How to Choose the Best Family Car to Buy

Whether you’re looking to start a family or have a household of children to transport every day, families everywhere have more car buying options than ever before. From station wagons to SUVs, it seems that more and more cars are offering family-friendly options, such as extra storage, backseat DVD players, and additional safety features. From safety to capacity, this article will go over all the options to consider when choosing the best car to buy for your family.

Part 1 of 3: Do your financial homework

Before ever stepping foot in a dealership, you should make an effort to fully research which features you want in a family car and which models are best for you. Use the steps below as a guideline for your research.

Step 1: Define your budget. Defining your budget is the most important part of preparing to conduct effective car-buying research.

car payment calculator

Step 2: Decide upon down payment. Determine how large a down payment you are able to take on financially.

You’ll want to seriously consider how long you want to be making payments before the car is truly “yours” and what kind of auto financing you are qualified for.

Step 3: Set your car payment parameters. Make an informed decision on how much you can truly afford in car payments each month.

Be sure to know how long you would want to be in debt before the car is 100% “yours.” If you need help making this decision, contact your accountant or auto financier.

family car price ranges

Step 4: Research “new” and “used” options. Most major car dealerships offer both “new” and “used” (or “pre-owned”) model selections.

If you’re unsure of which option to choose, conduct an online search for “used” cars for sale for your budget and compare the results to a search for “new” cars for sale with your budget.

Take a look at the difference in quality between the search results and make an educated decision either way.

If you are hunting down a specific make or model, you would be wise to consider a used car, especially if you can’t afford a new model.

  • Note: If you prefer cars without prior owners, you might want to consider adjusting your budget to allow for a newer, modern family vehicle.

Part 2 of 3: Prioritize family car features

For some families, the quantity and quality of seating in a vehicle is a complete dealbreaker. For others, vehicles with higher safety ratings or consumer reports are forever at the top of the heap. Follow the steps below to research and prioritize car features that best fit your family’s needs.

Step 1: Consider the car’s users. Before running out and heading to a dealership, consider who will be both driving and riding in your potential new vehicle.

As a driver, you should consider: Will your spouse use the car? If you have teenagers, will they use it as well?

In terms of passengers: Will you have children that require extra room for car and booster seats? How many seats will you need to regularly fit your entire family into one car?

  • Tip: If you are going to have children or regular backseat passengers, you will want to check that your potential new car model comes equipped with side airbags, ensuring that children in booster seats or car seats are not seated near these airbags.

Step 2: Consider the car’s size.

seat number chart

Smaller families of 2-5 people may consider a smaller family vehicle, such as a passenger sedan. Larger families or 5 or more people, on the other hand, will want to consider cars with appropriate seating, such as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), minivan, or station wagon.

  • Tip: If you will have adults or older children riding in the back seat, you will want to bring the whole family along for your test drive at the dealership to ensure that everyone can comfortably fit.

Step 3: Consider the car’s interior**. If you are worried about messes, then choosing an interior suited to this is a good idea.

If you have a family with small children, easy-cleaning is a must. Leather seats, as opposed to fabric, are ideal for cleaning up messes. Leather and other smooth materials are perfect for the interiors of family cars, as cleaning wipes will do in on-the-go situations.

  • Tip: When picking out interior and seating material colors, choose darker colors and shades. This will allow small stains to blend in and not show as obviously.

Step 4: Consider safety. Search the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or the NHTSA, is responsible for releasing comprehensive 5-star ratings on every car on the U.S. market.

safer car site screenshot
Image: Safer Car

To find vehicle model ratings, head to Safercar.gov and click on the “5-Star Safety Rating” tab to begin your search. The more stars a car has, the safer the car is!

  • Tip: Safercar.gov can also provide you with rollover statistics and research behind other safety features the car may have, including child safety, airbags, technology, and tires. These are invaluable statistic to have, especially if you’re deciding between specific models.

Step 5: Consider the car’s additional features. From colors to cup holders, small details can make or break your family’s experience with your future vehicle.

Are you looking for a car that has entertainment options for your kids? Would you like your vehicle to come equipped with satellite radio or DVD players to keep everyone busy? Think of the features that will allow your family to get the most out of the car.

Step 6: Definitively prioritize the car’s features. From safety to size to all the little details, make a decision as to which handful of features your family feels are most important.

Talk it over with the other potential users of the car and come up with a definitive list..

Part 3 of 3: Review and compare vehicles

Step 1: Research car models. Once you’ve narrowed down your options by defining your priorities, you’ll want to research specific car models.

Step 2: Read reviews. Read every review, rating, and comparison you can find through a simple online search, using one of the sites or magazines below:

It’s always recommended that you gather as much information as you can about each model you are considering before you purchase. That way, you’ll be able to make an informed decision and purchase the best car for your family, and having the right family car can make your riding experience perfect for you and your family. Be sure to have one of our certified mechanics perform a pre-purchase inspection to make sure all is well with the car you want.


Next Step

Schedule Pre-purchase Car Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Pre-purchase Car Inspection. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Pre-purchase Car Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,493)

Rating Summary
5,137
193
39
38
86
5,137
193
39
38
86

Jermaine

25 years of experience
382 reviews
Jermaine
25 years of experience
Dodge Durango V6-3.6L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Silver Spring, Maryland
Awesome mechanic! Very reliable !! Awesome personality! Explained everything and now I feel less stressed.
Hyundai Ioniq - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Chevy Chase, Maryland
Jermaine was very friendly, efficient and professional. He kindly explained to me those things that did not score well in the service report, so that it didn't come as a surprise, and I would know what to do about it.

Caz

18 years of experience
146 reviews
Caz
18 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GLA250 L4-2.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Woodstock, Georgia
Caz was extremely knowledgeable, personable and provided excellent service. He was on time for the appointment and answered and explained everything I asked concerning my vehicle. I will definitely use the company again and I would love to have Caz as my mechanic! Excellent!
Mercedes-Benz S550 - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Mableton, Georgia
Caz Arrived on time much earlier than scheduled. He was very professional in inspecting the car and made excellent recommendations.

Brian

19 years of experience
138 reviews
Brian
19 years of experience
Lexus RX350 V6-3.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Brian was very informational and knowledgeable about the Inspection. He throughly inform me what issues on vehicle. Great Mechanic !!!
Ford Transit-350 HD - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - McDonough, Georgia
Great service. Honest , respectful and truly cares about making sure you get the best options possible at an affordable price. Finding a mechanic you can trust is rare. I highly recommend Brain.

Jay

24 years of experience
262 reviews
Jay
24 years of experience
Honda CR-V L4-2.4L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Glendale Heights, Illinois
Jay did a great job! Excellent at taking time to explain things about your car. And provided sound recommendation on repair. Courteous and responsive. I would definitely recommend Jay!
BMW 535i xDrive - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Des Plaines, Illinois
Excellent ! Jay is very detail oriented and forward thinking. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

Child Seat Safety Laws in Oregon
Children Children travelling in motor vehicles are highly vulnerable, and most injuries and fatalities involving children who are in collisions are due to failure on the part of the driver to ensure that they are properly restrained. The laws covering...
How to Buy a Classic Fiat 124 Sport Spider
The Fiat 124 Sport Spider is a highly desirable compact convertible produced by the Italian carmaker from 1966 to 1982. Its classic design incorporates sporty performance with sleek European looks, to make it as fun to drive as it is...
What type of vehicle is right for you?
Sedans, coupes, convertibles, minivans, crossovers, hatchbacks, station wagons, SUVs, and pickups. Let us help you decide which to choose.

Related questions

How do I pair a phone?
Before using your phone with your car’s Bluetooth system, you’ll need to pair your phone. Pairing your phone is a simple process that only takes a few minutes: 1. Press the Setup button. 2. Rotate the Volume knob to Phone,...
How do I turn on the front fog lamps?
The front fog lamps are controlled with the exterior lamp control, which is located on the instrument panel, to the left of the steering column. To turn on the front fog lamps, press the exterior lamp control knob. To turn...
About to purchase a Range Rover 2010 TDV6 auto 4x4 MY10 with 74405kms. What costs am I looking at in the near future?
Hey there. The service costs on a vehicle like this can vary widely depending on the shop doing the work, especially on a vehicle like a Range Rover. As with any vehicle approaching 100,000kms, there will definitely be substantial maintenance...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com