The Perfect Family Car

As your family grows, so do the demands on the family car: it must provide enough space for all family members, including luggage, strollers, and more. It should be reliable and safe, comfortable, and preferably not put too big a dent in your budget. Then, you'll have the ideal vehicle for every occasion, from the morning trip to the daycare to the extended family vacation. What matters in the choice and which is the best family car? We at CARIFY have taken a look for you.

Safety First: Key Aspects in Choosing the Right Family Car

The safety of your family is paramount. When traveling by car, your children are seated in appropriate child seats. Isofix attachments or child seat fixtures according to the I-Size standard securely anchor them on the rear seats. A good family car has seatbelt reminders for the rear seats and lockable controls for doors and windows. To keep an eye on the kids while driving, there are additional interior mirrors. Besides well-fitting seat belts, modern family cars have plenty of extras to protect you and your loved ones from harm and serious injuries in case of an accident. We'll reveal the features you should consider for your family car.

Sufficient Airbags

During a crash, tremendous forces act on the vehicle. Unsecured items fly uncontrollably inside the car, and the occupants' bodies feel the impact. Airbags are deployed upon impact, preventing the occupants from being thrown against hard vehicle parts such as the dashboard. The air-filled cushions absorb the shock. They are located in various areas of a vehicle to protect vulnerable body regions:

• Front airbags: Usually coming in pairs, they protect the driver and front passenger in frontal crashes. If you're driving without a front passenger, you can often deactivate the second airbag. If your vehicle has adaptive airbags, the airbag's strength adjusts to the severity of the impact.

• Central airbag: It is located in the middle armrest of the front and/or rear seats and prevents occupants from getting injured when thrown against each other in a collision.

• Side airbags: Mostly integrated into the backrests of the driver and front passenger seats, these airbags shield the front occupants against the side vehicle frame, protecting the pelvis, chest, and head. The best family cars also have side airbags for rear-seat occupants.

• Curtain airbags: Hidden in the headliner, these lifesavers unfurl along the entire side windows of the vehicle, offering all occupants side-impact protection for the head.

• Knee airbags: The legs of the driver and front passenger are particularly vulnerable during a crash. In the worst case, they can get trapped, requiring heavy equipment to free them from the vehicle. The knee airbag mitigates the forces acting on the legs (and indirectly on the chest) and prevents you from sliding under the seatbelt and into an area that can deform significantly in frontal collisions.

• Pedestrian airbag: Located on the outside of the car, it reduces the severity of injuries to pedestrians or cyclists in collisions. These airbags often cover a portion of the windshield, preventing serious head injuries.

Active Brake Assist

The best protection is to avoid a collision altogether. Here, an active brake assist comes into play, indicating the optimal distance to the vehicle/obstacle in front of you and warning you of a potential collision. It also reacts to pedestrians crossing your path. If you brake too weakly to avoid a crash, it assists with additional braking power. If you still don't respond to the warning, it initiates emergency braking.

Lane Keeping Assistant

The lane-keeping assistant ensures you always stay in your lane. If it detects that you're about to unintentionally cross the lane marking (without using the turn signal), it warns you. An active lane keeping assistant will even gently steer back into the lane.

Comfort and Convenience: What Sets a Family Car Apart

Comfort is a top priority for your family car. After all, you want to use it for several years and take it on family vacations. In addition to the available space, the technical equipment and easy-to-clean materials in the interior also play a role.

Space and Flexibility

To avoid feeling like sardines in a can, you need a vehicle with enough seats for all family members. A spacious cargo area is also a must-have. Wagons are ideal for this, but they only offer limited seating. Vans provide the highest level of flexibility among family cars, as you can use them as transporters when needed or even take your kids' friends to sports practice on multiple rows of seats.

Technology and Entertainment

Long car trips with the family can become a challenge. The children may get restless, and the parents may become irritated. If you pay attention to features like a built-in multimedia system for the rear seats and gadgets like drink bottle holders, boredom and thirst on the road will no longer be an issue.

Economy and Efficiency: Think About the Future

Choosing the right family vehicle is not an easy task, as demands change over time. One thing is clear: the family car must be large enough to accommodate the entire family and their luggage. This brings us to the question of economy. We'll show you what to consider when buying a family car.

Fuel Efficiency

A spacious family car can be more demanding on fuel consumption. Therefore, the vehicle size should match your family's needs. Cars with high rolling resistance consume unnecessary fuel. Smooth-rolling tires with optimal air pressure and good tread provide a solution and increase fuel efficiency.

Maintenance and Resale Value

Depreciation is one of the most underestimated costs of a car. As soon as you have to trade in your first family car for a larger version, you'll notice the loss in value. Therefore, pay attention to buying vehicles with a stable resale value from the start. Another factor in economical family cars is the maintenance costs, which can vary depending on the model.

Be Even More Flexible with Your Family with a Car Subscription

It doesn't always have to be a huge family car. If you rarely travel together, a compact vehicle for your daily needs may be sufficient. This will save you money that you can invest in a comfortable car for family vacations: with a car subscription from CARIFY. This way, you can even have a well-equipped Audi as a temporary family car.

Here Are 5 Family Cars That Have It All

VW as a family car: Space for 5 people and a spacious cargo area make the VW Touran minivan an affordable family car for vacations.

BMW as a family car: The BMW 218 Gran Tourer can be equipped with 7 seats upon request. It offers plenty of space in the rear. The technical equipment is also impressive.

Opel as a family car: With the Opel Zafira, you get a reliable family car with up to 9 seats. The minivan can also accommodate camping equipment or sports gear.

Skoda as a family car: As an affordable family car, the Skoda Octavia Combi offers 5 seats and a large cargo area.

Mercedes as a family car: The 5-seater SUV Mercedes GLB impresses with space, comfort, and upscale equipment.

Conclusion

There is no single best family car, as your family and their needs change. Buying a new vehicle every year is not an option. Instead, if you opt for a family car with a flexible subscription model, you can exchange it for a larger or better-equipped vehicle after the minimum term. At CARIFY, we offer subscription terms starting from 1 month, no initiation fee, and full cost transparency – the smart alternative to car purchase.