If you are looking for superior safety features and comfort for your growing child, look no further than the Radian XTSL. If you are just entering the convertible car seat market than I don’t have to tell you how overwhelming it can be to find a carseat that works for you.
Between weight limits, fabric designs, carseat size, and safety features, you could literally research for years and still not know for sure what seat is perfect for your situation. The Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL, has high weight limits, a super narrow frame (for small cars), is foldablea and portable and is boasts a heavy duty construction.
The entire Radian family of seats has by far the highest weight capacity available among convertible car seats, accommodating infants and toddlers from five to forty five pounds rear-facing, and then up to 80 pounds forward-facing.
You should really keep your little one rear facing as long as possible and with the Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL this is possible.
The AAP advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat.
With this seat you can keep your little one rear-facing up to 45 pound! Plus the Radian exceeds the mandatory US safety standards and passed the voluntary NCAP severe crash testing with flying colors.
My favorite feature of the Sunshine Kids Radian is the LATCH installation. Most seats instruct you to switch from LATCH to seatbelt the second a child reaches 40 pounds. However, the Radian XTSL allows for the seat to be LATCH-installed up to 80 pounds using the Super-LATCH straps. In addition, since the 80 pound limit means you’ll be able to use this seat longer, the Radian is approved for 8 years of use.
The Radian XTSL is heavy. Very, very heavy. But really after installation of this seat you shouldnt have to move it. If you do the seat folds up into the seatback, attaching with a velcro strap, allowing the seat to fold flat for travel, and comes with a detachable carrying strap for portability. Trust me you will need that strap, this thing is so heavy. You can also buy a second strap so you can carry this as a backpack.
I drive a Toyota Corolla- and I could easily fit three of these car seats across the back seat of my car beacuse of how narrow the seat is. Yet my kiddos, even my 7 year old, have plenty of room in this seat. The Radian is also super comfortable- sporting padded infant support pillows, padded shoulder straps, aluminum-reinforced adjustable head support for taller children, forward- and rear-facing tether, 5 shoulder harness positions, three lower-buckle positions and a variety of beautiful fabric choices.
The Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL is now known as the Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat.
Buy It: You can buy a Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat for 269.99!
This seat looks amazing! My little guy is getting so big, I have been looking for quite some time for a replacement. This is at the top of my list. Thanks for the great review.
We have an older version of the Radian and love it!! Being using it over two years and its still in great shape. Love how sturdy and narrow it is, not to mention how it grows with the child so well.
We have a little guy who is needing to get a new seat. I love this one! I love how narrow it is and that we can possibly fit this with two other car seats!!
We have this car seat & love it!
That is an amazing car seat, and being able to use it rear facing for so long is a huge plus.
This car seat looks great! I love the fact that they’re narrow yet comfy, in case they’re needed in a car.
I have a Toyota Corolla also and am pregnant with twins. I’m wondering if these seats will truly secure an infant well (I know they say from 5 pounds and up and have infant padding, but am looking for a Mama review on an infant fit) and if they’ll work rear-facing in the Corolla. They would both be in the outboard position so couldn’t fit one in between the front seats, if that makes sense. Thanks!
i have one of these seat the are great
I’m only just now pregnant with my first, but I’m sure needing a convertible car seat will sneak up faster than I think! I’ll definitely keep this brand in mind.
I wish I could afford something like this but we’re still getting back on track with bills & 5 kids after the tornado outbreak took everything
I like that it is foldable and so durable. Thanks for the great review!! My grandson will be needing one of these soon.
We’ve been seriously considering one of these style carseats by now DIONO… they are expensive but since they can follow our child all the way from infancy to “out of a carseat” we thought it might be worth it… plus I love the narrowness of it (easier to fit three in one backseat)… we’re not needing to fit three in one backseat yet but we’re expecting baby #2 any day now so foreseeably we could have that need in the future. Thanks for the review.
this would really be nice for my grandson
I want one of these seats! I like that there is a five point harness for up to 80 lbs. That makes my little girl much safer for longer.
I love the look of that headrest… It looks like it offers a lot more protection than competitors’ seats…and would prevent injuries better during a car accident.
Thank you so much for blogging about extended rear facing! I kept both of my boys rear facing until they were two. The Sunshine Kids make excellent car seats and have been top rated for years! Great post!
This seat seems like the perfect seat. It’s convertible, goes up to 80 lbs./8 yrs. so lasts awhile & seems super safe & portable. Even though it’s heavy, it’s worth it, for all the other reasons.
I really like how it seems to hug her into the car seat- it doesnt look small but looks like it is snug and very very safe. Great review!
these look safe!