As a parent, one of the major decisions that you need to get right is choosing a family car. This is likely to be a vehicle that you rely on daily for taking the kids to school, driving to work, shopping and ferrying the kids around for hobbies, friends etc. So, what are a few of the key factors to focus on to make the right decision? Let’s help you choose the right car for family.

Size

Obviously, size is a key factor. You need to consider how many people you will need to transport regularly as well as if you have plans to add to the family anytime soon (or get a dog). When you start reaching 5+ family members, you will want to look into larger family cars as it might be tight in a hatchback.

Reliability

As mentioned in the intro, it is likely that you will be relying on this car each day and you do not want it to let you down. This is why you should always go with a trusted and established brand known for making reliable cars. It is also a good idea to opt for something that is not too old or does not have too many miles (around 60k) on the clock if shopping in the used car market.

New or Used

Following on from this, new or used is a tough call. A new car will provide reliability and the best and latest features, but it will also be costly and you have depreciation to factor in. Choosing a used car will allow you to get a better deal, but reliability could be an issue. A good option is to shop in the used car market for a car that is around 3-4 years old – this will give a good balance between affordability and reliability while allowing you to sidestep the biggest depreciation hit.

Space

You also need to factor in how much interior space you need. If you are a family that likes to go away on holiday, has active hobbies and/or has a dog, you need to make sure that you have enough storage space that will not make it too cramped in the car.

Economy

Another important factor is fuel economy. You do not want a gas guzzler that will cost a fortune to run and increase your carbon footprint, so try to find a fuel efficient vehicle that will be cheaper to run (and tax) while reducing your environmental impact.

These are the key factors that you need to focus on when choosing a family car. This is a big financial and lifestyle decision to make, so it is important to take your time to find a car that will integrate with your lifestyle and tick all of the boxes.