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:

Recall Alert: Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey, Acura RDX

Honda is recalling some 204,500 SUVs and minivans for a brake-shift interlock that can allow the transmission to shift away from Park without the driver pressing the brake. The recall, which affects the 2012-2013 Honda CR-V SUV and Odyssey minivan, as well as the 2013 RDX SUV from Honda's Acura luxury division, has not resulted in any incidents or complaints, Honda says, but an internal investigation found the automatic transmissions can slip out of Park in freezing temperatures.

In total, the automaker will recall around 128,000 CR-Vs, 59,000 Odysseys and 17,500 RDXs.

Honda will send notifications in May and encourages owners to bring their cars to authorized dealerships. Owners can also visit www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com, call the automaker's recall lines at 800-999-1009 (Honda) or 800-382-2238 (Acura) and select option 4, or call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

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Recall Alert: Airbag Problem Affects Millions of Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda Vehicles

Four Japanese automakers — Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda — have announced a voluntary recall of 3 million vehicles worldwide because of possibly faulty airbags; more than a million of those vehicles are in the U.S.

According to the automakers, the problem lies in the front-passenger airbag inflator, which in affected vehicles could deploy with too much pressure due to improperly manufactured propellant wafers, causing the inflator casing to rupture. This could result in injuries to passengers, though none have been reported. The airbags were manufactured by Japan's Takata Corp., a major world supplier of airbags.

According to Toyota, affected vehicles in the U.S. include 510,000 Toyota Corolla compact sedans, Matrix compact hatchbacks, Sequoia SUVs and Tundra pickup trucks, as well as Lexus SC 430 sport coupes, all manufactured between 2001 and 2003. According to news reports, Toyota is recalling 1.7 million vehicles worldwide.

Toyota said it will notify owners by mail. Dealers will inspect the front-passenger airbag; if it is equipped with an affected inflator, the inflator will be replaced with a new one for free. Toyota owners can go to www.toyota.com/recall or call Toyota customer service at 800-331-4331; Lexus owners can go to www.lexus.com/recall or call Lexus customer service at 800-255-3987.

Video of the Honda Odyssey Vacuum in Action

You've heard about it. You've read about it. Now we have it in action. Honda's aptly named HondaVac has nearly as much suction power as a standard garage ShopVac, and Cars.com's editors put it to the test in this video with Peanut M&Ms of all things.

2014 Honda Odyssey: Up Close

One of the most popular family-hauling vehicles in the land has been given a freshening and shown to the world at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. The 2014 Honda Odyssey minivan gets a mild interior and exterior update, and the automaker brought its top trim level, the Touring Elite, to the show.

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Up front, the new Odyssey receives a relatively mild update, with new headlights, a twin-bar grille, a more sculpted hood (now made out of aluminum) and chrome-trimmed fog lights. Out back, new LED taillights and badges complete the list of styling updates. The overall impact is minor, with only true minivan aficionados likely to notice the changes.

2014 Honda Odyssey at the 2013 New York Auto Show

• Competes with: Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest, Chrysler Town & Country
• Looks like: Last year's Odyssey had some discrete Botox work
• Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V-6 engine with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2013

For 2014, the Honda Odyssey gets some minor work done inside and out to make it even more attractive to minivan shoppers. Its looks are refreshed with a new hood, front bumper, grille and fenders while the rear remains relatively the same besides new LED-enhanced taillights.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

Minivan aficionados should understand, however, that the Odyssey on display at the auto show is the top-level Touring Elite version, which traditionally has featured some nicer exterior amenities — from unique side mirrors to wheels — than the rest of the lineup.

Could In-Car Messes Be a Thing of the Past With 2014 Honda Odyssey's Vacuum?

Parents, rejoice! The 2014 Honda Odyssey will have a first-ever in-vehicle vacuum system. Those Cheerios and cracker crumbs that often litter your car’s second and third rows could be just a temporary problem now that there’s an in-car vacuum to suck them up.

For 2014, the Odyssey is getting a refresh that includes the HondaVac system, which will be only available on the top Touring Elite trim when it goes on sale this summer. The 2013 version of that trim level starts at an eye-bulging $44,855 including destination.

More 2013 New York Auto Show Coverage

The vacuum was developed with ShopVac and has a replaceable filter and canister bag; nozzle accessories are integrated into the cargo area’s driver-side bulkhead.

The HondaVac system doesn't need an outlet or recharging; it can run continuously when the minivan's engine is running or for up to eight minutes after the car’s engine has been turned off.

2013 New York Auto Show Preview: Honda and Acura

Honda will be busy during this year's New York International Auto Show. The automaker plans to unveil a freshened version of its Odyssey minivan and the production version of the MDX crossover from its Acura luxury arm.

An MDX prototype (above) met the public at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, so it's no surprise that we'll get to see the production model in New York. Honda says the 2014 MDX uses a totally new platform and that the third generation of the seven-passenger crossover is longer than its predecessor. The automaker claims that the new MDX will be roomier, more comfortable and have a more versatile cabin than the outgoing model.

Recall Alert: 748,000 Honda Pilots and Odysseys

Honda is voluntarily recalling 748,000 model-year 2009-13 Pilot SUVs and 2011-13 Odyssey minivans due to problems with the driver's-side airbag.

According to Honda, the driver's-side airbags in the affected vehicles could be missing some of the rivets that secure the airbag's plastic cover, causing the airbag to not deploy properly. This could lead to an increased risk of a crash or injury; Honda has stated that no related crashes or injuries have been reported.

Honda will begin notifying customers in mid-February, and dealers will inspect and replace the affected parts for free. Owners can call Honda at 800-999-1009 or visit www.recalls.honda.com to see if their vehicle is part of the recall.

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Recall Alert: 807,000 Honda SUVs, minivans

Honda has issued a voluntary recall of 807,000 minivans and midsize SUVs due to a problem with the ignition interlock mechanism that could cause the vehicles to roll away while parked, according to the automaker. Honda said it already has received several complaints of such malfunctions, and two minor injuries have been reported.

The recall affects 318,000 Honda Odyssey minivans and 259,000 Honda Pilot SUVs, all from the 2003-04 model years, in addition to 230,000 model-year 2003-06 Acura MDX SUVs. The vehicles' ignition interlock mechanism can be damaged or worn during use, and it could become possible to remove the ignition key when the transmission is not in Park, Honda stated. If this happens while the parking brake is not set, the vehicle could roll away and a cause an accident.

Honda will notify owners by mail in early February and encourages owners to take their vehicles to a dealer as soon as they receive notification. Owners can determine if their vehicles require repair by calling 800-999-1009 or by going to www.recalls.honda.com. Acura owners may call 800-382-2238 and select Option 4, or go to www.recalls.acura.com.

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