If you’re in the early stages of parenthood, traveling with your kids means your priorities are probably pretty specific. There are several factors to consider when buying a car, but with kids involved, you may need to change your wish list. Your perspective on vehicles will suddenly shift to figuring out the safest vehicles for families.
Instead of significant horsepower, loud stereo, and the level of prestige, the hunt may change to family functionality, safety functions, and staying within budget. It’s essential to keep in mind that you’re searching for a car to transport everyone comfortably, safely, and happily.
Here are five quick tips for finding the best family cars, SUVs, and trucks on the dealership lots.
How Do I Look for The Best Family SUV?
- Vehicle Size – Whether you have a small or large family, the size of the vehicle you want is important to determine. If plenty of space is high on your list, then an SUV might be the way to go. SUVs are very popular as family vehicles, and it’s not hard to see why.
Traditional vehicles typically sit very low, whereas SUVs are higher off the ground. As a parent, you may need to consider space for a car seat, booster seats, and, eventually, gangly teenagers. Another thing you need to ask is, does the car come with child safety seat anchors? These child safety seat anchors are crucial when strapping in a car seat as this keeps it secure while driving.
- Safety Functions and Systems – To keep your family safe, safety should be a top priority on your list. These safety functions include parking sensors, blind-spot warning devices, and backup cameras. By having a backup camera, you’ll be able to avoid any surprises. Getting a vehicle with a blind-spot camera helps detect nearby drivers as you’re changing lanes or even passing someone next to you. Similar to the backup camera, parking sensors help you avoid backing up into any cars or people.
Another recommended safety function is automatic emergency brakes. Automatic emergency brakes can tell you the car’s speed ahead of you and automatically adjust your vehicle accordingly. Adaptive cruise control is helpful when it comes to reducing the risk of fatigue on a long road trip and will change your speed depending on the traffic around you.
- Entertainment T.V.s and Technology – Looking for a way to entertain your kids on long road trips? If so, you may want to prioritize entertainment for the backseat. Entertainment for the kids can be a distraction for youngsters, and hassle-free driving for the lengthier family journeys ahead.
Newer features can include:
- Built-in Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots
- Built-in Back-Seat Tablets
- Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
- Wireless Phone Charging Pads
- Interior Seats – We all know kids get hungry on the drive, which can lead to crummy messes. The type of interior is critical if you want to maintain your car and have the seats remain crumb-free easily. Many vehicles come with standard cloth-covered seats. These cloth-covered seats are inexpensive and work for a family with a set budget.
However, if you want clean-up to be simpler, opt for a more wipeable material to extend the lifespan of your vehicle. Materials like leather or even pleather can make for easy removal of spills, stains, and snack crumbs. If you’re looking for cheaper alternatives, washable pockets, cup holders, all-weather floor mats, or even a portable vacuum can work.
- Cost of Ownership and Reliability – That car, truck, or SUV price tag can jump if you consider adding more safety features or even paying extra for interior materials. If you’re having trouble deciding, try making a pros and cons list to compare various brands or models. By narrowing things down, you can save time and determine which vehicle is ready for the road – and which one might be headed for the mechanic’s shop.
Whether you’re looking for the best trucks for families or the best SUVs, we have both and a whole lot more. If you’re interested in buying new or used family cars or trucks, contact us today!
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