A Fiat for the Family?

Fiat claims it made the new 500L to accommodate families, and after the big reveal at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show this week, I want to put my family in one.

My small family of three values style and fuel efficiency and enjoys a smaller car. With a toddler in a forward-facing safety seat and no double stroller to fit in the cargo area, we get by just fine in unorthodox family vehicles and own a VW Jetta.

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The Fiat 500L brings the playfulness and fun of the 500 in larger — if not gigantic — form. The beauty is in how the automaker optimized what space the car does have.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe's Third Row Cramps its Family-Friendliness

The redesigned 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, a three-row SUV, is stylish and functional ... if you have a family of three or four. Unfortunately, if you are a party of five or more and need that third row on a regular basis, this stunning Santa Fe likely isn't for you.

As the mother of three, who are all still in child-safety seats, I'm in constant pursuit of that mythical three-row crossover that delivers style, great fuel economy, sufficient cargo space and enough legroom for all.

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After spending some time with the 2013 Santa Fe at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, needless to say, the hunt is still on.

Kia's UVO Texts When Teens Go Astray

Don't want your kid driving to a certain part of town — say that sketchy neighborhood out west or the house of a friend that you're not so keen on? In the near-future, your Kia could send you a text message if they go there.

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It works through the automaker's new UVO with eServices, which expands on Kia's voice-activated UVO ("Your Voice") system with a smartphone application that enables parental controls, among other things. Besides the usual services — 9-1-1 assist and send-to-car Google Maps navigation in nav-equipped cars — UVO offers what Kia Forte product strategy manager Dan Tiet called "geo-fencing," or the ability to draw zones on a map and receive alerts when your car goes there.

2012 L.A. Auto Show: Winners and Losers

The 2012 L.A. Auto Show is now open to the public and thousands of people will begin their shopping process by checking out the just-released models we evaluated the past few days. There weren't many show-stopping cars unveiled, but there were big updates for some of the best-selling cars in the country. Here's how they stacked up.

2014 Acura RLX

Kelsey Mays: Loser
Acura's flagship is a big, comfortable car, with substantially more room than cars like the BMW 5 Series and Infiniti M. This seems more like a Mercedes S-Class or Lexus LS wannabe, and I think Hyundai did a better imitation with the Equus. The auto-show car boasted handsome interior materials but few backseat amenities and noticeable silver plastic where there should have been real metal. Those headlights, meanwhile, scare me more than an episode of "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo."

Joe Bruzek: Loser
I keep waiting for something different and striking from Acura to get the automaker out of the current styling funk where all its cars look very similar — just different sizes. The RLX isn't that car. With the exception of a few interesting features like all-wheel steering and the crazy LED headlights, it's business as usual for the RLX: a little bigger, a little nicer but not different enough to make a splash at the auto show.

Joe Wiesenfelder: Loser
Tempted as I was to call it a winner for its use of conventional buttons and screens rather than the dreaded capacitive panels that plague a growing percentage of cars, I have to agree on some points above. The all-wheel steer and coming hybrid all-wheel drive might change my mind, but at an auto show, the car's uninspiring. I really wanted something larger than the old RL, which was too close to the TL. Didn't get it.

David Thomas: Winner
The styling isn't in your face, but I don't think that's what an RLX buyer might want. Instead they'll gravitate to the plush interior and ultra-comfortable, ultra-large seats. The simple control panel may be another selling point for buyers who don't want to go through a training session on their car's multimedia system.

2013 Mini Paceman Video

Minis have been known for their iconic, cute styling. The Paceman, however, deviates from this formula. It's part coupe and part SUV, and Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek thinks it's one very odd-looking vehicle.

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The all-wheel-drive Paceman is based off of Mini's first crossover, the Countryman. But the squat-looking car has some different styling cues. Watch the video below. 

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander: Photo Gallery

For 2014, Mitsubishi gave its three-row crossover an extreme makeover, inside and out. On the exterior, the new Outlander loses its sharp, aggressive appearance and instead gets a more rounded silhouette for a modern look.

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Inside, a more comfortable second row and a redesigned dashboard layout are big improvements. Check out the photos below.

2013 Honda Civic Video

After taking flak for a complete overhaul that failed to impress last year, Honda wisely returned to the drawing board and developed the heavily redesigned 2013 Honda Civic. Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder says the hasty do-over was worth it, as the Civic looks better, feels better and just plain is better — that says a lot for the best-selling compact sedan.

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Honda says exterior updates mean the Civic will perform better in crash tests. A retuned suspension, refined interior materials and a standard backup camera should also bring in new buyers. The Civic will start around $19,000 when it hits dealerships this week. Check out the video below.

2014 Mazda6 Video

The Mazda6 gets a bit smaller and lighter for 2014, and it wears new, expressive styling. An updated grille, more fluid design and what Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays calls angry headlights give the car a sportier appearance.

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But the big news in under the hood. The sedan's V-6 is gone and in its place are two more efficient four-cylinders, including a much-anticipated diesel engine. Fuel-economy figures haven't been announced yet, but Mays says we can expect gas mileage to be pretty darn good. Check out the video below.

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander: Up Close

Earlier this year, I took a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander on a long road trip with three other adults. My passengers weren't thrilled with the second-row comfort, and they made it clear — the whole way.

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A redesigned 2014 Outlander aims to improve seating comfort in all seven seating positions: two in front, three in the second row and two in the rear.

2014 Chevrolet Spark EV: Photo Gallery

Now making its second Los Angeles Auto Show appearance since 2011 and still without a hard number backing up its competitive-range claims, it remains to be seen how far the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV will go with consumers. What we do know is that it offers a colorful exterior — with options like Electric Blue and Silver Ice paint — and some neat tech on the inside, specifically a pair of 7-inch color screens — one for the standard MyLink multimedia system and the other for function reports.

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It'll hit dealerships in limited quantities this summer in California and Oregon with a price tag of less than $25,000 after incentives. Check out the gallery below.