Best Family Car Features

February 14, 2018 19 By EngineerMommy

This is a collaborative post. I received a payment for this post, but all opinions are mine alone.

Purchasing a car is a big investment. That’s why it’s important to do your research ahead of time. Today we will be talking about family vehicles and the features that are important for safety, convenience and overall experience. From a back-up camera to anti-lock brakes, these are the must-have features for your next vehicle.

We currently have two vehicles. One of them is on the newer side with only about 30K miles on it. The other one is getting up there in years and mileage. I think it’s just about time to start finding another vehicle. Here are some of the things we are looking for in our new vehicle.

Best Family Car Features

Anti-Lock Brakes
When it comes to family-friendly vehicles, safety is always a top priority. An anti-lock brake system (ABS) is essential. If you ever need to brake suddenly, you want to have confidence that the brakes will not lock up. The anti-lock brake system is a feature that is quite common among new vehicles, but surprisingly it’s not mandated by the federal government to be present in all new cars. So you will have to ask questions and ensure that your new vehicle is equipped with it.

Spacious Trunk
There is a lot of gear that comes with kids. Whether it’s the stroller or the tricycle, finding somewhere to put all the stuff is essential. That’s why a spacious trunk is key. One of the vehicles we are considering is a Buick SUV because I love all the room available in the backseat & trunk.

Airbags
Another important safety feature, airbags are an occupant restraint system. It is designed to rapidly inflate and rapidly deflate to help cushion the impact of an accident. Side airbags are not mandated by the federal government to be present in all new vehicles. So make sure any vehicle you are considering is equipped with airbags.

Back-up Camera
A rear-view camera makes it easy to see directly behind your vehicle. This feature is especially important on larger vehicles & SUVs, where it can be difficult to see if something is close to the ground right behind the car. This is essential because a small object (like a bike, animal or child) can be difficult – if not impossible – to see using the rear view mirror. Our current car has a back-up camera and I love it – I don’t remember what life was like before it!

Rear Seat Entertainment
Having a built-in DVD system for children riding in the back seat is a smart move. It will make all future road trips and longer car rides much more pleasant for everyone. You can always hook up some headphones to the DVD players so the front row passengers can listen to the radio. This is a feature missing in our current vehicle, but is one we are looking for in all future cars.

Bluetooth functionality
When riding in a car with children, you definitely don’t want to be dealing with a handheld phone. Keep your hands free to hold the steering wheel by making sure your vehicle is equipped with Bluetooth technology. This way, you can connect your phone to your vehicle and make calls without taking your eyes off the road – or your hands off the wheel. My current car has Bluetooth functions and it’s a real convenience!

LATCH system
LATCH stands for “lower anchors and tethers for children”. This is a system built into the back seat that makes it easier to load a child car seat into the vehicle. With a LATCH system in place, it is much easier and more convenient to install/replace a child car seat. This system will likely become increasingly popular in the future.

Sunshades
Keeping the sun off kids in the backseat is a worthwhile goal for many parents. We have all seen those stick-on sunshades that can be applied via suction cups directly to the windows in the back seat. However, these temporary solutions are often unsightly and easily fall down. The good news is that many automakers are offering built-in sunshades that block the whole window. No more worrying about the shade falling down on Timmy in the back seat!

Now that I’ve shared the features important to me, I’d love to hear from you. Are you shopping for a new car anytime soon? What are your must-have features?


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