Becoming a parent brings many life changes. The vacation budget gets spent on diapers and formula, The Wiggles dominate household entertainment, and the speedy coupe you have driven since high school suddenly feels a lot smaller. Here are seven factors to consider when purchasing a family car.
1. Car Size
A four-seat sedan may not be enough for growing families. As for the minivan, with its multiple rows of passenger seats, it has long been dubbed the “mommy-mobile.” The few minivans left on the market, however, are extremely competitive. They can offer bigger cargo space than three-row SUVs and more spacious third rows.
The Kia Carnival, for instance, has best in class power, which will make a drive happy. It also has best-in-class passenger space and best-in-class cargo space.
Many parents have considered the extended-length SUV, with all the passenger space of a minivan, plus a more stylish exterior and higher ground clearance, filling the family-hauling niche.
2. Car Seat Capacity
Every car made in the US has been required to have at least one seat equipped with car seat latches. LATCH stands for lower anchors and tethers for children. Most cars will have two full sets. It would seem reasonable that three-row vehicles would have more. They do not always. So you need to check before you are in the middle of the car-buying process.
3. Cargo Space
Most three-row SUVs have very small cargo areas. The norm is around 18 cubic feet. You can find some that have more, such as the Kia Telluride with 21 cubic feet before the seats are folded. For thousands extra, you can get a sizable cargo hold by buying XL (extra-long) versions of certain large SUVs. Among others, these include the Hyundai Santa Fe and GMC Yukon.
Minivans are where its at when it comes to cargo space. The Kia Carnival minivan provides 40.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than rivals Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
From soccer cleats to strollers, laptops to luggage, large families bring a lot of cargo, and today’s autos have a variety of solutions to the problem of storage space. Many models of SUVs have rear seats that fold down, manually or with the push of a button, to create more space.
In addition, late-model SUVs often come with under-the-seat cubbies for items too small for rear storage yet best kept out of sight.
4. Safety
Interior devices such as airbags and seatbelts have been de rigueur for all drivers. The latest generation of safety features, by contrast, take full advantage of modern automation technology to protect passengers from the outside.
Back-up cameras and blind-spot sensors help prevent tragedies in the driveway, while adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking keep families safe on the highway.
These features often don’t come standard, however, so be sure to talk with your dealer about safety options.
5. Interior
New car buyers often put little thought into the material covering the seats. Several years, numerous mystery stains, and a few funky smells later, many end up regretting settling for the default fabric seats.
Leather and pleather seating, while it may cost a little more at the dealer, can be cleaned from most spills with the simple application of a napkin. If you can afford a bit of extra expense, interior vacuum cleaners may be a worthwhile addition for cleaning the occasional cracker spill.
6. Entertainment Features
In-car entertainment tech can be a godsend for a parent’s nerves during long road trips. Mobile gaming devices can keep the back row quiet, but when batteries run low, you’ll be glad to have those extra USB ports.
In addition, many automakers offer such things as integrated backseat tablets, movie players, and even wi-fi hotspot capability as available features. If you see several hours on the road in your future, consider investing in a quality entertainment suite.
7. Gas Mileage
Raising kids is expensive enough without having to worry about your next fill-up. Online fuel efficiency calculators are plentiful online.
Those looking to get even more out of their gas tank could consider getting a plug-in hybrid. With the ability to charge your car at home, and only refueling for especially long trips, many consider the additional up-front cost offset by savings at the pump.
Whether you’re a new parent looking for your first car with more than two doors, an expanding family that has outgrown their old sedan, or are looking to replace the old station wagon with something more modern, we hope this article helps you choose a car you and your family will love for years to come.