Choosing Your Perfect Family Car

Finding the right family vehicle can be tricky, with so many different requirements to consider before you dive in. You want to get things right, of course, and here at Eden, we’re able to help find the right car for you, whether you’re looking for a new or used vehicle.

But if you’re in the market for the perfect family vehicle, what should you be considering, and how should you choose? In this article, we’re going to talk through some of the key things to consider when looking for a new family vehicle.

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Space

Space is usually a key priority of most families, and that’s why we’d recommend checking out the room on offer in any car you’re considering. Of course, there’s no need to go overboard - you’ll probably not need a large van if you’ve only got one small child - but thinking about the type of space you require can help to shape your purchase.

For instance, if you take a look at the shape of a car’s boot and consider how easy it might be to load a buggy or pushchair inside, it could help to avoid some issues further down the line.

Practicality

Practicality goes hand-in-hand with spaciousness as a key consideration for a family car. Look around the cabin of a car you’re considering and check out how many pockets, cubbies or storage solutions there are - do you think you’ll have the space to put all of the bits and pieces you usually bring with you? Large side pockets are ideal for water bottles or sunglass cases, while large central cubbies are usually a good place to store keys.

In the back, are there any seatback pockets for colouring books or maps? You might want to take a look at the sort of materials used throughout the car, too - are they hardy enough to deal with family life and can they be easily cleaned?

Extra features

A few creature comforts can go a long way when driving a family car. For winter, a quick-heating windscreen can help save some precious time instead of scraping the car down on a chilly morning before the school run, while plenty of USB charge points can ensure that there are no arguments about who gets to top up their devices.

You may also want to look out for certain bits of technology. Apple CarPlay, for example, is one of the easiest ways to mirror your smartphone’s apps on the car’s main screen, which means you’ll have quicker access to podcasts or your family’s favourite playlist. You’ll find it equipped on many cars here at Eden, such as this family-friendly Kia Sportage.

Efficiency

If you’re wanting to drive down the cost of running a family car, then efficiency is well worth checking out too. If you think it could be a good fit, then we offer a number of electric vehicles here at Eden, which could help to bring down how much you’ll pay for your car on a daily basis. This Vauxhall Mokka Electric, for instance, has all the space and versatility of the standard petrol-powered car but could cost a fraction to run if you’re able to take advantage of low rates of home energy.

If electric isn’t for you, then there are plenty of other hybrid options here at Eden which can still offer great levels of efficiency but with the safety net of a petrol or diesel engine.

Safety

Finally, there’s safety. One of the industry standards is the Euro NCAP testing scheme, which puts thousands of vehicles through rigorous crash tests to see how they cope in the event of an impact. Each examined car is judged in a variety of different areas, too, including child occupant protection and pedestrian protection. Visit the Euro NCAP site and you’ll be able to see how any car you’re considering has fared in these tests.

You may also want to see how accessible the ISOFIX points are in any car you’re looking at. Can they be easily found and located, or is it a bit of a pain? If you find this out right at the start, then it’s easy to discount that vehicle and move on to the next.

At Eden, we’ve got lots of cars that fit the family car bill. So whether you’re in the market for a practical hatchback or a spacious SUV, we’ve got you covered. Check out our current stock of used cars today to see what’s on offer or get in touch with a member of the team here at Eden to find out more.