Choosing a Family Car: Balancing Space and Comfort

Finding the best car to fit your family’s needs is one of the most important decisions as a parent.

Get it right, and you’ve got an all singing all dancing school run machine. Get it wrong, and you’ll wish you spent more time doing your research.

Fear not! The perfect car for your family is out there. You just have to know where to look.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• The importance of space and comfort in family cars
• Key features to prioritise when choosing
• How to strike the balance between needs and budget
• Tips for test driving with kids in tow

Why Space and Comfort Are Key in Family Cars

We hate to break it to you but..

Family cars aren’t boring. In fact, your car is your family’s second home.

Homework gets done in the car. Birthday cakes get transported. Sleepy toddlers take their naps. Tantrums are soothed and spilt drinks are mopped up.

And that’s all before you’ve even left the driveway.

Your car isn’t just a mode of transport. It’s the backdrop to your family life.

That’s why the best cars for families have space and comfort at the top of the list.

British families are now more likely to own more than one car than ever before. According to recent data, 34% of UK households now own two or more vehicles. This is up from 25% a decade ago. It shows that families are prioritising cars, understanding how important a well-chosen vehicle is.

Families can find fantastic used family cars by exploring reputable dealer inventories. Used Audi car dealers Kent offer quality cars across all types of vehicles, ensuring that your family can get the best family car.

But what to look for?

What to Look for When Buying the Best Car for Your Family

Spoiler alert – space and comfort.

Not all family cars are equal. Test driving in gleaming showrooms is great, but the reality is different.

Here’s what to consider.

Interior Space

Space is more than just legroom.

Think about boot space (up and down), distance between seats, headroom and storage space.

Best family cars offer versatility. Sliding seats, fold-flat rear seats and even removable sections allow your car to change with your needs.

Safety Features

The number one concern for families buying a car is safety. And rightly so.

Safety tech is constantly evolving. Expect to find features like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warnings and more.

But don’t take marketing claims at face value. Check independent crash test ratings from Euro NCAP too.

Accessibility

All about those doors.

Can you wrangle sleeping toddlers out of the back seat without tearing your hair out? Are your teenagers expected to do gymnastics to get into the third row?

Sliding doors are a must on MPVs. Wide-opening rear doors on SUVs are also a big plus. Little things make a big difference.

How to Get the Best Car for Your Family on Budget

The problem with family cars is that they cost money.

And while you want space, safety and comfort, there’s only so much the cookie jar will stretch to.

Tips for Saving Money

New versus used.

The depreciation on new cars is savage. Go for a 2-3 year old used car and get most of the benefits for a lot less money. Cars last a long time these days. Don’t fear reasonable mileage.

Consider running costs.

Purchase price is just the start. Factor in:

• Fuel economy (school run miles, anyone?)
• Insurance group ratings
• Road tax (emissions-based)
• Maintenance costs
• Tyre replacement costs

The diesel option may be more but could save you thousands over five years of hard use. Hybrids make sense for city driving and start-stop traffic. Work out the cost of ownership over time.

Factor in resale value.

Cars depreciate. Some brands retain value better than others. Japanese and German manufacturers generally do well. A car retaining 60% of value after three years is better than one at 40%, even if the latter was cheaper to buy.

Which is Better: SUV or MPV?

The age-old question.

Are SUVs or MPVs better family cars?

SUVs rule the market right now. It’s easy to see why. Tall seating positions, rugged good looks and that extra height to give you the sense of safety above other traffic are big draws.

MPVs and minivans are seen as uncool, but they often have the edge on practicality. Lower floors make them easier to load. Sliding doors avoid car park scrapes. And they tend to be more optimised for interior space.

But there’s no winner here. It comes down to your needs. SUVs are better if you want occasional off-road or towing capability. MPVs are better for families that prioritise interior space and access above all else.

Tips for Test Driving with Kids

You can’t just test drive in isolation.

It’s fine to do a quick spin on the showroom floor, but to really see if a car works for you, you need your whole family.

The nappies. The pushchairs. The buggies. The ball that gets everywhere. The swimming costumes. The duvets that end up in the boot at bedtime. Bring it all. Load the car up like you normally would.

Install the car seats. All of them. See how much room is left. Can you still reach children? Can your husband actually fit in the middle?

Get out again and inspect the boot for unused cubic capacity.

Then drive. Properly. As if you were going on a day out. Are the kids comfortable? How’s the view for rear-seat passengers? Is there still space when the kids are buckled in? What does it look like from the driver’s seat when you’ve loaded up?

Get into the car parks where you usually shop. Reverse into those spaces and try backing out again.

Stop for lunch. It’s your kids’ fault. You’re just trying them out.

A test drive needs to be real.

Making the Decision

The final decision always comes back to one thing.

The truth.

Honesty with yourself.

Does your family really fit into the car the way they live?

Does the journey they take most often work with the car you’re thinking of buying?

And does it actually suit you?

Do you want a wagon? An SUV? A hybrid? A people mover? Or maybe even something smaller like a hatchback?

Buy for your life right now. Not the one you wish you had.

Don’t overspend. Don’t underbuy.

Choose the best car for your family needs.

Final Thoughts

The best car for your family takes time to find, but that time is worth it.

Space, safety, comfort and practicality are where it’s at.

Don’t get distracted by bells and whistles you’ll never use.

Test with the kids in tow.

The best family car is out there. You just need to find it.