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SUVs, Cars and Vans – Oh My!
Choosing the Perfect Family Vehicle
By Jessica Woods
I fell in love with my car on a drizzly autumn night. She was bathed in tiny water droplets that sparkled like a million sequins under the bright lights of the auto dealer's lot. Her sleek lines, leather interior, sporty handling and "merlot" paint job fit perfectly with my self-image as a newly promoted, childless, professional woman. What a difference five years make.
Now a stay-at-home mom, if I were car shopping today, I'd be looking for a little more substance than a shiny paint job in a pretty color. While appearance and aesthetics are still important, they are easily outweighed by a desire for safety, reliability, good gas mileage and easy access to child safety seats.
There are so many options out there these days – above and beyond the issue of your budget – it begs the question: How can a family possibly decide between a car, minivan or sports utility vehicle (SUV)?
While safety is likely at the top of every parent's list, there are other issues to factor into the car-buying equation. For example, secondary on my list is the capacity to haul a lot of gear. I can't count the number of times I've gone to unload my grocery cart only to find the trunk full of jogging stroller or beach toys – or both.
Therein lays the key to finding the vehicle that is right for your family – the unique way your family uses its car. How many children do you have? Do you have a dog that travels with you? Are you dropping the kids off at daycare or school and then commuting to work, or are you spending the day running errands all over town? Do you take family vacations in the car?
