Choosing a Starter Car for Your New Family

Starting a family opens a brand-new chapter for you and your spouse. Bringing home your bundle of joy also means that you’ll need to bring home a solid family vehicle capable of handling your family and all of its stuff. Finding a great family car that offers the right combination of style, comfort, reliability and versatility seems like hard work. Fortunately, having a general idea of what makes a vehicle fit for family duty.

As a testament to the popularity of the family vehicle segment, popular choices like the Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima and Volkswagen Passat made up 2.3 million of the 14.5 million vehicles sold in 2012, according to Auto Pacific.

Safety First

For your family, safety always comes first. Fortunately, today’s family vehicles feature a wide variety of advanced safety features, including next-generation side-impact and roof rail-mounted airbags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that mortality rates were 10 percent lower for drivers of vehicles fitted with advanced airbag technology.

Electronic driver aides, such as electronic brake-force distribution and stability control, are also essential safety features. Most vehicles also feature rear-view cameras that provide an expanded view of objects behind the vehicle while it’s in reverse.

The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) Restraint System is a must if you use child safety seats on a regular basis. Standard on all vehicles since 2002, this system helps drivers safely and securely install child seats through the use of a tether and anchor system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Stretching Out

Take the time to choose a family vehicle that offers enough interior and cargo room for yourself, your spouse, children and any luggage or other cargo you might bring along. For instance, the 2013 Chevy Suburban 1500, one of KBB’s 10 Best Family Cars for 2013, features more than 45 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. It also features enough head, leg and shoulder room to comfortably accommodate nine occupants in LS trim, eight in LT trim and seven in LTZ trim.

What about Affordability?

It’s not uncommon to see families choose a reliable used car as their new family vehicle. Buying a used vehicle has its own set of benefits, one of which is staying ahead of the depreciation curve. According to KBB, a new car retains just 35 percent of its value after the first five years of ownership. Buying a used family vehicle lets you dodge the depreciation bullet and enjoy a significant discount on the vehicle of your choice. However, a used car is sure to have a few miles under its belt, and some families may be more comfortable with buying a brand-new car with a strong warranty.

Using a trusted resource is your best bet for finding a solid deal. For instance,  Kelley Blue Book has used cars to fit almost any budget. By using the research tools at KBB.com, you can find out how much you can afford and find the used or certified pre-owned family vehicle you’re looking for.

Traveling in Style

Your first family vehicle doesn’t have to be as dull as dishwater. Take the 2013 Ford Fusion, for instance. Kelley Blue Book notes that the Fusion’s unique styling comes courtesy of exotic car maker Aston Martin, previously owned by the Dearborn-based automaker. As a result, this seemingly ordinary family sedan cuts a rather pleasing figure both inside and out.