This used to be a review for the Diono Radian R100. I have updated it to the Diono Radian 3R, which is almost the same seat but with a different name.
The Diono Radian 3R, the successor of the Diono Radian R100, promises to fit three of it in a row because of its slim profile.
What's the difference with the previous version?
Read on.
New Name:
| Rear-Facing Weight: | 5 to 40 lbs |
| Forward-Facing Weight (with 5-point harness): | 20 to 65 lbs |
| Booster Weight: | 50 to 100 lbs |
| Rear-Facing Height Limit: | 44 inches |
| Forward-Facing And Booster Height Limit: | 57 inches |
NOTE: Infants under one year old weighing less than 20 pounds MUST BE REAR-FACING
The Diono Radian 3R has extended rear-facing capacity. It allows your baby to use the safest traveling position until they reach 40 lbs! This is a unique feature especially offered by this car seat. Most car seats only offer a rear-facing position for children up to 30 to 35 pounds.
For forward-facing, your child must be 20 to 65 lbs. And for the booster mode, your little one must be more than 50 lbs.
The ideal usage wasn't changed. The Diono R100 and Diono Radian 3R have the same weight and height limit from rear-facing to booster mode.
| Diono Radian 3R Dimensions | |
| Width | 16 inches |
| Height | 28.4 inches |
| Depth/Length | 16 inches |
The seat dimensions difference from the previous model is not significantly changed. It's just less than an inch difference for the length, width, and height.
One thing to take note of is that, although it is advertised as it can “fit three in a row,” it will still depend on the type of vehicle you have.
In the rear-facing mode, you have to get the separate foam insert* (a.k.a the angle adjuster) to go underneath the seat to “save” space. And because of its tall profile, the usual tendency is to move the driver or the front passenger seat more to the front, just as to accommodate it rear-facing.
But even with the angle adjuster, the back of this seat when in rear-facing mode will still be very near the back of the driver or the front passenger seat if you have a small car.
In the forward-facing, you will come to appreciate its slim profile. This is probably where the claim to fit three in a row will work.
| Do I need to use a pool noodle/rolled towel? | No |
| Easy To Install Rear-Facing? | Relatively |
| Easy To Install Forward-Facing? | Relatively |
| Easy To Uninstall? | Yes |
Just like its similar model Diono Radian R100, the Radian 3R can sometimes be tricky to install. Some parents ultimately made the seat tight enough by using a seat angle adjuster.*
| Country Of Origin: | USA |
| Steel Frame: | Yes |
| Five-Point Harness? | Yes |
| Side Impact Tested: | Yes |
| Approved For Airplane Use: | Yes |
| Easy To Buckle And Unbuckle? | Yes |
The Diono Radian R100 was made in China. The new version of Radian 3R is from the USA.
This seat is built safe and sturdy - thanks to its steel frame. It’s wrapped with thick engineered plastic to withstand severe crash forces.
It is also easy to buckle and unbuckle. When it comes to the safety of the chest clip, you might want to think once again. The chest clip is so simple and easy to use — so easy that even a 3-year-old can unbuckle it when the vehicle is in motion.
This is an extremely disappointing flaw of the Diono Radian 3R car seat. But if you think you can train your kiddo not to unbuckle the clip while driving around, then this won’t be a problem.
Easiest Convertible Car Seats To Install (2024)
| Is The Material Breathable? | Yes |
| Seat Weight: | 23.5 pounds |
| Machine Washable Cover? | Yes |
| Roomy? | Yes |
| No-Rethread Harness? | No |
| Comes With An Infant Body Support? | No |
| Easy to remove Cover? | Yes |
| Expiration | 8 Years (for harness); 10 Years (for the booster) |
| Comes With A Cup Holder? | No |
| Shoulder Harness Has Pads? | Yes |
| Leg Straps Has Pads? | No |
Compared to similar models 3RX* and 3RXT,* it doesn’t come with an infant insert.
Although it comes with two slots for cup holders, you have to get the cup holders separately.*
The seat harness needs to be manually rethreaded. That means uninstalling the seat, manually removing the straps and slotting them into the next higher slot, and installing the seat back again.
Being able to wash the seat covers in washing machines is good since some seat covers are only suitable for hand-washing. However, you have to pay close attention to how you can “easily” do it. You have to uninstall the seat if you are in the forward-facing mode so that you can take the cover out for washing.
Should you ever need to fold the seat for air travel, remember that it weighs 26.5 pounds. Consider attaching it to your rolling suitcase using a car seat travel accessory.*
The Diono Radian 3R is useful only if you intend to leave it installed in one vehicle. Because it can be tough sometimes to tighten the LATCH straps, you would not want to keep changing cars if you were using this seat.
The seat adjuster* can be a lifesaver to tighten it quickly. But given the price point, it should have been easier to tighten it too, especially since some convertible car seats don’t need you to get an additional upsell to get a tight install.
Diono 3R's slim frame, good quality, and extended rear-facing capacity may be enough to consider this seat, especially since not very many convertible car seats will let you have your child seated rear-facing for a very long time.
But given that Radian 3R doesn't have infant support compared to the very similar model Radian 3RX, you might as well get the Radian 3RX,* which, can even accommodate your child up to 120 pounds, as well as comes with cup holders and infant support.
Aside from the added weight, country of origin, and less than an inch size difference, the Diono Radian 3R is basically the same seat as the previous Radian R100 - just marketed to look like a new version because of the prettier colors.
I highly suggest that you check out the feedback of the parents who got this seat to help you verify your decision.
What do you think of the Radian 3R?
I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Cheers!
Pitin
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