When starting a family, you might groan at the idea of trading in your four-door sedan for a “mom-mobile.” Thankfully on today’s market, there are tons of options that offer top-notch safety features at a reasonable price. The way to go is SUVs. These vehicles are designed for families. They offer protection during vehicular collisions (or other such external damage) and come with back-up cameras and other built-in features. Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota all offer great vehicles for new parents. Continue reading to learn more.
What to Look for in a New Family Car
Before getting into the nitty-gritty, here are some things parents should look for when shopping for a new vehicle:
Four- to Five-Star Safety Ratings
In the US the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) performs yearly checks on newly-released vehicles. In Europe, this task is the responsibility of NCAP. They rank vehicles based on many factors, including:
● Safety in a rollover accidents
● The force of impact in a frontal crash
● How it handle side-impact collisions
● Whether any parts were recalled
● The number of complaints filed against the vehicle
Each of these factors gives valuable insight into whether a car’s suitable for your family.
Affordability
Nobody needs to tell you that starting a family is expensive. So, you likely want a vehicle that comes with “all the bells and whistles” but doesn’t strain your financial resources.
Yet, buying a new car is more than monthly payments; it’s also how well the car maintains its value over time. Within the first five years of ownership, cars generally lose about 50 percent of their original values.
If you choose wisely, you can buy a new car, drive it for five years, and then get close to what you put into it. Cars from foreign automakers, like Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, all retain more than 50 percent of their original values after five years.
Safety features
You want a car with as many safety features as possible, including:
● Ground clearance. The more space between your car’s undercarriage and the street, the more easily it can navigate inclement terrain, like snowy or flooded streets.
● Cameras. Nowadays, cars come with more than backup cameras. They sold come with frontal and side cameras, giving you a 360-degree look at what’s going on around you.
● Blindspot sensors. The average car comes with about two blind spots––meaning that drivers can’t see obstacles in these spots. Blindspot sensors emit a “beeping” sound when you’re about to collide with another object, like a tree or parked car.
Four Great Family Cars for New Parents (Drumroll, Please!)
According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), the following are the best cars for new parents.
The 2021 Honda CR-V
This bad boy comes with everything, from backup cameras to four-wheel drive. Using the three metrics listed above:
● The 2021 Honda CR-V gets a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.
● The base model starts at around $23,000––which isn’t bad for a car that size.
● It comes with the state-of-the-art Honda Braking System, allowing you to come to a smooth, complete stop when sudden roadway hazards appear.
It’s worth noting that the SUV has won KBB’s “Kelley Blue Book Best Buy” five years in a row. It was also voted the best family car in 2021 by the organization.
Additionally, according to Business Insider, it loses about 44 percent of its original value during the first give years of ownership—five percent less than your average vehicle.
The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe
Here’s what you need to know. The 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe got a five stars across the board, according to the NHTSA. To date, it’s only had three recalls––none of which have resulted in serious, across-the-board recalls.
It also comes with:
● Dynamic brake support. If you don’t press hard enough on the brake pedal, no problem; your car will bring the car to a complete stop for you.
● Lane departure warnings. Worried about accidentally drifting into another lane?
No problem. Your car will sense that you’re drifting and immediately alert you to the issue.
● Forward collision warning. Rear-end collisions are the most common types of accidents. Forward collision warning prevents you from accidentally crashing into the car in front of you.
It also gets anywhere from 28 to 38 miles per gallon, reducing how many times you need to stop at your local gas station. They also go for less than $30,000.
The 2021 Toyota RAV4
Toyota is the best-selling automaker in the world––and for good reason. Not only do these cars get incredible mileage, but they only depreciate by 40 percent within the first five years of ownership.
Other benefits include:
● They come with all-wheel drive, making them easier to control on wet and icy roadways.
● They had zero recalls in 2021.
● The NHTSA gave these vehicles five out of five stars.
Just like the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, they come with dynamic brake support, lane departure warnings, and forward-collision warning. They also start at around $26,000.
The 2021 Honda Pilot
These three-row SUVs come with:
● Seating for eight people
● A V6 engine––perfect for acceleration
● Four out of five stars, scoring high in the side-impact collision category.
They also depreciate by only 40 percent within the first five years. They also start at around $32,000.
A Final Word
There are a lot of things to consider when purchasing a car for your family, including affordability, safety, and overall ratings. But ultimately, the best car for you depends on your situation.
