With its new look, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has garnered lots of attention. This perennial family favorite has shed its boxy ways in favor of a sleek design. To remain popular, this redesigned SUV needs to comfortably hold the kids and their child-safety seats in the backseat. While our test found that the backseat can easily accommodate three car seats, we did run into a few problems.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a rear-facing infant-safety seat, a convertible child-safety seat and a high-back booster seat, all made by Graco. 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 Grand Cherokee scored in MotherProof.com’s Car Seat Check:

The 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi probably isn’t the first car you’d think of when looking for a family car. MotherProof.com’s Chief Mama Kristin Varela spent a week test-driving the WRX STi and found a lot of features that appeal to parents, including standard all-wheel drive, a big trunk and an easy-to-use Latch system for child-safety seats. Can the high-performance WRX STi hold its own in the carpool lane? Read Kristin’s review to find out.

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STi Review

After nearly four years of being a single mama, my life is about to change in the most amazing way possible. I’m getting married! The fabulous man in my life proposed recently, and we’re starting the process of consolidating our stuff and moving him into my home this week. Thank goodness for the functional cargo space in the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart to get us through the move (we’d be out of luck without it since we both own small cars with small trunks).

I spent several days last week in La Jolla, Calif., test-driving the new 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan.  While I’ve been sworn to secrecy about it (at least until next Thursday), I think it’s safe to tell you that it has sliding doors. Shocker!

With the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan, form follows function. This minivan is all about maximizing room for cargo or kiddies, and it’s a trick the Chrysler Group knows best, with its patented Stow ’n Go seating system. However, Dodge may have taken the form-function philosophy a little too far considering the model’s crude interior appointments, says Cars.com senior editor David Thomas. However, is the Grand Caravan’s attractive price enough to keep up with the new Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey? Continue reading to find out. 

2010 Dodge Grand Caravan Review

Ford is recalling 462,750 Windstar minivans from the 1998 to 2003 model years due to a rear axle that can fracture over time when exposed to corrosive materials used on roads in cold-weather areas.
The corrosion and stress can lead to cracks that can result in a “complete fracture” of the rear axle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If this happens while the van is driving, it could lead to a crash.
We found 10 complaints of completely cracked rear axles on NHTSA’s complaint website for just the 1998 model year. All were from 2009 or 2010, and a few mentioned mileage of 90,000 miles.
Ford will begin the recall on or before Sept. 27, and all service and parts will be covered free of charge if needed. Owners can contact Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.

The 2011 Buick Regal has received the Top Safety Pick designation in the large-car category by 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 the Buick Regal.

More and more corporate giants jump on the big ol’ charitable giving and donations bandwagon every day. Ford certainly isn’t new to it. This is the automaker’s 16th year of supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and to this date, Ford has donated more than $105 million for breast cancer research.