Question Just bought an 2013 Subaru Outback, will a Radian RF?

Hi,
I'm new here and, with our first baby on the way, nervous/confused about all the new car seats.
My sister(across the country) recommended the Diono Radian XRT, and that is what I'm leaning towards. We just upgraded from a 2006 Forester to a 2013 Outback(Love the EyeSight system!). I've read so many things about Subaru Outbacks not fitting the Radian, and that they do. If I could please get a definitive answer, and maybe some photos, I would be very grateful. Sorry if this has been asked over and over again, but its very important so I don't want to take chances.

-- Oh, do people with the new Outbacks put the Radian RF in the middle seat, or on the side. I'm over 6', and like the seat all the way back so I'm wondering just how everything will fit.

Thank you very much,
Isaac

Re: Just bought an 2013 Subaru Outback

Just deleted my post. I forgot they redesigned the Outback for 2013! Hope someone has some experience with your car. Congratulations and good luck.

Are there stores that have Diono Radians that I can go to and see how big they are?

Radians do fit average sized newborns, but the big test is not only will it fit into your car (and I'm sorry I have no idea for your car specifically) but can you get an appropriate 45* angle on the seat that a newborn needs? This will depend entirely on the slope of your vehicle seat. You can't add anything to a Radian to make it MORE reclined, although Diono does now have a product called an angle adjuster to make it more upright if needed. The problem I envision with a Radian for a newborn in that car is if it won't fit in between the two front seats then you're going to be essentially giving up use of your front passenger seat until the baby is old enough to be more upright. A Radian is HUGE front to back when at a full 45* recline and it's possible in some cars but not many.

Some stores do allow you to try a seat out before buying, and that is strongly recommended. I'm not familiar with which US stores do though so hopefully someone will come along soon and chime in. There are other seats that do fit from birth and are more compact than a Radian, but again I'll let someone else tell you those US options.

When is your baby due? The Chicco Nextfit is coming out in April and promises to be a very tall seat that fits newborns well.

First week of July.
I'll have to look that one up.
Thanks

I have to say that the Chicco NextFit looks really nice. Super easy, and that is always a plus. Thanks for letting me know about it

Just found this thread...


http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=168159

Shinook said:

Just found this thread...

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=168159

Click to expand...

Isn't 2013 a redesign? I assumed the back seat would be different with the redesign so comparing it to an earlier model wouldn't necessarily be applicable. Do you know if they changed the back seat? If not, and you want to compare it to earlier model there is a successful radian installation thread:

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=18235

"If you want to see if your vehicle has had a successful install please use the search feature. There is a google search bar included on every page at car-seat.org.

Since the thread has grown so large, it would take forever to comb through each page to find your specific vehicle. Search for your Model first. Put "Radian Successful Install Thread" in quotes in the search bar, along with your other search terms, so that it will search THIS THREAD. That is..."Radian Successful Install Thread" and "Ford Escort" BOTH in the search box. That should narrow it down to manageable number.

If your model is included, but it's a different year than your or it's a different body (say you drive a sedan and it's for a station wagon)--post a NEW thread to see if it applies to your particular car.

Don't forget that some vehicles seem to be named different things--but the same car. Like the Mercury Tracer/Ford Escort. If you can't find your particular car, but can find it's sister vehicle-- post a NEW thread to see if it applies to your particular vehicle."

I had an 00 Outback before I got my 09 Forester. My dad still has the Outback and I am skeptical about enough front to back room with the Radian at the 45* angle needed for a newborn unless you can get it to fit between the fronts seats but I haven't seen your year model. I have been told by techs that the outboard position is plenty safe but middle is safer. Radians can be tricky to install in some cars and they don't have the deepest shells. I am not a tech but I agree with the pp and the Chicco Nextfit would be a good alternative if you decide not to go with the Radian since you are tall and so your child might be tall. It should allow you a long rear facing time like the Radian even if (s)he grows like a weed. It is supposed to fit a 5lb child so might fit your noob better if they end up on the small side and should be a easier overall. If you join the Chicco club on the website you can enter to win a free one.

ETA: You could contact Diono and see if they are carried in a store near you.
http://dionocarseats.com/contactus.aspx

Also, if you're using the desktop version (versus a mobile app), when you've clicked on the thread, above the first post in the thread, there's a drop down box that says "Search this Thread".

The 2013 Subaru Outback was only a minor refresh. The dimensions are all the same as the 2010-2012. Subaru fixed the suspension, tweaked the styling, and added available EyeSight. And considering that there is e ought room to sit large adults in the backseat, plus the other members on here showing pictures of car seats installs, I now feel confident that I our Outback will fit about any seat we decide on.

I think I've nearly decided for the Chicco NextFit, as I can't imagine an easier convertible seat to instal. They both are rated from 5 lbs, but the Diono RF 5 lbs more. But, like many on here have said, I guess the 5lbs is less important than the height at that point. Not sure which is taller... Also I've heard that the Diono Radian doesn't make a great booster since its so narrow, so having to buy a booster anyways takes some of the advantage of the Radian away. The numbers make the Radian look great, but I think the ease of use in the Chicco NextFit outshines all other seats to me. It's so well labeled, and after watching instal videos for both seats, it's clear which on I want.

The Chicco website doesn't talk about the actual structure of the seat, but I've read that it has a steel frame and good foam protection for keeping our baby safe. I hope that is the case,..

I'm very grateful to have learned about the Chicco NextFit, at this point I think that is the seat I'll be getting.

Hope you like your Nextfit! Come back and let us know how it works for you.

The Nextfit and the Radian will have the same top harness height of 17.5" so should be outgrown at the same time FF.

Just wanted to chime in and say interior wise the 13s are the same as the 10-12s.some have added fancy pants trim but most updates are fairly minor. That being said the amount of room front to back in an outback is huge!! I was absolutely amazed when my impreza was in the shop and I had a 10 outback as a loaner. I'm pretty confident that just about anything would fit rear facing in that back seat, because of the 60/40 split though you are going to want to be conscious of making sure your seat doesn't sink into the crevice between the 60/40 part. I have pictures (not on my phone) of a rear facing radian with no angle adjuster at newborn recline and front seats still completely usable.

Cryssy Jane is is the resident Subie expert so I would go by what she said.

ETA: Could the front seat go all the way back with the Radian newborn install?

Persimmon said:

ETA: Could the front seat go all the way back with the Radian newborn install?

Click to expand...

Front seats were 2 clicks up from the very back.

Here was the radian outboard at about 42 degrees.

and here was the radian center over-reclined at around 48 degrees.


ETA: it looks like the recline foot is down but it's just the funky angle of the photos, and a defective recline foot that always looked down (was replaced by sk). I never bothered to put the seats all the way back (as I'm little) but I'm sure with the seats back it would still be pretty darn close to full newborn angle.

Cryssy Jane said:

and here was the radian center over-reclined at around 48 degrees.
I never bothered to put the seats all the way back (as I'm little) but I'm sure with the seats back it would still be pretty darn close to full newborn angle.

Click to expand...

You weren't kidding when you said it had tons of front to back room! Thanks for the pics.

Quick question, with the Radian installed in the middle, were you able to install the rear view mirror and see the baby from the front seat? Or was the seat too tall? We're thinking about getting the Radian for our baby's first birthday, but it just seems so tall! We go for a bit of a drive sometimes, and we'd like to see him in the back with the mirror!

key05 said:

Quick question, with the Radian installed in the middle, were you able to install the rear view mirror and see the baby from the front seat? Or was the seat too tall? We're thinking about getting the Radian for our baby's first birthday, but it just seems so tall! We go for a bit of a drive sometimes, and we'd like to see him in the back with the mirror!

Click to expand...

I honestly have no idea, I don't use mirrors, sorry.

Ah, thanks a lot for getting back to me. I guess I have to cross my fingers, or just learn to live without them!