2013 Nissan Pathfinder: From Tough Guy to Family Guy

It's what's inside that matters, right? In the case of the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, definitely. But the outside is just as much a part of the transformation of this once-rugged SUV.

For 2013, Nissan's three-row SUV was completely redesigned, shedding its blocky, stocky look and trucklike body-on-frame architecture for the curves and unibody platform of the crossover class. The fourth-generation Pathfinder also gains a warm, inviting interior full of family-friendly features, a stark comparison to its old utilitarian self.

Recall Alert: 2013 Infiniti JX

Nissan's luxury arm, Infiniti, is recalling 7,842 model-year 2013 versions of the JX crossover due to problems with the fuel tank, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were built from Feb. 15 to June 22 (you can check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb) and have a fuel transfer tube that was misrouted in the fuel storage tank during assembly. This could lead to an inaccurate fuel level displayed on the fuel gauge, and the vehicle could stall or run out of gas unexpectedly.

Nissan will notify owners starting Sept. 4, and dealers will replace the affected parts free of charge. Owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

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Daily News Briefs: July 31, 2012

Pre-collision systems that prepare or apply the brakes when they detect an impending crash have become widespread among luxury cars, and one of the systems is under scrutiny. Left Lane News reports the Infiniti JX35's system, called Intelligent Brake Assist with Forward Collision Warning, is being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration because of two complaints of JX35s inadvertently stopping. See a demo of the system here. NHTSA is investigating the matter on some 8,000 2013 JX35s; the agency has not yet announced a recall.

In other news:

Bench Seats Versus Captain's Chairs

I've been test-driving the 2013 Ford Flex this week, which I've been waiting to drive for years. Overall, my impressions are highly favorable (stay tuned for the complete review) with the exception of one major point. My test car came equipped with a second-row bench seat, so the car seats a total of seven. Captain's chairs in the second row are also available, taking the number of seats down to six. While many families may think they want the extra seating capacity that comes with a second-row bench seat, I'm here to save you from making that mistake.

If you have kids in child-safety seats or booster seats, you're most likely to put them in the second row's outboard positions where a parent, grandparent, caregiver or carpool driver has the easiest access to help them climb in and out and get buckled and unbuckled. The problem is in most three-row SUVs like the Flex the only real access to the third row is by sliding, folding and/or flipping one of the outboard seats in the second row. When a car seat is installed in the outboard, there are limited options as to getting to the third row.

June's Fastest and Slowest Selling Cars

Seven all-new cars are off to a fast start. The Cadillac XTS hit dealerships just last month, but GM's flagship luxury car averaged just five days to sell. It tied the Hyundai Accent sedan and Subaru BRZ for June's fastest sellers. The nimble BRZ and its Scion twin, the FR-S, meanwhile, are taking just five and eight days to sell, respectively. Both cars hit dealerships in May.

We should see how many of each model sold in June when sales figures are announced later today.

Ford's redesigned 2013 Escape, Infiniti's new JX35 and two new Acuras — the ILX and redesigned RDX — also made June's Movers. The well-marketed Kia Soul, meanwhile, extended its tenure on the list to three months. Sales for the popular hatchback were up 22% through May. It's the most affordable car on the list, with a starting price (including destination) under $15,000.

Mind the Gap: The Downside of Sliding Second Rows

We love second-row seats that slide back and forth for the legroom versatility and easy access to third row. It’s extremely relieving to sit in the second row of an SUV, pull a lever and instantly gain five generous inches of legroom. But in some cases, there’s an unfortunate side effect: You may curse this versatility when loading cargo.

Infiniti's JX Takes Sting Out of Traffic Jams

One day — sooner than you'd think — you'll be able to purchase a new car that is fully capable of driving itself. Although it's still a few years off, many automakers now offer elements of what will become an automated driving system. Infiniti's new-for-2013 JX35 offers just a taste of this technology.

The radar, sonar, lidar or light detection and ranging, cameras and brake/accelerator/steering actuators that will comprise these systems are already offered on some of today's luxury production cars. An automated driving system will remain out of reach for most car shoppers for a while, but it's easy to imagine some driver support systems becoming as common as electronic stability control or anti-lock brakes. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is already advocating the use of frontal collision warning systems and lane departure warning systems, and it's proposing to make them mandatory on future vehicles.

Infiniti JX's Smart Second Row Means No More Squeeze Play

In a lot of crossovers, getting into the third row is usually a tricky exercise for adults. If a child seat is installed in the second row, it's almost impossible. According to Infiniti, the second row of its new JX crossover not only makes the maneuver possible, but easy. But how well does it actually work? We put it to the test with and without a child-safety seat and came away impressed.

Infiniti says the second row slides forward and backward 5.5 inches to ease third-row access, and we found that there's plenty of room for an adult to get by. The doors open wide, too, easing the process, though the step-in height is very high. Smaller children and older adults will have trouble with the height.

2013 Infiniti JX35: Car Seat Check

When it comes to three-row vehicles, third-row access is a big deal, especially when child-safety seats are part of the equation. With child-safety seats installed in a second-row bench, it can be anywhere from difficult to impossible to get into the third row without crawling over a set of seats.

The designers at Infiniti have fixed that problem with the all-new 2013 JX35 and its sliding second-row bench. The 60/40-split seat slides and tilts forward — all with a forward-facing child-safety seat installed on it — to create a walkway to the third row.

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.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Infiniti JX

For 2013, Infiniti is jumping into the three-row crossover market with the new JX, and Cars.com Senior Family Editor Kristin Varela says the automaker hit a homerun in the family-friendly features department. The crossover's product manager put his wife and two kids to work when designing the JX, and Varela says it shows. It's packed with equipment that solves many family-car woes and it's got the looks, passenger room, cargo space and equipment list to make the whole family happy.

2013 Infiniti JX Review