What to Look for When Buying a Family Car

When shopping for a family vehicle, there are a few things you should take into account. Otherwise, you could wind up with an automobile that doesn’t meet both your requirements and budget.

Fortunately, there are plenty of family cars on the market to meet your requirements. Whether you’re searching for a compact SUV or larger sedan, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Seating

When shopping for a family vehicle, seating is one of the most crucial factors to take into account. Not only must your new vehicle provide enough room for all your children; it must also be able to accommodate extra car seats, boosters and other child gear in the future.

A vehicle designed to grow with your family will save you frustration in the future, especially if you plan on adding another child or already have multiple car seats and want easy access for all of them.

Test driving a vehicle to see how well it accommodates your growing family is the best way to determine its suitability. Try different seating configurations and measure space for cargo or strollers.

Seatbelts

Seat belts are an incredibly important safety measure that can save lives. Studies have demonstrated that they can reduce serious injury and death rates by up to 50 percent, as well as cut fatalities among drivers and front-seat passengers by 45 percent.

They are designed to work in concert with air bags to manage force and keep occupants in their proper positions during a crash. Furthermore, most front belts in vehicles feature crash tensioners and force limiters that allow some webbing to spool out before crash forces become severe enough to cause severe injuries.

Seat belts can be a hassle to remember and use correctly, but they’re essential for safety. Teach your children proper seat belt usage by modeling it consistently.

Safety

When shopping for a family vehicle, safety should always be your top priority. That means checking NHTSA crash ratings and making sure the new car meets those safety requirements.

But it’s also essential to take into account the latest technologies that can help prevent a crash from happening in the first place. Look out for features like lane departure warning, blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control with auto brake.

A back-up camera is another essential feature for family cars. This innovative device helps you see what lies behind your vehicle and is mandatory in all cars made after 2018.

Fuel Economy

When purchasing a family vehicle, fuel economy should be one of your top priorities. Not only will this save you money at the pump, but it could also help maintain the value of your car.

The EPA measures fuel economy by running cars through standardized testing routines known as driving cycles. These sessions include both city and highway driving.

Though this is an easy way to compare vehicles, it doesn’t always provide an entirely accurate reflection of changes and improvements in fuel economy.

In addition to mpg ratings, many auto manufacturers now include a measure called “gallons-per-100 miles.” This provides more precise information on how much gas you use when traveling 100 miles.

Technology

When shopping for a family car, you may have an idea of the features you require. But buying a new car is an ongoing process that changes as your family grows and develops.

Therefore, you need to differentiate must-haves and wants from would-be nices and compromises. Doing this helps guarantee that you make an informed decision when visiting a dealership.

Technology is becoming a more and more important factor when shopping for a family car. From power liftgates and sliding doors to seat-back tablets, DVD players, Android Apple play and Bluetooth; many cars now come with pre-installed packages of tech upgrades that can be installed immediately after purchase.

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