Chrysler Delays 2014 Jeep Cherokee One Month

Fans of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee will have to wait until the kids start summer vacation to buy one. Chrysler told The Detroit Free Press on Thursday that its midsize SUV, slated to hit dealers right about now, won't arrive until the middle of June. But dealers should have plenty of cars by fall, said Mark Chernoby, who heads up engineering at Chrysler.

Chrysler builds the Cherokee in Toledo, Ohio; the automaker said it's smoothing out a few issues common with new-vehicle launches.

"Right now, we are at a point where we have dozens of open issues. It is less than 100," Chernoby told the Free Press. But those represent "the normal" for any vehicle launch, he added, particularly one with a new drivetrain. In particular, the automaker is tinkering with processes along the assembly line and calibrating the new nine-speed automatic.

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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:

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

Guide: SUVs, Crossovers, Minivans With Third-Row Tether Anchors

Last winter, I drove a 2013 Kia Sorento on vacation; we packed the three-row crossover full of gear and passengers, including two toddlers and their child-safety seats. The plan was to put the kids in the third row, freeing up the roomier second row for the adults. It fell apart, however, once I discovered that the third row lacked tether anchors — installing forward-facing convertible car seats there is a safety no-no.

Using a top tether anchor with a forward-facing convertible reduces head and neck movement in a crash, decreasing the risk of injury. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, however, more than half of parents who participated in their joint 2012 car seat study failed to connect the seat’s top tether.

By law, automakers have to put two sets of lower Latch anchors and three top tether anchors in the second row, but no such rules apply to the third row. The lack of a third-row tether anchor makes a vehicle much less versatile, and it's not just a Kia problem. Many automakers skimp on this simple safety feature, but some all-stars offer more than one in the third row.

Check out our lists of the three-row SUVs, crossovers and minivans that have one or more tether anchors in the third row. This list doesn't include vehicles with optional third rows.

2013 Buick Enclave Video

If you covet both the family friendliness of a minivan and the luxury of an SUV, Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek says the closest you'll come in a crossover may be the 2013 Buick Enclave. Redesigned for the first time since its brand-jump-starting intro in 2007, the new Enclave boasts updated front-end styling and upgraded interior materials, as well as improved ride and acceleration thanks to suspension and transmission tweaks. Still, stiff brakes make quick stops a chore and a cocoa-colored interior undermines the luxury feel of the classy stitching and ambient blue lighting. Watch the video above.

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Recall Alert: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 272 model-year 2013 GL-Class SUVs due to a problem with the second-row seat belt anchors, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Affected vehicles include GL350 Bluetec, GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and GL63 AMG models manufactured between May 15, 2012, and Oct. 4, 2012. The second-row seat belt anchor fitting bolts may not be properly torqued, which could cause seat belt anchor bolts to continually loosen. In a crash, the belted passenger may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.

Mercedes-Benz will begin notifying owners this month, and dealers will check and tighten the bolts of the seat belt anchor fittings for free. Owners can call Mercedes-Benz at 800-367-6372 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236; for more info owners can go to www.safercar.gov.

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Recall Alert: 2007-13 Toyota FJ Cruiser

Toyota is recalling 11,489 model-year 2007-13 FJ Cruiser SUVs due to auxiliary headlights that do not comply with federal safety standards for brightness, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured between Jan. 25, 2006, and Feb. 23, 2013, and are equipped with a Toyota Auxiliary Driving Lamp Kit mounted to the front bumper. These lamp assemblies include 55-watt bulbs that, in combination with the upper beam headlights, are too bright and exceed the maximum light output allowed by federal safety standards. Excessively bright lamps could temporarily blind oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Toyota said it will begin notifying owners later this month, and dealers will replace the 55-watt bulbs with 35-watt bulbs for free. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or for more info, go to www.safercar.gov.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic Diesel: First Drive

Small crossovers are all the rage these days, one of the fastest-growing sales segments in the U.S. market at all price points. From the less-expensive Hyundais and Kias at the bottom end to the high-priced luxury versions like the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK, Americans seemingly can't get enough of them.

We reviewed the newly restyled 2013 GLK350 last summer, with News Editor Jennifer Geiger finding it a bit compromised in V-6 form, with a smallish interior, fussy audio and navigation system, and styling that's aimed at a male demographic (making the vehicle's public debut as Samatha's ride in the "Sex and the City" movie somewhat odd).

But now Mercedes-Benz is introducing the second powertrain for the GLK, with the arrival of the GLK250 Bluetec diesel, making the GLK the most fuel-efficient luxury crossover in the country. That suddenly makes the little trucklet a bit more interesting.

Bigger Than Average: Check Out This Owner's Manual

Pop quiz: What weighs 5 pounds, is twice as long as the King James Bible and can be yours for about $51,000? It is indeed a special book, but you won't find it at any rare bookstore: It's the owner's manual for the 2013 Lexus RX 350 F Sport.

A recent sampling of Lexus' latest take on a sporty crossover (comfortable, well appointed, attractive, but with artificially heavy "sport" steering and throttle response that's far too aggressive) revealed a surprise when I opened the glove box. Inside was the most massive owner's manual I've ever seen, taking up nearly half of the available space. Stuffed into a leather protective jacket are the owner's manual, navigation system manual, lemon law guide and a "quick start" booklet.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Jeep Wrangler and Unlimited

We could talk about the new-for-2013 Jeep Wrangler's improved efficiency, reduced noise, tamer ride and better overall livability. But who would we be indulging? Cars.com reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder figures you're either a devout follower of the cult of Wrangler or you're trivializing their heathen faith. Both the two-door Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimited continue in the nameplate's rugged, rough-riding tradition, adding a more powerful 3.6-liter V-6 good for 285 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque. Its ride height and obstructed rear view render the Wrangler impractical for many, but that brand of practicality takes a backseat on the off-road trail.

2013 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited Review