2013 Nissan Maxima: Car Seat Check

Nissan's lineup is full of mainstream sedans, but don't let the sportiest one fool you — the Maxima is very family-friendly. Accessible Latch anchors and a roomy backseat helped earn this five-passenger sedan plenty of A's in our car seat check.

How many car seats fit in the second row? Two

What We Like

• The outboard seat's Latch anchors sit only about a quarter-inch into the seat bight. It was very easy to connect to the anchors.
• The three tether anchors are under large plastic boxes on the top rear shelf and are also very easy to use.
• There was plenty of room for our infant seat and convertible seat — no need to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate them.
• After removing the head restraint, the forward-facing convertible went in easily and had plenty of space.

What We Don't

• After we removed the head restraint, there was plenty of room for the booster but the buckles are on floppy bases. This can make it tough for kids to buckle up independently.
• Because of the buckle placement, the booster seat sits on top of the middle seat's belt and it's easy for the buckles to slide under the booster seat.

Grading Scale

A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn't impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.

B: Plenty of room. One fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row.

C: Marginal room. Two fit or connection issues. Difficult to access third row.

D: Insufficient room. Two or more fit or connection issues.

F: Does not fit or is unsafe.

About Cars.com's Car Seat Checks

Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman are certified child safety seat installation technicians.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a 5-foot-8 passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver's seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.

We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row's middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there's a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible.

Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat.

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Detroit Electric Delays Production Plans

When Detroit Electric unveiled the Lotus Exige-based SP:01 electric roader, the automaker promised production would begin in August at an unspecified location in Wayne County, Mich. — home to now-bankrupt city of Detroit. The automaker said it would build and sell 999 of the cars at $135,000 apiece to fund a more affordable family sedan down the road. Sound a lot like nearly defunct Fisker Automotive's plan? Yeah; that's what we said.

Don't count on Detroit Electric to make good on its promise in the next five days. The Detroit News reports that the automaker has pushed back its plans to start production in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth, Mich. It cites ongoing negotiations "with other parties that have the potential to impact our business strategy and timing," North American President Don Graunstadt said in an email.

"Any comment would, by the nature of the situation, be pure speculation due to the variables involved," Graunstadt told the newspaper. Detroit Electric "remains 100 percent committed to the Detroit area, the state of Michigan and the residents therein," he added.

The automaker has not taken any government loans — both Fisker and Tesla have, though Tesla has paid its back. Instead, Detroit Electric has teamed with Chinese automaker Geely to source the company's midsize-car architecture through a joint venture, the Detroit News says.

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Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Chrysler 200

Chrysler's midsize sedan has just two things going for it: a polished interior and affordable prices, says Cars.com reviewer Jennifer Geiger. However, an underpowered engine, sloppy brakes and uncompetitive cargo space majorly outweigh the few positives, Geiger says.

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Recall Alert: 2013 Fiat 500e

Chrysler is recalling 491 model-year 2013 versions of the Fiat 500e electric hatchback due to a problem with the half shaft joints, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from Dec. 16, 2012, through Aug. 13, 2013, (check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb) and have faulty half shaft joints. If the joints separate, a loss of driving capability could result. This increases the risk of a crash, but Chrysler said it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the recall.

Chrysler will notify owners this month, and dealers will replace the fasteners attaching the half shaft inboard joints for free. Owners can call Fiat at 888-242-6342 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info. 

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Increase Expected in Labor Day Travelers, Traffic Deaths

As the Labor Day 2013 holiday approaches, two national organizations are forecasting increases in both the number of travelers on the road and the number of deaths caused by accidents. AAA anticipates that 34.1 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more during the holiday, a 4.2% spike from 2012’s 32.7 million. Meanwhile, the National Safety Council predicts 394 traffic deaths will occur this year, a nearly 6% increase over the previous year.

AAA, which defines the Labor Day travel period as Aug. 29 through Sept. 2, estimates that 29.2 million Americans, 85% of the total, will drive to and from their destination, a 4.3% increase from 2012; more than 2.6 million will fly, while the balance will take trains, buses or watercraft. The average traveler is expected to cover a round-trip distance of 594 miles, 32 miles less than less year, while spending an average of $804, a more than 7% increase.

"AAA is forecasting a lift in Labor Day travel this year due to the increasingly positive economic outlook and optimism in the housing market," AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet said in a statement. "For many Americans, their home is also their biggest asset, as home prices improve in many parts of the country more families are feeling comfortable about traveling this Labor Day holiday."

Another motivating factor in Americans' travel decisions is the reduced price of fuel compared with 2012. As of mid-August, AAA reported, prices on average were down 2.7% per gallon from 2012, when gas was $3.83 per gallon — the most expensive ever for the holiday. But with that break in gas prices comes substantial increases in car-rental, airfare and lodging rates, AAA stated.

Moreover, as the number of travelers on the highways goes up, so will the number of fatalities and injuries resulting from traffic accidents, according to the National Safety Council, which defines the holiday travel period as 6 p.m. Aug. 30 through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 2. The council estimates 394 people will die in auto accidents and another 42,200 will require medical treatment for related injuries. Although the forecast is 21 deaths higher than last year, it’s still a more than 22% drop from the seven-year high of 508 in 2007.

The council estimates that the death toll could be reduced drastically — by an estimated 143 — if vehicle occupants buckle up. Other safety recommendations include:

• Establishing a distraction-free zone, especially in cars equipped with electronic devices.
• Making sure all children are in safety seats appropriate to their age and size.
• Allowing plenty of travel time to avoid frustration and the urge to speed.
• Driving defensively and exercising caution, especially in poor weather conditions.
• Designating a sober driver or planning for alternative transportation if alcohol is consumed.

Thousands of law-enforcement agencies, state and local safety advocates, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are participating in the 2013 "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign in an effort to reduce the number of drunken-driving deaths during the holiday; in 2011, 138 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes nationwide. The campaign, which began Aug. 16 and runs through Sept. 2, promotes high-visibility enforcement of drunken-driving laws as a way to reduce fatalities.

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Will Your Warranty Be Honored If Maintenance Is Done by a Shop That's Not the Dealership?

Absolutely. As long as you have records of routine maintenance (such as oil changes) and have not altered the vehicle with non-factory parts that could be blamed for causing problems (such as an aftermarket high-performance engine computer calibration or a suspension lowering kit), your warranty should remain in effect.

Depending on what the warranty issue is, you may not have to produce any evidence of maintenance. For example, if an air-conditioning compressor conks out while under warranty, does it matter that you only changed the engine oil once in two years? The engine isn't what needs fixing.

For most new vehicles today, the only maintenance recommended by the manufacturer during the first three or four years is changing the engine oil and filter, and rotating the tires periodically. Just about any repair shop that offers these services can do this type of maintenance — and often for less than a dealership charges. They also can check your brakes, suspension, engine and cabin air filters, and other components, the same as a dealership's service department would.

There are exceptions, of course. For example, Toyota provides free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 25,000 miles, Volkswagen for three years or 36,000 miles and BMW for four years or 50,000 miles, so it makes sense to take advantage of that. Why such generosity? The manufacturers want to get you in the habit of going to a dealer for service, and it gives dealers a chance to sell you additional services (such as brake-pad replacement, windshield wiper blades, cabin air filters).

Some vehicles may require specialized services such as periodic fuel-filter replacement that all repair shops may not perform, and if we bought a $75,000 Mercedes-Benz, the nearest Super Duper Luber may not have all the right fluids, tools and know-how, so going to a dealer may be advisable, if not necessary. Check the maintenance schedule for your vehicle (it's in the owner's manual or a separate booklet) to see what the manufacturer requires. Chances are everything you need could be done at a competent repair shop that is more convenient or less expensive than a dealership.

Don't assume, however, that a dealer will always be more expensive. They may charge $40 or less to change the oil, rotate the tires, inspect the vitals and throw in a car wash. Check the websites of dealers, often in the service department section of the dealership's site, and manufacturers for discounts on routine service.

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Which Crossover SUV Is the Most Fuel Efficient?

"Which crossover SUV is the most fuel efficient?"

Norman M., Brooklyn, N.Y.

That honor goes to the 2013 Toyota RAV4 EV — a low-production electric version sold only in California at the moment — that earns the equivalent of 78 mpg for city driving, 74 mpg for highway and a combined city/highway rating of 76. Given that the RAV4 EV might not be available in your neighborhood, or be a good choice for your needs, the Lexus RX 450h hybrid has a combined city/highway rating of 30 mpg with front-wheel drive and 29 mpg with all-wheel drive. The similar, but less-luxurious, Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes in at 28 mpg with standard all-wheel drive.

Other crossover SUVs with higher EPA ratings are the Buick Encore (28 mpg), Mazda CX-5 (29 mpg), Subaru XV Crosstrek (28 mpg), and the Mini Countryman and Paceman (31 mpg with manual transmission, 27 mpg with automatic). The XV Crosstrek has standard all-wheel drive, but the other ratings are for front-wheel-drive models. The numbers will be lower on all-wheel-drive versions, and because these are just estimates, your mileage is sure to vary.

The Cars.com Vehicle Recommender, found here, can help you sort through the dozens of crossover SUVs to find the ones that offer the right combination of mileage, price, size and features.

Have a car question you'd like us to answer? Send us an email at tips@cars.com, or ask in the comments below.

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