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August 2013 Share:

Three-row SUVs SUVs are known for versatility in carrying people and cargo. And adding a third-row seat boosts that capability another notch. Depending on the model, a third-row seat lets the vehicle carry up to seven or eight passengers. That's handy for a large family, car-pooling duties, or mobile play dates. And when you don't need the extra seat, it folds conveniently into the rear cargo floor. With a split–seatback design, you can fold one section down and still let someone sit in the other one. Here, we test the Acura MDX, Mercedes-Benz GL350 BlueTec, and Mitsubishi Outlander. Ford took advantage of EPA loophole big enough to drive a hybrid car through After owners complained that they couldn't get close to the advertised 47 mpg from the C-Max Hybrid, and we reported an average of just 37 mpg in our instrumented fuel economy tests, it became clear that something was wrong with the C-Max's rating. And now there is an explanation and a new fuel economy rating. Latest tire ratings Consumer Reports has just published the results of 49 tested models of ultra-high-performance (UHP) summer and all-season tires, and performance winter tires. The big winner? Michelin. But Goodyear, Nokian, Pirelli, and others have traction, too. See our complete tire ratings in nine categories. Does lowering a pickup truck tailgate improve fuel economy? Truck owners have long debated how to improve the aerodynamics of the cargo bed and if doing so was worth the effort. Conventional wisdom dictates that an empty bed with the tailgate up would capture air flow and the added drag would reduce fuel economy. To get to the bottom of this myth, we ran a series of tests with our 2013 Dodge Ram V8.

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Driving with kids: 5 ways to save your child's life Traveling with children can be fun, but it can also be stressful as it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your young passengers. While you may not have control over other drivers, you can make sure that children are properly protected in your own car. Here are simple steps to take to make sure children are safe at all times in and around vehicles. Beware of card skimming at gas pumps Being able to pay by credit or debit card at the gas station is a nice convenience. But when you swipe your card at the pump, you actually may be handing crooks what they need to steal money from your bank account at an ATM or go on a spending spree on your dime. Talking Cars with Consumer Reports The latest Talking Cars with Consumer Reports show focuses on hybrids and other fuel-efficient cars—a topic that generates lots of questions on our Facebook page. This show, featuring Auto Test Director Jake Fisher and Senior Automotive Engineers Gabe Shenhar and Tom Mutchler, tries to answer some of those inquiries.

Tesla Model S aces government crash test Tesla Motors has shaken the automotive industry to its very frame, showing that a new company can truly challenge the status quo. The American car company's latest accomplishment is to achieve 5-star safety ratings in the front, side, and side pole crash tests and rollover evaluation conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Model S genuinely aced every main test and subtest.. First drives & previews Our team has been busy, buying new cars for our test program, sampling upcoming models, and even previewing 2015 vehicles. Some recent highlights include the Chevrolet Silverado, Fiat 500L, Honda Odyssey, Kia Soul, Mazda3, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Plus, we take a look at the 2014 Harley-Davidson and Indian Chief motorcycles. Keep up with the latest models in our New Car Preview. Latest road tests Complete road tests and ratings were recently published online for the Acura MDX, Chevrolet Cruze Diesel, Fiat 500 Abarth, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Cadenza, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, and Mitsubishi Outlander.

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