

Check Best Price of the Radian 3RXT Safe Plus

Read User Reviews of the Radian 3RXT Safe Plus

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 3QXT Plus vs Radian 3RXT Safe Plus comparison review, please leave a comment in the box below.

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