Factors to Consider When Buying a Family Car in 2024

January 19, 2018Car Tips and Tricks
Daisy Wilson

Daisy was born in Salt Lake City and in her free time, she writes about moving and watches Charmed.

Are you planning to buy a car for your family in 2024? There are numerous things yоu need to consider when buying a family car. No matter if you have a small family or a big one, or your baby is on the way, some things you need to check out when getting a vehicle are the same.

Couple with a kid
You need to consider a lot of things before buying an automobile for you and your children.

If this is your first family vehicle, then you came to the right place. We will show you in this quick guide what your new automobile needs to have so your four-wheeler meets all the standards for your children’s safety.

What Is a Good Family Car?

So we are going straight to the point. A good family automobile needs to be safe, affordable, and burn little gas. Regardless if you have one child or maybe a baby on the way, your new wheels need to have a lot of space. So you may be thinking, “ok, one baby, I can buy a smaller vehicle.” But the baby comes with a lot of extras, like car seats, diaper bags, toy bags, strollers, and other accessories.

So your new automobile needs to have space so you can easily put everything there. If you already have children, depending on their number, maybe the minivan is the best option. When it comes to affordability, it is always a better option to get a quality automobile than a new one if your budget doesn’t allow you to get a new machine. So buying a car from a dealer who bought it from an auction is maybe something to consider.

Give USA Auto Transport an Ask for a Free Quote

GET A QUOTE

Pay Attention to Safety Features

Features like safety and affordability depend on the model of the automobile. Some are very cheap but don’t meet all the safety standards for kids. When looking for a safe automobile, you need to check if there is:

  • automatic door lock,
  • advanced frontal airbags,
  • interior trunk release,
  • window switches,
  • a multi-angle rearview camera,
  • rear occupant seat reminder – so you don’t forget anybody in the back when leaving the vehicle.

These are just some of the features your machine needs to have. Go on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website and search for an auto that you like, and you will see how safe it is.

For instance, many automobiles have new features like a collision mitigation braking system, which will automatically hit the brakes if it auto-detects an inevitable collision. Check this video for more tips on purchasing an automobile for a family.

YouTube video

Automobile for Young Parents – What to Pay Attention To

Like there are the best cars for women and best cars for off-road driving, there is also the best type of auto for parents. When looking for new wheels, the factors you need to consider if you are young parents are listed below.

Car Seat Compatibility

One of the factors you need to consider is if your automobile and your child’s seat are compatible. For instance, there are many popular import cars, and maybe you are considering buying one, but maybe your child’s seat is not compatible.

Of course, if you don’t have a seat yet, then buying one that fits your auto will be easy. Google it, and you will find numerous web pages that compare seat models with compatible automobiles. But there are other factors that you need to consider, like the size of your car. Is there enough space for you to take the baby out? Are there two doors, three doors, or five doors?

The best position for a baby seat is rear-facing, and you should place the seat behind the passenger side. So when you pull over on the road, you can take your baby out from the non-drivable side of the road. And once again, getting the baby out of the automobile is a lot easier when you have five doors.

Enclosed Auto Transport

Read More

Open Carrier Auto Transport

Read More

Space for Legs

When you are buying new wheels, buy one that has a lot of space between seats. This will save you years of irritation and driving stress. As you know, toddlers have many involuntary moves, and they will kick a lot to a seat in front of them, so make sure you get an automobile with enough space between the child seat and yours.

Trunk Space or the Storage Options

We believe that we don’t need to explain why storage space is important. You will have a lot of extras with the baby and later on with the children. You will have a stroller and a baby bag. When in school, your children will carry their practice equipment for every sport they attend. If they take any class like arts or music they will have to bring instruments with them. So make sure your trunk is big enough.

Get Long-Lasting Auto

You will want an auto that will last long. So when buying one, if you have one baby now, think about the future. Are you planning more children? If you do, then look for automobiles for more children and a lot of space. Not only will you drive a baby around, bud kids later on.

If you plan to have only one child, extra seats and space will still be handy. There will be a lot of carpooling of other kids from your kids’ school. So a good quality auto that doesn’t spend a lot of fuel is the right choice.

Toddler sitting in the auto
Rear-facing seat behind the passenger seat is the safest place for your toddler

What to Look When Buying for a Large Family

Well, we know maybe this is a stereotype and something your whole young life you were afraid of, but a minivan is still the best option for a large family. When it comes to comparing classic vs. modern cars, minivans can be considered a family classic in America. Buying one will make your life easier, and your driving anxiety will be minimal, especially if you have three or more kids.

Minivans are more expensive, but if your budget doesn’t allow you to buy a new one, then a used one is the best option you have. Make sure to learn tips for buying a used car before going in to purchase.

Children and parents next to a minivan
Minivans are still the most practical automobiles for large numbers of people

Best Family Car for a Big Cities

If you are driving in Los Angeles or driving in New York City, you will need to consider some other factors, like parking space, maneuverability, and low fuel consumption. The best option will be to buy a hybrid or auto with a diesel engine. Some of the best cars for city driving are suitable for a lot of kids.

For example, you can pick the Kia Picanto, which has a lot of cargo space, five seats, and plenty of room for kids inside, and it is very comfortable and maneuverable. Another good choice is the VW Golf MK8, which is spacious and very maneuverable for city driving, and also not too expensive. The good thing about Volkswagen Golf engines is that they are long-lasting and pretty strong, so if you plan a long-distance move, pulling you and your extra cargo will not be a problem.

On the other hand, if your goals are reducing a carbon footprint and economic savings, look for hybrids. The best hybrids are the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry. Maybe they are not among the best import cars, but they are among the best import hybrids and highly recommended, according to US News rankings.

They are bigger but perfect for city driving because they spend less fuel. And they are suitable for families since there is a lot of space for children in the back and all the safety ratings and standards are met.

A couple buying a vehicle
For a city ride, buy an auto with five doors and a diesel engine

What Good Vehicle for Kids Needs to Have?

If you don’t wish to deal with kids screaming and fighting in an auto, you will have to consider some features for your children when buying a new four-wheeler. No matter if your ride is to a school or you are planning a road trip, your kids need to be distracted, so you are not distracted in driving as well.

Fun Time for Kids, Safety for Drivers

As we mentioned before, your auto needs to have some entertainment features for your kids. So make sure to buy a four-wheeler with a multimedia entertainment system, a cooler for beverages, and many plugs for iPads or phones.

These days, many automobiles have space in the seat for an iPad, so your kids can watch movies or cartoons on a long trip. You can buy holders for iPads, but if you buy a new vehicle, why not buy one with a holder right away?

Road Trip With Kids

If you have a lot of kids, you are probably wondering, is owning an RV worth it? If you are into nature, camping, and traveling, this is a good option, but if you plan to buy an RV in the future, you will need to consider what your new family auto needs to have. It would help if you bought a machine strong enough and with a towbar so you can pull your RV wherever you want.

Of course, you can buy a bigger drivable RV, but they are more expensive, and fuel efficiency is not their strong suit. So maybe a small trailer RV is a better option. Either way, your fun time with kids in nature and on some of the most famous routes in the US will be adventurous and unforgettable.

Children watching iPads in the back of the automobile.
It is good to have modern technology on a long trip to entertain your children for a while

Most Reliable Vehicles – Is Toyota Still No.1?

According to Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Rankings, Mazda, Toyota, and Lexus are rated to be one of the most reliable automobile brands, along with Audi, Hyundai, and Honda. According to customer reviews, Mazda is the first-ranked brand because of its reliability and because it is one of the good quality cars that doesn’t have infotainment systems, which was problematic in many automobiles.

Toyota is still one of the favorite brands – it ranked second, while Lexus took third place. When it comes to the most reliable automobile brands of 2022, Lexus took first place, Mazda second, and Toyota came third. Mazda CX-5 took tenth place.

Chevrolet Silverado, Subaru Ascent, and Volkswagen Atlas took the first three places on the list of the least reliable automobiles. Among the most expensive cars in the world, Tesla owners continue to report problems with the assembly of their vehicles, and among all models, consumers only recommended Tesla 3 models.

Picture of Toyota Prius
Toyota Prius is still one of the most reliable automobiles in the US

Buying a Family Car From Another State

Maybe you find a deal to buy a used automobile in another state, and now you have to figure out how to transport a car from state to state. But don’t worry, a lot of auto transport companies are providing this type of service. You can choose between an open trailer service, which is cheaper, or an enclosed trailer for luxurious automobiles.

Either way, contact your shipping company and find out the cheapest way to ship a car. They will give you all the details you want to know, like how to register your car in a new state and others. Anyway, buying a family auto is a challenge and something you need to take your time and consider every possibility and option.

If you are a fan of some of the best TV shows about cars, you will probably be familiar with many auto models and their features. But if you are not familiar with automobiles and don’t want to think about what to do if scammed by car dealers, do your research and prepare yourself before going to your dealership.

A man holding car keys in front of cars
Buying a car when you are moving across the country is a great idea

USA Auto Transport Can Help You Relocating with a New Car

Not everybody likes to drive their car when moving to a new state, but luckily – you don’t have to. With the help of a professional car transport company (with excellent auto shipping reviews, of course), you can rest assured that your new vehicle will be in safe hands.

All that you have to do is focus on getting all the moving hacks right, preparing all the right packing materials, and making sure that you don’t forget any items when moving. And, of course, make sure you include car shipping services in your moving budget.

When all is said and done, give USA Auto Transport a call. We will ensure your new vehicle is safely transported to the desired location. And you will be able to drive it ASAP.

Get a Quote

    check mark
    Download as PDF

    Moving Checklist

    Get a Free Estimate 855.675.3451