Which Cars Fit Three Car Seats?

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:

Nissan Slashes Prices Across Lineup

Nissan is hoping to bolster sales by cutting prices on seven out of the 18 vehicles in its lineup. Starting May 3, prices on model-year 2013 Altima, Sentra, Juke, Murano, Rogue, Maxima and Armada vehicles will decrease by 2.7% to 10.7%, depending on the car.

The sticker reductions vary by model and, in some cases, trim level and will be applied to new vehicles, including those already in dealer inventory. At the low end of the spectrum, new Altimas, for example, could cost up to $580 less; a base 2013 Altima currently starts at $22,550, including destination. At the top end, the Armada's price tag could go down by as much as $4,400; Nissan’s full-size SUV currently starts at $42,285, including destination.

Why were these seven chosen? They make up around 65% of Nissan's U.S. sales volume, the automaker reported, and Nissan spokesman Brian Brockman told Cars.com that the lower prices will help the vehicles perform better when searched online, appearing more frequently and favorably against the competition.  

"While studying our market position against key competitors, there was an opportunity to increase buying consideration for those seven models by bringing MSRP more in line with transaction price," he said.

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Nissan Resonance Concept: Photo Gallery

Nissan says designers of the Resonance were inspired by the "future allure of hypersonic travel," and though the hybrid crossover concept won't break the sound barrier, its influence likely will resonate in models to come. Showing off its sci-fi-friendly features along with fuel-economy-boosting airflow management, the Resonance — a possible precursor to the next-generation Murano — bows this week at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

More Detroit Auto Show Coverage

Everything about the Resonance looks ahead to the world of tomorrow. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mates with a hybrid electric drive system and Nissan's next-gen Xtronic continuously variable automatic transmission. Although a 3-D holographic center console screen is unlikely to find its way to production, it sure is cool to see in the here-and-now.

Check out the gallery below for a further glimpse into the future.

Nissan Resonance Concept at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show

• Looks like: Nissan's most dramatic design since the Juke
• Defining characteristics: Boomerang headlights, nifty 3-D center console screen
• Ridiculous features: Nifty 3-D center console screen, 22-inch wheels
• Chances of being mass-produced: Good chance this is the direction for the next Murano

Nissan's Murano has long been one of the more aggressively styled crossovers on the market, but it's time for a refresh. Along comes the Nissan Resonance concept at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

More 2013 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

Featuring what the company calls "V-Motion" styling, Nissan says its designers were inspired "by the future allure of hypersonic travel." The Resonance employs significant airflow management to boost its fuel economy, an important factor for this concept CUV because it's also a hybrid. But don't expect the stars to streak by your windshield.

2013 Honda Crosstour: First Look

• Competes with: Toyota Venza, Subaru Outback,Nissan Murano
• Looks like: A more-lovable-looking Crosstour with some Accord design influence
• Drivetrain: New 3.5-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Tuesday,Nov. 20

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the 2013 Honda Crosstour production model is that there's so little distinction to be made between it and the concept version that debuted at the 2012 New York Auto Show. Even then it was clear that this concept was only a concept, well, in concept.

Needless to say, there's not a lot to talk about in terms of brand-new features on the 2013 Crosstour, which goes on sale Tuesday — except that its base price of $27,230 is $525 less than it was in 2012 (Honda has not yet listed the car's destination fee).

Concept-car aesthetics that have made their way to the production model include more rugged exterior styling thanks to a redesigned front end and new grille. It also gets new bumper fog lights, front-diffuser designs and Accord-inspired exaggerated lower-front-intake flares. The rugged look is achieved with black composite plastic along the sill plates and front and rear bumper edges. Newly available paint colors include Kona Coffee Metallic and Mountain Air Metallic.

2013 Nissan Murano: What's Changed

• Most significant changes: Newly available safety systems
• Price change: None on base models, but small increases on other trims
• On sale: Now
• Which should you buy, 2012 or 2013? If Nissan's new safety features appeal, the 2013.

Just like the redesigned-for-2013 Altima sedan, the Murano gets a host of newly available safety features for 2013. Aside from the new optional equipment, Nissan's midsize crossover and its base price carry over unchanged; higher trim versions jump slightly in price. 

The Murano is again available in S, SV, SL and LE trims in two- and all-wheel drive. Newly optional on SL and LE versions is Nissan's Safety Shield technology. It includes several camera-based safety systems like Moving Object Detection, blind spot warning and lane departure warning systems. The Safety Shield features are part of the Navigation Package for SL models ($2,100) and Platinum Edition package for LE models ($2,350).

Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Nissan Murano

The only thing that’s outdated on this seemingly long-in-the-tooth crossover is its gas mileage, says Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder in his review. The Murano’s performance and interior remain class-leading, but others have an edge in fuel economy. Check out this review to find out if that is a big enough deterrent for car shoppers.

2012 Nissan Murano Review

2012 Nissan Murano: Car Seat Check

Little has changed in the 2012 Nissan Murano compared with its 2011 version, but when we installed child-safety seats in this five-passenger crossover, we decided that three car seats don't fit in its backseat. That's a reversal of our assessment of the 2011 Murano: Car Seat Check.

So, what changed? Nothing, besides our minds. The 2011 and 2012 Muranos have the same interior and exterior dimensions, and we used the same car seats in both checks. The one difference is the 2011 Murano had cloth upholstery, but the 2012 version had leather seats.

Whether that explains why we think three car seats no longer fit across the backseat is debatable. It should be noted that in our most recent test, the Murano nearly fit three car seats across the backseat, but we judged that the infant-safety seat sat too close to the booster seat, making it difficult for a child to buckle up.

Recall Alert: 2012 Nissan Murano and Nissan Rogue

Nissan is recalling 2,983 model-year 2012 versions of the Murano midsize SUV and Rogue compact SUV because the tire pressure monitoring system wasn't activated during the assembly process, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Vehicles without an active TPMS do not to comply with federal motor vehicle safety requirements. Driving a vehicle with underinflated tires can increase the risk of a crash.

The affected SUVs were built from Nov. 23 to Jan. 11, but they have not been sold yet and are still in dealerships, according to NHTSA. Dealers have been instructed to activate the system on the affected vehicles.

Customers with questions can call NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

2011 Nissan Murano: Car Seat Check

This Car Seat Check was first published in June 2011 on MotherProof.com.

The 2011 Nissan Murano is a large crossover that accommodates five passengers. It's also one of the few cars we've tested recently that can fit three child-safety seats across the second 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.