Things To Look For When Buying a Family Car

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Things To Look For When Buying a Family Car

As a newly wedded couple, you’ve promised to move forward in life together. As part of the pledge you’ve made to one another, you will face major decisions as a pair. One of these decisions may involve choosing a family car. Whether you already have children to transport or will in the near future, you will likely require a vehicle that accommodates the needs of an active family. You’ll need to consider the usual items such as price point, fuel economy, maintenance costs and reliability, to name a few. Here are some considerations for you to chew on.

Prioritizing Space in a Car

It goes without saying that the more people in your household, the more room you’ll need in a family car. That sports-car coupe with the convertible top may have worked when you were single, but now you likely need an automobile that comes with more space. Over the past years, wagons, minivans and sports utility vehicles have been the autos of choice for those looking for a people hauler. Larger vehicles such as minivans and SUVs usually have second and third rows for carrying your smallest and most precious cargo. Look for autos with second and third rows that are not only spacious but also easy to get into for loading and unloading the kiddos.

In addition to carrying passengers, the best family vehicles also include ample cargo space. From hauling groceries to feed an entire family to transporting luggage and essentials for a road trip, the trunk or cargo area is important, so you’ll want to check to make sure it’s adequate. On some SUVs, there will be a trade-off between leg space in a back row and the cargo area.

Putting Safety First

Because you’ll be transporting the ones you love, it’s important to look for vehicles that have high safety ratings. A quick internet search can help you see the specific ratings for a certain vehicle make and model. Not only should you make note of safety performance, but you should also look for features that make a family car safer to operate:

  • Side airbags: Cushions that deploy in the event of a collision
  • Blind spot monitoring system: Warns you of cars that are in the blind spots of your side mirrors
  • Lane keeping or lane departure warning: Notifies you that the car is drifting into another lane or actively steers the car to stay in a lane
  • Forward collision monitoring and alerting: Alerts you of a potential rear-end collision and may apply brakes to prevent a crash
  • Tire pressure monitoring: Notifies you when tire pressure is below the recommended level
  • Adaptive headlights: Headlights that turn in the direction of steering for improved roadway illumination
  • Rearview camera: Shows a wide view of what’s behind you when the car is put into reverse

Other features such as facial recognition, proximity sensors and other types of cameras help boost the safety performance of some vehicles. Automotive technology is always evolving, especially with respect to safety. The latest features may inspire you to go with a new family car over a pre-owned option.

Checking for Kid-Friendly Features

Have you ever struggled to install a car seat in a vehicle? Not all backseats are created equal when it comes to seat belt configurations. If you have more than one young child, you may find that some cars don’t cut it with respect to multiple car seats or booster chairs. Many newer vehicles will check to see if a rear door has been opened and send a warning to check for a child or pet when the engine stops.

The right family automobile is out there. It’s important to find something that works for you and your household. In addition to your budget and gas mileage, pay special attention to the interior space, safety features and kid-friendly details when narrowing your options.

Things To Look For When Buying a Family Car

As a newly wedded couple, you’ve promised to move forward in life together. As part of the pledge you’ve made to one another, you will face major decisions as a pair. One of these decisions may involve choosing a family car. Whether you already have children to transport or will in the near future, you will likely require a vehicle that accommodates the needs of an active family. You’ll need to consider the usual items such as price point, fuel economy, maintenance costs and reliability, to name a few. Here are some considerations for you to chew on.

Prioritizing Space in a Car

It goes without saying that the more people in your household, the more room you’ll need in a family car. That sports-car coupe with the convertible top may have worked when you were single, but now you likely need an automobile that comes with more space. Over the past years, wagons, minivans and sports utility vehicles have been the autos of choice for those looking for a people hauler. Larger vehicles such as minivans and SUVs usually have second and third rows for carrying your smallest and most precious cargo. Look for autos with second and third rows that are not only spacious but also easy to get into for loading and unloading the kiddos.

In addition to carrying passengers, the best family vehicles also include ample cargo space. From hauling groceries to feed an entire family to transporting luggage and essentials for a road trip, the trunk or cargo area is important, so you’ll want to check to make sure it’s adequate. On some SUVs, there will be a trade-off between leg space in a back row and the cargo area.

Putting Safety First

Because you’ll be transporting the ones you love, it’s important to look for vehicles that have high safety ratings. A quick internet search can help you see the specific ratings for a certain vehicle make and model. Not only should you make note of safety performance, but you should also look for features that make a family car safer to operate:

  • Side airbags: Cushions that deploy in the event of a collision
  • Blind spot monitoring system: Warns you of cars that are in the blind spots of your side mirrors
  • Lane keeping or lane departure warning: Notifies you that the car is drifting into another lane or actively steers the car to stay in a lane
  • Forward collision monitoring and alerting: Alerts you of a potential rear-end collision and may apply brakes to prevent a crash
  • Tire pressure monitoring: Notifies you when tire pressure is below the recommended level
  • Adaptive headlights: Headlights that turn in the direction of steering for improved roadway illumination
  • Rearview camera: Shows a wide view of what’s behind you when the car is put into reverse

Other features such as facial recognition, proximity sensors and other types of cameras help boost the safety performance of some vehicles. Automotive technology is always evolving, especially with respect to safety. The latest features may inspire you to go with a new family car over a pre-owned option.

Checking for Kid-Friendly Features

Have you ever struggled to install a car seat in a vehicle? Not all backseats are created equal when it comes to seat belt configurations. If you have more than one young child, you may find that some cars don’t cut it with respect to multiple car seats or booster chairs. Many newer vehicles will check to see if a rear door has been opened and send a warning to check for a child or pet when the engine stops.

The right family automobile is out there. It’s important to find something that works for you and your household. In addition to your budget and gas mileage, pay special attention to the interior space, safety features and kid-friendly details when narrowing your options.

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