The 2011 Honda Odyssey is a seamless combination of function and fun, says MotherProof.com reviewer Lori Hindman. With five sets of lower Latch anchors on all trims but the base model, the Odyssey caters to large families. What’s even better is the expandable second row that features outboard seats that each slide outward by 1.5 inches, allowing three child-safety seats to fit in the second row. Learn more about the Odyssey’s family-friendly features in Lori’s review. 

2011 Honda Odyssey Review
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Volvo competes in the luxury crossover marketplace with its 2011 XC60. If you have school-age kids, this five-passenger crossover has optional integrated booster seats that cost $500.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Cosco rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Graco convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back booster seat. The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The child seats are installed in the second row and, if available, third row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat.

Here’s how the 2011 Volvo XC60 scored in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check:

Latch system: The XC60 has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the outboard seats. The anchors sit deeply in the seat bight, which is where the seatback and bottom cushions meet, but the cushions can be easily moved out of the way, making it not too tough to use the anchors. Three tether anchors are positioned midway down the second-row seatback. These anchors are easy to use.

Booster seat: Our high-back booster seat fit well in the backseat, with the side bolsters helping to hold the seat in place. While the head restraints aren’t removable, they didn’t interfere with the fit of this child-safety seat. The seat belt buckles are somewhat nestled into the seat cushions, but they’re well-anchored, making them easier for young kids to use.

Convertible child-safety seat: Even though the XC60 doesn’t have reclining seatbacks in the second row, the forward-facing convertible fit well in the backseat. However, we had to move the front passenger seat forward several inches to get the rear-facing convertible seat to fit in the backseat. After moving the front seat forward, our tester’s knees were nearly touching the glove box.

Rear-facing infant-safety seat: We had to move the front passenger seat forward roughly an inch to create enough room in the backseat for this car seat. However, the front passenger still had plenty of legroom.

Do two car seats fit? Yes

Do three car seats fit? Almost. We could fit all three of our car seats into the backseat, but the seats were so close together that a child sitting in the booster seat wouldn’t be able to buckle up. If you need to use three car seats in this car, try using narrow car seats.
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Toyota is voluntarily recalling about 245,000 Lexus cars sold in the U.S. because of a possible problem with the fuel pressure sensor installation. The models affected by the recall are 2006-07 GS 300 and GS 350, 2006-09 IS 250, and 2006-08 IS 350.

Insufficient tightening of the fuel pressure sensor, which is connected to some engine fuel delivery pipes that have nickel-phosphorus plating, may cause the pressure sensor to loosen. If this happens, fuel could leak past a gasket that’s used in the connection between the sensor and the fuel delivery pipe. It could also leak through the threaded part of the sensor.

Toyota says there are no warnings that this may occur. However, if fuel is leaking from the fuel pressure sensor, owners may notice a fuel odor coming from the engine compartment. If they do so, Toyota recommends they take it to their dealer for servicing immediately.

There have been four complaints, Toyota says, but there have been no reports of accidents due to the defect. Many of the vehicles in question were previously recalled in January 2009 for fuel lines that experienced corroding over time. Three of the four reports of the current defect were of vehicles not involved in that recall, but one was, leading to the wider range of vehicles involved in the recall.

Toyota is determining how long it will take to produce enough replacement parts before determining a launch date for the recall, which will involve mailings to customers. Recall notices usually include such a date, but Toyota has sped up the reporting process because of its recent history of recall issues.

Once the recall begins, Lexus dealers will inspect cars for fuel leakage. If no leakage is found, they will tighten the fuel pressure sensor. However, if a leak is found, the gasket between the sensor and fuel delivery pipe will be replaced, and the sensor will be tightened. There will be no charge for the inspection and, if necessary, gasket replacement.

The automaker will notify owners of the recall once the necessary parts have been obtained. For more info, owners can call Lexus at 800-255-3987 or go to www.lexus.com/recall/.

Toyota also issued a separate recall for 1.3 million cars worldwide today over a separate problem with a fuel delivery pipe. This larger recall doesn’t affect any U.S. cars.
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MotherProof.com reviewer Courtney Messenbaugh found the redesigned 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee to be a stylish, comfortable and practical SUV. She even mistook it for a Porsche Cayenne when she first saw it until she spotted its distinctive front grille. The Grand Cherokee’s softened exterior lines, chrome trim and large wheels helped it to look better than ever. However, she ran into problems when trying to install her children’s car seats. Would she recommend the Grand Cherokee to families? Read Courtney’s review to find out.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review
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The redesigned 2011 Dodge Charger and 2011 Chrysler 300 both received the Top Safety Pick designation in the large-car category from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

To earn the award, a vehicle must receive the top rating of Good in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. The vehicle also must have electronic stability control, which is standard on both cars.

Measurements taken from the crash-test dummies used in the Charger and 300 tests show a low risk of significant injury in a 40-mph frontal offset crash. In addition, the standard driver’s knee airbag minimized knee injuries in frontal crashes. In side-impact testing, the front and rear passengers’ head and body protection also indicate a low risk of significant injury.

To pass IIHS’ roof-strength test, a vehicle’s roof must be able to withstand the force of four times the vehicle’s weight. The Charger can withstand 5.37 times its own weight.

Both vehicles bring the number of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles with Top Safety Pick awards to seven since IIHS implemented a tough roof-strength requirement to test vehicle rollover safety. Other new vehicles like the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Avenger have also earned the award.

This is the first time that either vehicle has received this distinction. The previous-generation 300 earned the second lowest rating of Marginal in side-impact protection.
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The 2011 Honda Odyssey received an overall rating of five stars in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s new crash-test rating system, the safety agency announced today.

The Odyssey’s overall composite score is composed of a five-star frontal, four-star rollover and a five-star rating for the combined side pole and barrier tests. The side barrier test is an area where other vehicles have shown weakness with the safety agency’s new testing format. The side pole test simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side. According to Honda, the four-star rollover rating is actually the highest rating a vehicle of this body type can achieve under NHTSA’s testing methodology.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently announced the Odyssey received a top score of Good in all of its crash tests but hasn’t completed a roof-strength test that is required to earn the Top Safety Pick designation.

Out of the more than 50 models NHTSA has tested so far, only 11 have earned a five-star rating under the revamped system: Acura MDX, BMW 5 Series, Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia, GMC Sierra, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Volvo XC60. NHTSA still has few more models left to test for 2011.

Read MotherProof.com’s review of the 2011 Honda Odyssey here.
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The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is an all-new compact sedan that’s been highly anticipated. The Cruze replaces the Cobalt and has a bigger interior than its predecessor. Will the Cruze’s interior fit three child-safety seats? 

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Cosco rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Graco convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back booster seat. The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The child seats are installed in the second row and, if available, third row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat.

Here’s how the 2011 Chevy Cruze scored in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check:

Latch system: The Cruze has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the outboard seats. You can’t see the anchors, but it’s easy to use them if you come at them from the top of the anchor. Under the anchors, the seat cushions push right up against them, making it difficult to use the anchors. Three tether anchors are on the rear shelf behind the head restraints. They’re easy to use.

Booster seat: The high-back booster seat fits well, but the seat belt buckles fall into large wells in the bottom seat cushion, making them difficult for kids to use.

Convertible child-safety seat: A forward-facing convertible seat fit well in the Cruze’s backseat. However, to create enough space for the rear-facing convertible, we had to move the front passenger seat all the way forward, leaving no room for someone to sit.

Rear-facing infant-safety seat: To get this seat to fit, we had to move the front passenger seat so far forward that our tester’s knees were pushing against the glove box. 

Do two car seats fit? Yes, as long as they’re not rear-facing car seats.

Do three car seats fit? No
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Ford is halting production of the F-150 light-duty pickup for a week due to a shortage of parts for its new 3.7-liter and 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engines.
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Ford has released video of the public teardown and inspection of a “torture tested” 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 used in the latest F-150.
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The Ram 1500, Honda Ridgeline and Ford F-250/F-350 Super Duty are tops in perceived value among buyers of new pickups, according to Strategic Vision’s 2010 Total Value Awards.
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