Parents of older children will understand the frustration of trying to find a booster seat that fits their child. Most booster seats appear to have relatively narrow seat pans, which can be uncomfortable for children with larger thighs or butts. The Diono Monterey XT Booster Seat, on the other hand, is a dream come true for kids who cannot fit into smaller seats and prefer a more padded booster seat.
It’s a cross between the Cambria’s backless section and the original Monterey’s back, with many user-friendly features. Most importantly, our models find it very comfy.
Diono Monterey XT Booster Seat Review – 5 Main Features:
1. Weight and Size
The weight and size of the Diono Monterey XT Booster Seat are about average, with a small lean toward the narrower and lighter end. As a high-backed booster, it weights 14.3 lbs (above left). It is lighter without the back (above right).
Our is less than the group average, and only two high-backed booster seats in this review weigh less. Even if it isn’t that narrow, the width is narrow in comparison.
Only two of the high-backed boosters are thinner than 18.4 inches. While it isn’t ideal for transporting or traveling, it is easy to move from car to car and doesn’t feel as heavy as those with more going on or greater weights.
2. Shape & Comfort
The Diono is comfy, however, there are more comfortable choices available. The seat is flat and not curved, making it less comfortable than alternative options. Little testers, on the other hand, believed it was soft and the headrest was comfortable for napping.
The stitched logo in the middle of the headrest is not skin-friendly on nappers’ cheeks with their heads inclined to the side.
The fabric is foam-backed and has little extra padding, making it the least padded in the bunch. The fabric is tougher than others but not as abrasive as some competitors.
Because most of the comfy parts are on the back, the backless booster isn’t as comfortable as it is with the back in place. The inclination of the headrest makes it the best in the group for comfy napping.
3. Safety
When compared to the Monterey XT, you can see the increased sturdiness. The padding makes the entire design thicker, but it is engineered so that it does not make the booster any bulkier.
When used in its backed configuration, this Diono Monterey XT Booster Seat seat has three layers of protection. The first layer is foam inserted on the inside to absorb shock.
The second type of casing is a molded shell case. Finally, an EPS layer on the outside of the shell absorbs and distributes impact away from your youngster.
Even with all of the padding, the exo-shell panels on the sides contribute to the breathability of this car seat. This is critical for keeping proper airflow in the vehicle.
4. Quality
This Diono Monterey XT Booster Seat has a cluttered appearance, and the cloth does not fit as well as it could. All of the fasteners and structural pieces are exposed without covering, giving the design an industrial feel.
The seat has a hard foam pad, but there is little padding elsewhere. The fabric appears to be softer than it is, and the mesh sides are difficult to clean and are likely to collect a lot of muck over time.
If you do not use a protective mat, the underside of the bottom is not smooth and may cause wear on your vehicle seat over time.
While some may claim that the quality is comparable to the cheaper price, at least one rival scored higher for quality while being less expensive.
5. Child-Friendly
Both sides of the automobile booster seat include retractable cup holders. This ensures that your youngster may utilize the cup holder regardless of where they sit in the car.
This feature appeals to me because the cup holder is a permanent fixture that can be moved back beneath the seat when not in use, prior to travel. This cup holder is only ideal for cold beverages.
One aspect I usually seek for when purchasing car seats is machine washable covers. With the numerous snacks, spills, and mishaps, we all know how dirty the car seats can get. The cover can be cleaned and dried flat in a washing machine on a cold 30o cycle.
Diono Monterey XT Booster Seat Installation
The Diono Monterey 4DXT High Back Booster Seat was simple to put together. It worked by utilizing the LATCH system, which I was already aware of from previous vehicles.
Once installed, just position the shoulder and lap belts on your child’s body using the seat belt guidelines. Even though I had no trouble installing the seat, there are video lessons accessible on Diono’s website.
These are useful to review to ensure that you are putting the booster correctly. The user handbook was likewise extremely thorough. The handbook is conveniently placed in a compartment on the back of the seat.
- 11-position adjustable headrest
- A single hand is required to adjust the headrest.
- Simple to assemble
- The narrow base for simpler buckling
- 3 layers of side impact protection
- Wider seat base and side wings for added protection
- Exoshell panels improve breathability.
- Cupholders that swivel
- Lightweight and folds flat for simple transit
- There is only a one-year warranty.
Final Verdict
The Diono tried its hardest to keep up with the big boys, and in some ways, it succeeded admirably. However, there are superior solutions available in the end.
It is suited for children weighing up to 120 pounds and measuring 63 inches, making it one of the largest limits in the group.
It also performs well in crash tests and is relatively thin at 18.4 inches. If the Diono were of higher quality or lighter, there might be a market for this above-average booster.
