After living here in Berlin for several months, we have realized more and more that we truly don’t need a car of any kind 98% of the year. Yes, there are a few instances when it makes life much easier (like furnishing a new apartment or when you’re decluttering a lot of stuff), but generally, we have barely touched our car since we moved here. In fact, we will be selling it in the near future because we use it so seldom and it’s too expensive to keep– but that also got me thinking about what people actually look for when they are searching for a new family car.
Obviously, there are many features that make up a family-friendly car — and some of them are more important for larger families than for small ones. But in general, there are usually a few basic characteristics that families search for when they are deciding whether to purchase a sedan, SUV, minivan or something else in-between.
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- Great safety ratings & crash test results
I think we can all agree that one of the most important aspects when looking for a new or used car for your family, is whether or not you will be safe if and when something should happen. None of us leave the house in the morning hoping to be in a car accident. But if it should happen, you want to know that those riding in the car will be protected by air bags, a sturdy car frame and smart crumple zones that absorb the impact of another car hitting you, instead of transferring it into your body. For many years, the name Volvo has been synonymous with family cars offering great safety ratings — but over the years, many other imports and domestics have managed to improve their own ratings and should not be overlooked! After our accident in 2010, the safety ratings are definitely one of the first things we look at when considering a car. - Fuel efficiency
None of us like to see rising fuel costs, especially when we’re getting ready to set out on a family road trip. Whether you are just cruising around town completing daily errands, or taking a long trip to visit friends and family, knowing that you are driving a car which is not going to suck down gas is a real benefit for families. The last thing you want to do is stop every hour to refill the gas tank…and end up spending more money on the drive than you would to fly somewhere. The most important number to look at is the City MPG, because unless you drive 50 miles each morning to get your kids to school, you’re most likely experiencing a lot more stop and go traffic than anything else. - Reliable
Old or new, any car which is used by a family needs to be dependable and can’t be breaking down all the time. Not only is it inconvenient, but it quickly adds up to major expenses when your car is constantly in the shop. None of us want to spend every extra penny we have at the repair shop, but thankfully there are many options now like “lemon checks” and other pre-owned car screenings which will help to ensure that you don’t get stuck with a dud. - Easy to get in and out of
For our family, it’s nice to have a car that is not too far off the ground. And unless you live in the country, it’s not usually necessary to have an SUV or something that sits up really high (although some would argue that they are safer in a side-impact, as long as they don’t flip). With a big dog at home and a young child, we always find it nice to have a car that they can climb in and out of themselves. You might also want to consider whether you want to be bending down all the time to get things out of the trunk. - Good cargo space
Being able to move things from place to place has always been a concern for us while renovating our home. Which is why the Defender was so perfect considering it could hold TONS of stuff. Whether it was 20 bags of mulch, wood for a project or a piece of furniture, we rarely came across anything that the Defender couldn’t haul. So if your family has sports fans, likes to go camping or does other activities that require moving around a lot of stuff on a regular basis, make sure that you have plenty of room for family members plus your gear. Also, if you like to buy in bulk or only go shopping every two weeks, you also need some space to get everything home in! - Flexible seating
Some families might find themselves shuttling around extra friends, family and so forth on a regular basis. This is one reason why minivans and similar hatchback cars with stow-and-go seating are so practical for them. When you need the extra seats, you have them. And when you don’t, they just fold up into the floor. Although minivans have always had quite a stigma as being uncool, they really do offer some very smart features for families on the go.
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- Practical placement of air vents
Again, for us, this is a really big concern because we have a big dog. And whenever we travel in the summer, it’s essential that she can be near an air vent so she doesn’t overheat. If you were wearing a thick fur coat in the middle of 95+ degree weather, you’d ask for the same. But even if you don’t have a dog, you want to make sure that your kids and other passengers don’t find themselves overheating when you live in warm climates. So it’s always important to take a look at the vent layout and to see if one can turn certain vents off, individually control the temperature and so forth. - Entertainment features
Although this is really just a luxury for many, built in TV/DVD systems, the ability to listen to multiple radio stations at once (with headphones in the back seat), Sirius Backseat TV and other similar features can make a road trip far more enjoyable than having to entertain your kids the entire way yourself as they ask you for the 100th time, “Are we there yet?!” And if your car doesn’t have that, there are always other hand-held options or even just the classics like pen and paper. - Park assist and cameras
Again, this is another feature that might be a luxury for some, but it really does make life easier. When you are looking for a new car, make sure that you’ve got great visibility all around you, not only via the mirrors, but also over your shoulder. Think about any blind spots you might have. Some cars have bracing that is just not very well placed and it creates a large void where you can’t see anything. Especially with kids around, it can be practical to have this extra set of eyes and sensors when it comes to park assist and cameras. Nothing can replace your own eyes and judgment — but it’s also nice to have a fast reacting warning if someone runs behind your car chasing a ball when you glance in the other direction.
What are the features on your family car that you love the most? What kind of car do you drive and would you recommend it to others?
Often a seat meant to accommodate three passengers can only realistically fit two full size car seats, another reason you might need to buy a bigger family car.