The start of a family can mean for a lot of jarring changes, from buying a bigger home to investing in beginning a long-term college fund. That said one of the biggest changes you’ll make when starting a family is purchasing a family-friendly car. If you’re a parent then you already know, that speedy coupes and compact performance cars aren’t going to cut it anymore. You’ll need a vehicle that isn’t just roomy but is safe for you and all of your future little passengers. Before you type “new and used car dealerships near me,” into a search engine, there are some things to take into account when purchasing a family-friendly car.
Step foot onto any new or used car dealership near you, and you’ll find a plethora of vehicles, all of which offer plenty of benefits and drawbacks. Selecting the right one can be a challenge, especially as automotive technology advances and changes what we should be able to expect out of a vehicle. Fortunately, finding the perfect family-friendly car doesn’t have to be a hassle, and we can show you how.
The Demand of the Family Friendly Car
What makes a car family friendly? Well, there are a lot of things to consider. For one, size. Even if you’re the new parent of a small family, you’ll want a car with at least substantial rear seating room for things like car seats and extra luggage. If you’re hoping to expand your family, something more sizeable might be in order. Safety is a crucial aspect to finding the perfect family friendly vehicle. Safety offers drivers, and more importantly, parents, peace of mind when behind the wheel, and nowadays safety features do just as much to protect you during a crash as they do to hopefully prevent one. Speaking of automotive technology, a smart family car is intuitive, giving you access to infotainment and climate control with ease, no matter the conditions of your drive.
So, what kind of vehicle should you be looking for? Well, when you visit the new or used car dealership nearest to you, there are a variety of details to keep in mind while you browse. While you can rely on the guidance of a dealer, it helps to be just as equally informed on the subject.
The Safety Factor
Safety is a central component of a family-friendly car. What kind of safety features should you look for? Well, it used to be that airbags and proper seatbelt placement were all one could really expect. Today, automotive technology has advanced leaps and bounds using a suite of advanced smart hardware and software to provide drivers greater awareness of the road and lessening the chances of a dangerous collision. One of the key features that is revolutionizing automotive safety is automatic braking. Automatic braking is an incredibly complex yet intuitive system that automatically grabs control of your brakes when a person, object, or vehicle is detected in front of the vehicle. While each system functions differently, this feature works best at lower speeds and can help you avoid a troublesome bumper to bumper accident.
Another key feature to look out for is active lane control. While different in a variety of vehicles, active lane control systems track the lane lines on the road and adjust your steering wheel to help you avoid drifting into another lane. While not as effective in roads without lane-lines, it takes preventative safety to the next level.
Lastly, are blindspot monitors. Blindspot monitors tend to alert drivers when a car is passing within their vehicle’s blind spot. These alerts can provide a driver with greater awareness, and lower the chances of accidentally changing lanes or turning into other vehicles.
While modern auto safety features can do wonders to give parents peace of mind when transporting their family around town, it isn’t the only factor to keep in mind when purchasing a new vehicle.
Space and Sizing
Being a parent can be demanding, and you’ll want a car that is up to the task. While you can purchase a compact sedan for your new family, these kinds of vehicles can be limiting, especially if you’re hoping to fit a car seat and a large assortment of luggage in your rear seats. New and growing families might be better satisfied with a crossover, SUV, minivan, or even pickup truck. These four vehicle body types offer plenty of room for not just your cargo, but passengers as well, giving you the chance to expand your family should you choose to in the future. You also never know when you’ll need to transport an entire soccer or volleyball team.
Accessibility and Infotainment
Raising a family can be a full-time job, especially when you’re behind the wheel. Fortunately, with intuitive accessibility and infotainment features, you can juggle catering to your family and driving much easier. For instance, take infotainment software that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This feature allows you to access all of your favorite smartphones with ease, allowing you to focus on the road.
There are also smart features that make driving a little easier. Take adaptive cruise control. This smart feature uses cameras and sensors to detect the vehicles in front of you and will adjust your speed accordingly. While every manufacturer’s version of adaptive cruise control is marginally different, this smart feature can take a little weight off of your shoulders when behind the wheel.
What Do You Suggest?
When you enter the showroom of a new or used car dealership near you, what car should you look for? Well, there is a wide variety out there, one great choice is the 2019 GMC Acadia. The 2019 GMC Acadia is a robust SUV, with 79 cu.ft. of cargo space with all the rear seats down, and can seat a total of 6-7 passengers depending on the trim option you select. Speaking of trim options, you can pick up the 2019 GMC Acadia in one of six trim options including the SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2, and the Denali. The standard engine packed beneath the hood of the 2019 GMC Acadia is a 193 horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This standard trim option earns a fairly reasonable 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. When it comes to safety the 2019 GMC Acadia can come with lane change and blind spot alerts giving you superior awareness when on the road. Rear seatbelt reminders also give parents peace of mind knowing that their kids are buckled in and ready to go. The 2019 GMC Acadia also comes with a sizeable 8-inch infotainment screen that is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible, giving drivers the kind of ease of access that they’ve come to expect.
So, are you looking to purchase a family friendly car? Chances are any new or used dealership near you is going to have vehicles that at least seem moderately family friendly. However, if you know what to look for, you can find yourself behind the wheel of a car that truly speaks to you and fulfills all of your family’s day-to-day needs.
