A familial choice
CAREFUL deliberation before buying your first family car is imperative because your priorities change once you have a family.
If before you preferred a car with razor-sharp handling or that was as small as possible, now you will have to consider aspects such as family comfort and a practical boot space.
You will also have to ensure the car has family-friendly safety features such as a front airbag that can be switched off and a childlock button that is easily accessible.
Fortunately for today’s consumers, purchasing a family car does not mean sacrificing personal style. Many vehicles are now designed with the family in mind. Isofix, for example, is now a standard feature across genres, even in a cabriolet.
What makes a good family car?
The term “family car” originated from Europe and refers to averagesize sedans or even hatchbacks with features that make them friendly to the family.
Here are a few things to look out for when buying a family car.
Seating
Some SUVs offer third-row seating that is difficult for kids, let alone the elderly, to access. If you are considering a seven-seater vehicle with a third row of seats, make sure you bring your family along to the showroom to see whether they can clamber to the back easily.
A 2-2-3 seating arrangement means the second row features two separate or captain seats. This might look grand, but if you ferry five people daily, the third row will always be in use, limiting its boot capacity. This might become a greater nuisance if the third row is a fixed one-piece bench, which means you cannot fold just half of it to offer more boot space.
Creature comfort
A happy family means a quiet journey. To create a happy atmosphere where everyone is comfortable, items such as rear airconditioners, extra 12V sockets and an entertainment system are great additions to a family car.
Hi-tech entertainment system
Gone were the days of VCD and DVD because they take up precious space.
Therefore, make sure your entertainment system can play multiple formats of videos so that you can store your children’s favourite cartoon programmes in a USB stick or external drive.
If you prefer to not have to listen to the opening theme song of
Thomas and Friends on repeat, you can opt for a car that allows you to channel the audio to the rear end of the vehicle.
Spaciousness
A family car must be able to seat all family members comfortably. Ensure the legroom and headroom of your chosen car provide ample space for your children as they grow.
Storage for belongings
A family car requires clearly designated storage areas for the family’s belongings. Knowing which bin or box to go to for a specific item could save you endless time hunting for a missing milk bottle in the car late at night.
Fuel economy
Get a family car that runs on an economical power plant. When you have to spend considerable parts of your days ferrying different members of the family to their respective activities, it is crucial to minimise the money spent on fuel.
Having a car with efficient fuel consumption rate means less trips to the fuel station, and every sen you save at the pump can go into your family fund for fun.
Ergonomics
On long journeys, you might want your other half to drive too. If that is the case, it is important that the ergonomics of a vehicle suits both drivers.
Get him or her to test drive the vehicle extensively, especially during parking or car park manoeuvring.
Affordability
Your family vehicle must be affordable not only at the time of purchase but also in its monthly instalment and maintenance.
When shopping for a new car, always ask about maintenance costs. Many car companies now offer free maintenance for the first few years of car ownership.