Cars

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Here's what we have our eye on today:

As gas prices ebb nearly 13 cents from month-ago levels, the race toward higher fuel economy has momentarily slowed. The latest figures from the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute shows car shoppers averaged 23.9 mpg in new-car gas mileage, down from 24.1 mpg in March — the highest level since the institute began studying monthly fuel economy in 2007. We should note, however, that the institute weighs combined EPA city/highway figures by each car's sales, averaging multiple EPA figures (four-cylinder vs. V-6, for example) into one overall number per car, with an assumed model-year changeover every fall. Car sales rarely work out that way, but most automakers don't report drivetrain mixes. We tackled the subject in 2008 with representative dealership samples.

BMW and Hyundai may be in talks to share development costs for new engines, German newspaper Automobil Produktion reports via Automotive News . The newspaper said a top Hyundai official met with BMW in Munich to discuss a project worth $1.3 billion to $2.6 billion to produce new engine architectures for BMW's three-, four- and six-cylinder engines. BMW remained mum when Automotive News asked to comment. BMW's current partnerships include PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler.

A new charging system for electric vehicles is gaining traction among Detroit and German automakers, Autoblog reports . The system, called Combined Charging, integrates one- and three-phase AC charging and DC quick-charging into one large portal. Current EVs need separate portals for AC and DC charging, and only some cars — the Nissan Leaf, for instance — accept the latter. The first vehicles to accept the new system are scheduled to launch in 2013.

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Though it's a midsize sedan, the 2012 Buick LaCrosse is on the larger side of the class. This allows it to comfortably fit three passengers in its backseat, but child-safety seats often take up more backseat real estate. The LaCrosse nearly fit three car seats across the second row, but we couldn't reach the seat belt buckle next to the booster seat, disqualifying it from our three car-seat list . If you're trying to fit three convertible or infant seats across the LaCrosse's backseat, you might have better luck.

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.

The front seats are adjusted to a comfortable position for a 6-foot driver and a shorter adult passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver's seat, and the infant seat and convertible seats are installed behind the passenger seat. We also install the infant seat in the second row's middle seat with the booster and convertible in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit. If there's a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible.

Here's how the 2012 LaCrosse did in Cars.com's Car Seat Check:

Latch system: There are five lower Latch anchors in the backseat, with two sets of anchors in the outboard seats and a single anchor in the middle seat. This Latch placement allows a child-safety seat to be installed with Latch anchors in any seating position. In cars with only two sets of lower Latch anchors, a car seat in the middle seat must be installed with a seat belt. The LaCrosse's anchors sit really close to the seat cushions. Once you push the cushions out of the way, the Latch anchors are easy to use. Three tether anchors are on the rear shelf behind the head restraints. They're easy to use and sit under flip-up plastic covers.

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Booster seat: Seat bolstering helps keep the high-back booster seat in a good position in the LaCrosse. The seat belt buckles are recessed in the bottom seat cushions, making it difficult for kids to buckle up independently.

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Convertible seat: To fit the forward-facing convertible in the backseat, we had to remove the head restraint. Once we did, this car seat fit well. The rear-facing convertible also fit well, with no need to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate it.

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Infant-safety seat: This rear-facing car seat also fit well in the LaCrosse's spacious backseat.

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How many car seats fit in the second row? Two, but three almost fit.

Editor's note: For three car seats — infant-safety seat, convertible and booster seats — to fit in a car, our criterion is that a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat.

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Chevrolet's full-size Tahoe SUV excels at towing, but it's also dated and thirsty, says Cars.com Managing Editor Dave Thomas. If you don't need Tahoe's hefty towing capacity, there are other vehicles on the market that offer more passenger and interior cargo room, like Chevy's own Traverse three-row crossover. It's cheaper, more fuel efficient and offers more cargo room than the Tahoe, Thomas says.

2012 Chevrolet Tahoe Review

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You've just learned your family is expanding and Baby No. 3 is on the way. You have all of the gear thanks to those first two offspring. You know what you're doing as a parent (relatively speaking), so rookie jitters about changing diapers, how delicately to hold a newborn and who takes first watch are absent. You're a pro at this point so you can bask in the joy and expectation.

Then you realize that your current car might not fit three child-safety seats. Now it's time to panic.

Fear not. I've been there and am here to help.

When pregnant with my third child, I exuded nothing but joy until I realized that a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta was not a workable family car with three children in safety seats.

I'm not going to tell you that life with three kids is easy. Quite frankly, having three young children is one big, love-filled and chaotic blur. However, finding a car to fit three young children is easy. Just approach the process early and with calm rationality because when that third kid comes along, you won't have time to be calm, early or rational again until someone moves out.

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Here are my tips for those readying for baby No. 3:

Get your third child-safety seat as soon as possible: Try to fit it and your other two car seats across your current car's second row. Depending on the car seats you're using and the car you have, you may be able to do this. If so, stop reading this article and slide back into the "I've got this covered" arrogance that a parent expecting a third child is entitled to. If not, continue reading.

Measure your garage: Not all garages are created equal, and some cannot handle the length of a minivan or three-row crossover. You may have to consider a shorter three-row car, like the much-loved Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander . Check online specifications for vehicle length of the cars you're considering to see if they'd even fit in your garage. You may be wary about the expense of a new car, but a garage renovation would cost a bit more, so due diligence is paramount.

Determine your budget: There is a three-row car at a price point for everyone. While a fully-loaded Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna offer you a multitude of conveniences, they can cost upwards of $40,000. There are less spendy options like the Mazda5 and Kia Sorento. They're worthy contenders that offer a lot for a price tag in the $20,000 range. Thankfully, car manufacturers — even luxury makers like Mercedes-Benz and Acura — have been catering to larger families for a few years now, so choices abound.

Start your researching and test-driving early: Choices may abound, but the range of cargo volume, fuel economy, price and features can be overwhelming. Make sure you know what matters most to you and seek it out. Minivans are an obvious choice since power sliding doors can be heavenly, but crossovers like the Chevy Traverse and Infiniti JX , along with many others, can work just as well for larger-than-average-families.

Know when to buy. The earlier you start this whole process, the better off you'll be because deals and major incentives occur throughout the year. That means if you know which specific car you want and happen upon a bargain as the model year turns over, for example, go ahead and pull the trigger, even if it's months before junior is set to arrive. At this stage you don't need me to tell you that any money you save now is money you'll need later.

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For 2013, the Chevy Malibu gains better fuel economy with its Eco trim, but it loses some roominess in the backseat, says Cars.com Family contributor Courtney Messenbaugh. Even though the Malibu Eco can’t fit three child-safety seats across its second row, it still has enough family-friendly features for us to recommend it, such as its good looks and quiet cabin (when the kids aren’t along for the ride).

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Review