As your family grows, buying a car that fits your needs and budget becomes increasingly important. Leasing your next family vehicle gives you more flexibility, choices, and control over your monthly spending.
For many, safety features, cabin space, and fuel economy are the three most important factors when looking for a family-friendly car. Besides finding a vehicle that meets your needs, you can expect great value and versatility that suit your lifestyle. So, what should you look for in a family-friendly car?
Consider The Vehicle Type and Size
Choosing the right vehicle and its size are two considerations when looking for a family-friendly car. If you have a newborn or a budding soccer player, you will need a stroller, diaper bag, or soccer togs and kits that up space. Understanding the car types can be valuable in helping you make a decision.
MPV
A multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) is one of many families’ most popular car choices. MPVs are a practical option for families looking for ample headroom, interior, and trunk space. MPVs are larger cars, similar to a saloon, with room for seven to eight passengers. Examples of MPVs are the popular Ford Galaxy and Volkswagen Touran. For information on multi-purpose vehicles, click here.
SUV
SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) have a raised suspension, meaning they sit higher off the ground than a hatchback. SUVs are exceptionally popular among business owners and larger families. Many model options make SUVs so popular, with some seating five passengers and some larger SUVs seating nine.
Examples of a small SUV are the Suzuki Vitara, a medium-sized SUV would be popular Tesla Model Y, and a large SUV example is the luxurious BMW X7.
Hatchback
Hatchbacks look very similar to sedans; however, hatchbacks have a larger cargo capacity than a sedan. These vehicles are traditionally two-door or four-door vehicles with flip-up tailgates. The Hyundai Civic, Ford Focus, and Hyundai i20 are hatchbacks that are perfectly suited for smaller families or families with older children.
Crossover
Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUVs) better known as a Crossover, combine a hatchback and SUV. Crossovers are much lighter than an SUV, use a truck chassis, and traditionally have a higher ground clearance than an SUV. These vehicles are practical and fuel efficient. Most crossovers have the option of electric, hybrid, petrol, or diesel powertrains.
Since crossovers come in various sizes, they are popular in Europe and the US. The most popular Crossovers enjoyed by families are the Citroen C4, Mazda CX-30, and Audi RS Q3.
Sedan / Saloon
The sedan, or saloon, as it is known in the UK, is a conventional four-door passenger car with three compartments: the engine, the passenger compartment, and the trunk. Because saloons have smaller trunks, they generally have a smaller cargo capacity, but most saloons have folding backseats or skip flaps to increase the capacity.
The Audi 5 Sportback, Tesla Model 3, and Skoda Octavia are some of the most popular saloons cars for families.
Fuel Efficiency
Many drivers are concerned about a car’s fuel efficiency. Your car’s fuel efficiency determines the distance it can travel with a given quantity of fuel. If you want to save money on gas, your family car should be fuel efficient.
Fuel-efficient vehicles typically consume less fuel. Choosing a hybrid or electric car or one with a high mpg rating can save you money. An electric vehicle is practical and affordable, but can only go as far as its batteries allow. A plug-in hybrid comes equipped with both a fuel engine and EV batteries, offering the best of both worlds. Either way, fuel efficiency is a top concern for many drivers
Safety Features
With kids, your car’s safety becomes important in a way it’s never been before and today, all vehicles have several safety features. Before, most car safety features in cars were designed to reduce serious injury or even death. Modern advances in car safety focus on preventing accidents before they happen.
Among the top safety features people look for in a family-friendly car are:
- The Rear Cross-traffic warning detects pedestrians or vehicles approaching the vehicle from the side or the rear.
- Traction Control applies brakes if one wheel spins on a slippery surface.
- Automatic emergency braking slows or stops your vehicle automatically if necessary to avoid a collision with the car in front of you
- Adaptive Cruise Control adjusts your speed in heavy traffic
- Blind spot warnings alert drivers that a car is passing through their blind spot by blinking on the side mirror.
Child-friendly Features
Most vehicles have child-friendly features that perfectly suit the needs of most families. When leasing your next vehicle, look for the following features:
- Isofix Points are child seat attachments that can be found on most new cars and plenty of older models. This means installing your child’s car seat correctly is much easier. To keep your child safe and sound during your trip, metal anchor points are built into the car that firmly anchors the car seat along with support legs or top tether straps.
- Cup holders: Sitting on a wet seat for hours with wet clothing after a spillage can frustrate your little one. Most cars’ front and rear seats have cup holders, reducing the chances of sticky accidents.
- Climate Control: Multi-zone climate control allows you to set one temperature for the front and another for the car’s rear. This feature can provide a more comfortable traveling environment for everyone, particularly babies and toddlers, who often overheat faster than adults.
Final Thoughts
Families can benefit from leasing a family-friendly car since they can change the type of car they need as their children grow. When the leasing term expires, you can expect the range of cars to have better safety features, upgraded drive trains, and child-friendly features that perfectly fit your needs and budget.
