Parenthood is a major milestone for most people. In 2016, about 1.2 million millennial women gave birth for the first time according to the NCHS. This increased the number of new moms from that generation to 17 million.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Two years later, America had close to 4 million births. With parenthood comes a new lifestyle, one filled with responsibilities and new purchases. From cribs to school enrollment to car seats and new cars.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Family cars, from luxury sedans to safety-rated minivans to high-performing SUVs and more, have to be functional, comfortable and put the new parent in the driver seat. They\u2019re meant for hauling loved ones to sports games, playdates, pizza parties, music classes, dance recitals, and the like.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
For moms and dads, practicality and user-friendly makes all the difference during their drives. Safety, of course, is also a huge concern for parents. So what features are total must-haves when car buying for a household with children?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Safety first, of course!<\/strong> For example, if your teenager is picking up some take-out for the whole family, you can set the maximum speed at which he actually drives. Cameras are another popular family car safety features; from reverse parking cameras to dash cams to side mounts cameras and more.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The five-star safety rating is a big thing too. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a safety standard, based on research and crash tests, to help car buyers purchase safer vehicles for their households. Family cars such as Ford Expedition, Kia Telluride, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Avalon all topped the 2020 bewt family cars thanks to higher scores.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Who sits where?<\/strong> Parents need to be able to reach over easily, or even jump into the backseat at a moment\u2019s notice, adding to all that thought about seat configuration.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Cargo, and more storage space<\/strong>
Safety features come in many shapes and sizes; from the typical such as anti-lock brakes, GPS system, airbags, and collision warning, to programmable keys that can let parents control the car even when someone else is driving it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Believe it or not seat configuration is a big deal with family cars. You can choose from 2-row and 3-row, fold-downs and more. If you have small kids you need to think about baby car seats, spacing so buckling up is easier, and plenty of legroom for toys and snacks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Driving with children means your luggage space is continuously filled with stuff. Sports equipment, strollers, clothes change, baby bags, groceries, and the list goes on. Storage is extremely important for busy families, and is even crucial during long trips.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n