Which Cars Fit Three Car Seats?

UPDATE 6/7/2013: 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.

The newest vehicle to make our list is the 2013 Nissan Armada. The largest of the brand's SUVs has room for eight passengers and easily accommodates three car seats across its second row.

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:

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Dodge Journey

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

Will 'Fast and Furious' Accelerate Dodge Dart Sales?

The return of Michelle Rodriguez as the ostensibly back-from-the-dead Letty Ortiz in "Fast & Furious 6," roaring into theaters May 24, has been a key element in the film's prerelease marketing. Similarly, the resurrected-for-2013 Dodge Dart is ready for its close-up in the latest edition of the immensely popular Vin Diesel-fronted street-racing saga. But will the movie spark sales of the slow-selling compact?

While "Fast & Furious 6" is likely to be quick off the line on its way to box-office success — its predecessor, 2011's "Fast Five," bowed to a reported $86 million — early sales of the 2013 Dart have proved neither fast nor furious in its crowded segment. The automaker is no doubt hoping the Dart's prominence in both the film and a cross-marketing campaign will help raise its public profile, as similar product placement in "Fast Five" did for the Dodge Charger two years ago. A fleet of Chargers will return for some more screen time in the new film, along with the current SRT Challenger and a vintage Charger Daytona, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Chrysler Really Connects With 8.4-inch Touch-Screen

Chrysler's massive 8.4-inch touch-screen available in Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram and SRT models is one of the few multimedia systems to integrate dozens of tasks without overwhelming users. Tasks including smartphone integration, navigation, Satellite radio and more pair with climate control functions in one easy-to-use 8.4-inch command center versus an unwieldy combination of knobs, buttons and touch-screen complexity.

Testing Chrysler's latest Uconnect 8.4 system in the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee reminded us how seamless Uconnect works and why it's one of our favorites. Below are five aspects of the Uconnect 8.4 system that give it an advantage over not only direct competitors of Chrysler products, but in the grand scheme of all automotive multimedia offerings.

Recall Alert: Approximately 215,000 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Vehicles

The Chrysler Group issued six separate recalls affecting around 215,000 vehicles in the U.S. According to the automaker, the following vehicles are affected:

• 61,400 model-year 2007-08 Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty SUVs. Chrysler has stated that it's recalling two-wheel-drive versions of these vehicles in order to brace a heat shield that can loosen and contact the driveshaft, causing wear and possible breakage over time. "Chrysler Group is unaware of any collisions or injuries associated with the condition," the automaker said in a statement.

2014 Dodge Durango: Up Close

The Durango is related to the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Like the 2014 Grand Cherokee, which was also recently updated, the Durango didn't look so bad to begin with. So like the Jeep, the Durango didn't receive too much of a redo.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

The main move was to bring the rear end in line with the rest of the Dodge family in the form of what Dodge calls racetrack taillights — the LED ring that spans the Durango's width. Good move. Day or night, the Durango is recognizable — a rarity among SUVs. Dodge executed the change in a way that preserves some of the original two-lens styling, yet the new ring is nicely integrated, not forced.

2014 Dodge Durango at the 2013 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot
• Looks like: New exterior styling cues tie it more closely with the Dart and Charger
• Drivetrain: Carryover 290-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 or a 360-hp, 5.7-liter V-8; new eight-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Late 2013

Dodge's three-row crossover gets some appealing updates for the 2014 model year. Highlights include more muscular exterior styling, a new eight-speed automatic transmission and an upgraded Uconnect multimedia system with 8.4-inch touch-screen.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

For 2014, Dodge is putting emphasis on family resemblance; the Durango borrows the Charger's and Dart's LED light-bar taillamp setup. Up front, it gets an updated grille, raised front bumper and new projector-beam headlights with available LED daytime running lights. A more sculpted hood and pronounced fenders give it a muscular look, channeling the Challenger's curves.

What Does This Outlet Do?

House-style AC outlets are one of those handy "little things that count" new-car convenience features that literally have hundreds of uses. The outlet goes by different names and voltage ratings like 110-,115- and 120-volt AC outlets, though they all serve the same purpose and offer an alternative multi-use outlet compared to the common probe-style DC outlets that accept phone and portable GPS chargers.

The feature is still far from standard equipment on family cars (where it often appears), and is usually paired with expensive rear-seat multimedia systems in large SUVs and minivans or available only on more expensive trim levels. When equipped, the outlets are typically found in the second row or cargo area appearing just like they do on the wall at home.

As cool as it would be to plug an electric snow blower or refrigerator into your car, not everything with a plug will work. The plug has its limitations, and there are guidelines to follow in order to use electronic devices safely.

Recall Alert: 2013 Dodge Challenger

Chrysler is telling owners of certain V-6-equipped Dodge Challengers to stop driving their cars until a wiring issue can be fixed. The automaker is voluntarily recalling approximately 2,500 model-year 2013 versions of the coupe to address possible short circuiting.

"This condition could cause a wire harness to overheat and possibly lead to fire. Chrysler Group is aware of seven such incidents. None caused injury," the automaker said in a statement. The automaker also advises owners not to park affected vehicles in or near any structure.

According to Chrysler, a total of 4,459 vehicles are affected, but 1,900 are at dealerships. The Challengers that are part of the recall were built during an eight-week period ending Jan. 24, 2013, Chrysler reports.

Chrysler is notifying owners via phone and mail. The automaker is advising owners of affected vehicles to stop driving their cars and contact their dealership immediately; free loaners will be provided. Owners can call Chrysler at 800-247-9753 for more information.

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2013 Dodge Charger: Car Seat Check

The 2013 Dodge Charger isn't the typical family car, but its wide, roomy backseat means it can easily handle hauling kids in their child-safety seats. Although this is a full-size family sedan, its bolstered seats hampered its ability to fit three child-safety seats across the back. If you're looking for some parent cred, though, this car will deliver it in spades.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.