Shopping for a Family Car – What to Look For

 

Buying a new or pre-owned car can be a challenging and time-consuming task when you factor in price comparing, getting pre-approved, and spending weekends on car lots. If you’re shopping for a car for your family, you might have to change whatever car buying tactics you used when buying a car for yourself. The way you finance your new car may change, and you’re going to look for features that are accommodating for all members of your family, both younger and older.

 

What features should you look for when shopping for a family car? Here are a few ideas:

 

  • Make sure the car you choose has a five-star safety rating.  The safety of you and your family members should be your top priority when you shop for a family car, and a five-star rating is absolutely necessary to ensure your safety and comfort on the road. Check to make sure your ideal car has an A rating and comes with important safety features, such as automatic emergency braking, backseat airbags, blind spot and lane-departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control, to name a few.

 

  • Choose a car with ample storage space.  As any parent of children can attest, having a good amount of storage space in your car will make your life a lot easier, as kids often participate in sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities that come with a lot of literal baggage. If you’re a parent who does carpooling, choosing a car with extra seats will allow you to get the kids off to school in comfort. Your car’s storage space will also come in handy for vacations or road trips when you’ve got a lot to bring along with you, and you’ll want that added comfort for longer drives.

 

  • Opt for a car with a backup camera.  Backup cameras are an excellent safety feature that can both protect your car, and protect anyone and anything who might be behind your car when you’re backing out of your driveway, as it’s not uncommon for kids to leave their bikes or toys out. You can also take advantage of your backup camera when parallel parking or backing out of a space in a narrow parking lot.

 

  • Consider a car with an automatic trunk opener.  Most parents understand the struggle of having their hands full while trying to get everything loaded into their car. Automatic trunk or hatch openers can alleviate that stress – all you have to do is click the button on your key to open your trunk or hatch from a short distance.