Picking out a car that is well-suited and fits both your and your family’s needs is no easy task. So for an investment as big as this one, it is important to take certain factors into consideration when acquiring one.
Read on to find out more about what details to keep in mind when buying a family car.
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Seats
You can get started by picking out the right car size. The vehicle must have enough seats, with room for everyone. Here, the number of children you have is one of the most significant details to keep in mind. Most cars can easily accommodate one to three children, with space to spare. However, it gets trickier to choose a car when you have more children.
SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 are often found suitable by most nuclear families due to their flexible number of seats, and you might want to consider one if you have a growing family. Remember, you want to purchase a vehicle that remains comfortable for your family for a long period of time.
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Cost
Purchasing a car is a one-time investment. However, maintaining and managing one is a costly piece of work. Petrol and diesel prices are also important to consider, since not only do they keep fluctuating over time, but the amount of fuel you need also varies according to your vehicle. Bigger cars tend to require more fuel and maintenance than smaller models.
So if you’re on a tight budget, it might be best for you to look into models that can fit the maximum amount of seats in a cost-effective method. This is where gas mileage comes in, as investing in fuel-efficient cars tends to save up cash.
Keep in mind that you’ll also have to pay for car insurance for a safe driving experience. This is an important cost to factor in when you’re budgeting for a car, and if you’re looking for a good insurance provider, you can protect your family with NRMA.
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Safety Features
Even though it is one of the most commonly overlooked factors when buying a car, safety is crucial when buying a car, especially when it’s for your family. As unlikely as it may seem, you never know when an incident can occur, so it is important to take safety measures beforehand.
So before you sign the dealership of the car, you must check the safety features and make sure they are properly installed. Quick and effective fail-safes — such as airbags — are must-have features for a family car.
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Storage Space
With the large array of items you need to carry along when travelling with your family — from small bags to luggages — sufficient storage space is always good to have. You don’t want your journey to be cramped up and uncomfortable.
Storage space becomes even more important if you have little kids because they come with a lot of bulky items like prams, baby bags, and baby eats. So if you can, try looking for a car with enough boot (and leg) space.
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Easy-to-Use Tech
When you have a car full of raging kids, it can be difficult to navigate around the road. They can be loud and distracting and you might find yourself needing some digital assistance.
In this case, smart tech features like lane assist, proximity sensors, and a reversing camera will make your life a lot easier. Other features like a good Bluetooth or voice control system can save you the trouble of fiddling with your phone and make the driving experience safe for you and your family.
You can also consider a car with pre-installed multimedia screens behind the seats. This will keep your kids entertained and prevent them from repeatedly pestering you or distracting you from the road.
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Interior
For large families with little kids and messy eaters, it’s best to go with leather car seats. These add an elegant touch to your car interior and also prove to be immensely easy to clean. That’s because wiping off stains or spilled material — which is most likely to happen with little children around — is made much quicker and easy with leather.
Also, if you have any family pets like dogs or cats that tend to shed a lot, excess fur can be simply dusted off from leather seats.
Finally, it is advisable to go with a dark colour scheme for your interior. Lighter colours tend to get dirty or stained rather quickly and require a washing every couple of weeks (or sooner if you have little kids). With dark or dim colours, marks and splatters are not noticeable and can be cleaned after longer periods.