Picking the right vehicle to accommodate a growing family can be difficult. Fortunately, this is a corner of the automotive market that’s intensely competitive. Thus, there are plenty of options available. Picking the one that’s right for you means looking honestly at your needs and budget, and thinking about the ongoing costs as well as the immediate ones.
Let’s take a look at some of the criteria which might inform your decision.
How Many Doors?
A five-door car will tend to be more accessible, which can be a major advantage if you’re looking to carry children around from one place to the next.
Getting out of the car, putting down the passenger seat, and helping children into the rear can be a lot of hassle, especially if you’re doing it in a time-sensitive environment, like the rush outside the school gates.
Financing
The right finance will allow you to shop for a car that’s really appropriate for your needs, rather than making a decision that’s informed by your short-term finances, and costly in the long run. Is gap insurance worth it when you’re buying on finance? If you manage to write the car off during the first few months, the answer is a resounding yes: you’ll be protected against negative equity, and all of the financial pain that goes along with it.
How Much Space?
The more space you have available on the inside of your car, the better. It’s for this reason that many families are tempted to invest in an SUV. While factors like fuel economy and garage space might give you pause here, it’s still worth researching how much space you’ll have on the inside of your car. Even superminis can vary dramatically in terms of the amount of space they offer.
Electrics and Infotainment
Keeping the kids entertained on long car journeys tends to be easier if you have a fully-equipped infotainment system, with plenty of charging points. While this is something you can upgrade later with the help of a few battery packs, it’s usually easier to opt for a car with a decent system in the first place.
Reliability
If your car develops a problem and is forced from the road, it’ll be a big problem. How are you going to collect the kids from school? How are you going to get to work? Are you going to share a car with your partner? These problems can quickly make life extremely awkward.
Thus, it’s a good idea to shop for a car with an impeccable track record for reliability. Do your research, and look at surveys of other motorists. That way, you’ll avoid the problems that other families have already had to contend with!
