How to Choose the Right Vehicle for Your Family
When a baby comes into the picture, it may be difficult cramming a car seat into your favorite two-door coupe. It may eve n be a challenge trying to switch gears as the baby screams for a pacifier. Times are changing and it's time to also put some serious consideration into a kid-friendly vehicle. But how to choose a vehicle that meets your needs when you may not know what they are? What are the options? What should a new parent look for? Let's examine what works best for you and your family.
Before looking at any vehicles, it is highly recommended to check out NHTSA (safecar.gov) to find out which vehicles do best in accidents. This includes roll over statistics and crash safety. Keep in mind, medium and heavy-weighted vehicles test better (since they are better protected) than smaller lightweight vehicles.
The NCAP (National Highway Traffic Car Assesment Program) created the 5-Star Safety Program to provide consumers information regarding rollovers and crash safety. These ratings can now be found on the windows (in a sticker form) of new vehicles to help the consumer know quickly how the vehicle handles. The more stars, the better the vehicle did during the test.
Also consider what the vehicle will be used for. If your lifestyle involves going on regular vacations, you may want to consider an SUV or larger vehicle for luggage space. If you go to the beach, you may want a rack on top of your vehicle for larger items such as bikes, canoes, boogie boards etc. Will you need to tow anything? Consider a 6-cylender vehicle. Your vehicle should be idle to fit your lifestyle and meet your needs.
A mini-van is a great option for older kids to have space and move in and about the area. If your hands are unavailable or if it's raining outside, you can easily activate the vans sliding door with a click a button. You can also embrace new features such as swivel chairs, televisions, manipulate foot space, maneuver seating rows etc.
Do you have pets? For smaller families of one child and perhaps one pet, a sedan or small car will do the trick. Consider if your pet will be traveling with you and their space as well.
Where do you live? If you travel to the city or live in the city, a smaller vehicle is perfect for parking in tight places and maneuvering through the streets. If you live in more of a county location, any vehicle will do. Consider the parking location of your vehicle as well. What does the space look like? Is it open and wide or small and tight?
And lastly, a big clue to if the vehicle you are looking at is right for you is to test it out! Bring the whole family on this test and observe if everyone enjoys the ride. Was it easy for everyone to get in and out of the vehicle? Are the kids comfortable? Could the car seat get in and out easily? Most importantly, does the vehicle fit your lifestyle? If you are confident with your selection, then proceed to check out insurance rates and gas mileage to narrow in on your choice.
Author Note: Amber Poole is the author and owner of a couple of popular blogs, including Fit Foodie Runs. She is a huge advocate of healthy lifestyle full of activity and healthy eating. Be sure to follow her on Facebook.