Hyundai Plans Tucson Fuel-Cell for 2015

Hyundai-tucson-fuel-cell
Automakers have been making and breaking fuel-cell vehicle promises for years, and now Hyundai is jumping into the fray with the Tucson Fuel-Cell Electric Vehicle. The automaker is joining the Energy Department, gas suppliers, hydrogen and fuel-cell businesses and other automakers with the goal of solving infrastructure and resource challenges in order to bring an FCEV to market.

Hyundai has a 2015 target for the Tucson fuel cell and a goal of 1,000 units. It's not the first automaker to launch a fuel-cell vehicle — in fact, we've even tested Chevrolet's Equinox FCV — but it claims to be the first to mass produce one. "One of our biggest FCEV differentiators for us is that Hyundai is the first automaker to launch assembly line production of a fuel-cell vehicle," Derek Joyce, Hyundai's manager of product public relations, told Cars.com.

By Jennifer Geiger | May 20, 2013 | Comments (0)

Which Cars Fit Three Car Seats?

2013-land-rover-range-rover

UPDATE: Parents are often searching for the automotive holy grail: a car that's not a minivan and can fit three child-safety seats across the backseat. It's a short list.

In the more than three years that Cars.com editors have been installing car seats into test vehicles, we've come across only a handful of cars that can hold three car seats across a backseat.

For 2014, the Jeep Grand Cherokee received interior and exterior revisions, but that didn’t affect this two-row crossover’s ability to fit three child-safety seats across its backseat.

As we come across more cars that fit three child-safety seats, we'll add to this list. For now, here are the cars from our Car Seat Checks that can fit three car seats in the second row:

By Jennifer Newman | May 17, 2013 | Comments (65)

Several Compact Crossovers Fail IIHS' Small Overlap Test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's newest test — frontal small overlap — is pretty tough to ace. The agency recently performed the test, meant to simulate a crash of a vehicle's front corner into another vehicle, a tree or a pole, on 13 compact SUVs; 11 scored Marginal or Poor.

The new-for-2014 Subaru Forester came out ahead of the pack, earning a Good score and the agency's highest overall safety rating, Top Safety Pick+. Behind it is the slow-selling 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport; it pulled an Acceptable score. The test group included 2014, 2013 and 2012 models.

By Jennifer Geiger | May 16, 2013 | Comments (4)

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee: Car Seat Check

14GrandC_Main

Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee's exterior and interior get refreshed for the 2014 model year. The changes don't affect the Grand Cherokee's ability to fit three child-safety seats across the backseat, however. Since its 2011 redesign, the Grand Cherokee has been one of the handful of cars that can fit three car seats across its backseat.

By Jennifer Newman | May 16, 2013 | Comments (0)

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Dodge Journey

2013DodgeJourney

Getting along with the 2013 Dodge Journey means being able to compromise, says Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman. The crossover hasn't seen much exterior updating since its 2009 introduction, but its looks have held up well. Its fuel economy lags behind competitors, but it's thousands of dollars cheaper in some cases while offering significantly more standard features. Legroom could be better but cargo space is competitive. If you're OK with giving a little, Bragman says, you might find that the Journey gives a lot back.

2013 Dodge Journey Review

By Matt Schmitz | May 15, 2013 | Comments (0)

Recall Alert: 2013 Subaru Outback and Legacy

2013-subaru-outback
Subaru is recalling 5,379 model-year 2013 versions of the Outback and Legacy due to a problem with the steering column, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from Feb. 15 through June 15, 2012; check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb. In these cars, the inner and outer shafts of the steering column assembly could become disengaged, leading to a possible loss of vehicle control. Subaru received customer complaints about a loss of steering ability, which led to the recall investigation, the automaker said in a statement.

Subaru will start notifying affected owners today, and dealers will replace the affected parts for free. Owners can call Subaru at 800-782-2783 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Related
Research the Subaru Outback
Research the Subaru Legacy
Check out Other Recalls

By Jennifer Geiger | May 15, 2013 | Comments (0)

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Buick Enclave

2013-buick-enclave-500
The Enclave's combination of good looks outside and roomy comfort inside won over Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek. Buick's three-row crossover was redesigned for 2013 with flashier exterior styling and upgraded cabin materials. While it's not the most luxurious crossover in the class, Bruzek says the Enclave offers a winning blend of premium features and family-friendly comfort.

2013 Buick Enclave Review

By Jennifer Geiger | May 13, 2013 | Comments (0)

Guide: SUVs, Crossovers, Minivans With Third-Row Tether Anchors

Chevrolet-traverse-top-tether
Last winter, I drove a 2013 Kia Sorento on vacation; we packed the three-row crossover full of gear and passengers, including two toddlers and their child-safety seats. The plan was to put the kids in the third row, freeing up the roomier second row for the adults. It fell apart, however, once I discovered that the third row lacked tether anchors — installing forward-facing convertible car seats there is a safety no-no.

Using a top tether anchor with a forward-facing convertible reduces head and neck movement in a crash, decreasing the risk of injury. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, however, more than half of parents who participated in their joint 2012 car seat study failed to connect the seat’s top tether.

By law, automakers have to put two sets of lower Latch anchors and three top tether anchors in the second row, but no such rules apply to the third row. The lack of a third-row tether anchor makes a vehicle much less versatile, and it's not just a Kia problem. Many automakers skimp on this simple safety feature, but some all-stars offer more than one in the third row.

Check out our lists of the three-row SUVs, crossovers and minivans that have one or more tether anchors in the third row. This list doesn't include vehicles with optional third rows.

By Jennifer Geiger | May 13, 2013 | Comments (1)

2013 Buick Enclave Video

If you covet both the family friendliness of a minivan and the luxury of an SUV, Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek says the closest you'll come in a crossover may be the 2013 Buick Enclave. Redesigned for the first time since its brand-jump-starting intro in 2007, the new Enclave boasts updated front-end styling and upgraded interior materials, as well as improved ride and acceleration thanks to suspension and transmission tweaks. Still, stiff brakes make quick stops a chore and a cocoa-colored interior undermines the luxury feel of the classy stitching and ambient blue lighting. Watch the video above.

Related
2013 Buick Enclave: Up Close
2013 Buick Enclave: Photo Gallery

More Buick Enclave News on Cars.com
By Matt Schmitz | May 8, 2013 | Comments (0)

2014 Subaru Forester: Family Checklist

14Forester_main

At first glance, the redesigned Subaru Forester doesn't look that different from its predecessor, but the 2014 model has added cargo room and even more family appeal.

This five-seat crossover also gets some serious retooling under the hood. I tested Forester 2.0XT Premium trim that zipped along with a 250-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A majority of families will opt for the standard 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder, however.

The all-wheel-drive Forester was thoroughly confident and capable in all driving conditions. It handled like a champ with little body roll despite its height and had good road feel. There was considerable wind and road noise with this new Forester, which left me a little down in the dumps. Typically I would be cheered by its turbo four-cylinder boxer engine. And I was, but it was loud and I had to adjust to some turbo lag.

By Sara Lacey | May 7, 2013 | Comments (3)

Search Results

KickingTires Search Results for

Search Kicking Tires

KickingTires iPhone App
Ask.cars.com