We break down the top things to consider when buying a car for the family.
We break down the top things to consider when buying a car for the family.
With so many family cars on the market, you might find it tricky to decide which one would suit you best. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the key factors you should look out for when buying a family car.
Size matters, but although you might find an SUV appealing, there are plenty of other cars that are capable of successfully transporting you and your clan.
You might not think to look at them, but today’s superminis have a surprising amount of interior and boot space, so it pays to shop around.
This is a top priority for families, so make sure you check Euro NCAP ratings before buying. Safety is now also being tackled by many manufacturers through clever onboard driver assistance features, like hill start assist, pedestrian detection and 24-hour access to an operator in the event of an accident.
It’s a fact of life – the baby seat needs to be fitted and powerful torque is less important than boot space. But you don’t have to give up on style and performance. Cars like the Peugeot 308 tick all the boxes for safe, family-friendly travel while still being fun to drive. Or wow them at the school gates with a Citroën Cactus – a distinctive crossover with plenty of room in the back.
Families are expensive, so it’s important to keep fuel costs down. Reliably built favourites like the Volkswagen Golf are great for smaller families, and are cheaper to run.
Crossovers are also a great option. Combining the space and elevated height of an SUV with the fuel-efficient engine of a compact car, vehicles such as the Vauxhall Mokka X and the Kia Niro are fast becoming family favourites.
In recent years, Isofix points, intelligent storage and ergonomic seating have become standard. Look out for cars with Apple CarPlay and Android connectivity and 12v sockets – and you’ll never hear the words ‘are we there yet?’ again.
