The Diono Radian 3RXT Or The Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max?

The presence of the infant wedge in the Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max helps make the seat a better fit for newborns and young babies.

It is advised to use the infant wedge that the Pria 85 Max has until the child is 11 pounds (or preferably until 14 pounds).

This wedge, together with the surrounding inserts, will make a newborn and young baby comfortably fitted in the seat.

Other than the higher forward-facing weight limit of the Pria 85 Max, the Diono Radian 3RXT has the advantage of being usable longer since it has higher weight and height limits.

The Diono Radian 3RXT is well-known to be a space-saver, especially in the forward-facing mode.

In the rear-facing mode and when your child can already sit more upright, the Diono Radian Angle adjuster* can help further reduce the space that the 3RXT needs.

The Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max is not the most compact seat, and will clearly need to be in a larger vehicle.

Both seats would need you to pay close attention to some tricks and tips, however, the Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max seems a little easier to install.

Both seats have very good side-impact protection features.

The Diono Radian 3RXT has a head wing type of headrest which is there to protect your child’s head against side collisions.

The Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max’s counterpart is the “Air Protect Technology” -  a unique feature Maxi Cosi claims to be the greatest side-impact protection that can be found nowadays.

The Diono Radian 3RXT has a steel-reinforced frame - the Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max is plastic.

The Maxi Cosi Pria’s seat harness (buckles) is well improved - the “ClipQuick Auto-Magnetic Chest Clip” as they call it. It’s super easy for parents to release but hard for toddlers to guess how to use.

Despite being bulkier, the Pria 85 Max is way lighter than the Diono Radian 3RXT.

Whenever you need to adjust the seat harness height, you’ll have to manually remove the seat harness of the 3RXT and move it to the next lower or higher slot, depending on the needed fitting.

You don’t have to manually rethread the Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max since the height goes together with the seat headrest - you just have to move it up or down.

While both come with an infant body support, the infant wedge that the Pria 85 Max comes with seems to be more suitable for infants and younger babies.

There is an approximately USD 50 price difference between the Diono Radian 3RXT and the Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max. The Pria 85 Max is more expensive.

Let’s see what the added cost is for.

1. The infant wedge that the Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max comes with seems to be more suitable for newborns and younger babies.
2. It has a higher forward-facing weight limit.
3. After learning the tips and tricks for installing, the Pria 85 Max seems to be easier to install.
4. It is lighter.
5. It has a no-rethread harness.

Now let’s see what you get aside from saving your USD 50 with the Diono Radian 3RXT.

1. It has a higher height and weight limit in general and can even be used until booster mode.
2. Its extended rear-facing capacity is the main reason why parents usually get it.
3. It’s more “compact” and can fit three in a row. With the Diono Angle Adjuster,* you can even save more space.
4. It has a steel-reinforced frame.
5. You can fold it - useful for when you need to carry it for traveling.

Both seem to be a good choice.

The Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max looks like the seat which can take your child home from the hospital. But the Diono Radian 3RXT will be the one that your child can spend a longer time with.

Do You Need More Help To Decide Between

The Diono Radian 3RXT Or The Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max?

Read My Diono Radian 3RXT Review

See My Maxi Cosi Pria 85 Max Review

What Do You Think?

I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Cheers!

Pitin

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