Choosing the right family car is a big decision that involves careful consideration to meet your family’s unique needs and priorities. Whether you’re a new parent, expanding your family, or simply in need of a vehicle that accommodates your loved ones comfortably, making the right choice is crucial.  

In this blog, Ucan is here to guide you through the essential considerations when selecting the perfect family car to meet your needs. 

When choosing a family car, ensure you take your time, do your research, and test drive multiple options to find the vehicle that meets both your immediate requirements and long-term expectations.  

First, let’s go through some steps to follow when choosing your perfect family car. 

1. Assess Your Family’s Needs

Before heading into a maze of family car options, it is important to take some time to evaluate your family’s specific requirements. Here are the following things you should consider: 

Family size 

How many family members will be regularly travelling in the car? Will you need more seats or more storage space?  

It is also important to consider the type of family members that will be travelling in the car – will the car need to be disabled friendly and include accessibility features or is it a ride more for a family with young children where the kids will need to be kept entertained and space is needed for prams and car seats? 

This will determine the size and seating capacity you need. 

Activities

Think about the activities you and your family enjoy.  

Do you often go on more outdoorsy activities such as going camping, need extra storage for sports equipment, or will you be busy and require a vehicle for daily school runs?  

Thinking about the types of activities you and your family enjoy, goes hand in hand with your car size – you might need the storage space for big road trips or equally as big food shops. 

Fuel Efficiency

Calculate your expected mileage and determine whether a more fuel-efficient car would be cost-effective for your family. Also, you should consider whether you will be taking longer road trip journeys, or your car is just for those quick school runs and trips to nearby shops or work. 

Budget

As well as all the above, it is important to establish a budget and stick to it. Remember to factor in not only the purchase price but also ongoing expenses like: 

  • Insurance. 
  • Fuel. 
  • Maintenance. 

Thankfully, at Ucan, all our used cars are set at fantastic prices, browse through our showrooms to have a look.  

2. Consider Types of Cars 

Just like families, cars come in various shapes and sizes. Here are some common types of cars to consider to ensure your car meets your family’s needs and requirements: 

Saloon

Saloons are perfect for smaller families or those looking for fuel efficiency, ease of manoeuvrability and ease of finding a good parking space. 

SUVs/Crossovers

SUVs or Crossovers are commonly known for their versatility and spacious capacity. These are popular choices for families due to their cargo space and large seating capacity. 

Minivans

Minivans are infamously known for their ample seating and cargo space. They are often the go-to choice for larger families. 

Coupes

If you have a smaller family or are more focused on style and performance, a coupe might be an option to consider with its two-door, compact designs. 

3. Evaluate Seating and Interior Space

Pay close attention to the vehicle’s interior space and seating configurations. Features to consider include: 

  • Number of seats: Ensure there are enough seats for you and your family members. 
  • Comfort: Test the comfort of the seats, especially for those longer trips. 
  • Rear-seat entertainment: Some cars come equipped with built-in screens and entertainment systems to keep the kids entertained during long journeys. 
  • Accessibility: Does the vehicle comply with any accessibility/disability requirements that a member/members in your family may need? 

4. Safety

Safety should be a top priority in all family decisions to ensure you are taking precautions in lowering the risk of any injuries or accidents and keeping your loved ones protected. You should have peace of mind in the car you drive your family in.  

The simplest way to find the safety rating of a vehicle is by checking the NCAP Rating of your car here. 

Look for vehicles equipped with advanced safety features such as: 

  • Adaptive cruise control. 
  • Blind-spot monitoring. 
  • Automatic emergency braking. 
  • Multi-airbag systems. 
  • Anti-lock brakes. 
  • Electronic stability control. 
  • Lane departure warning. 
  • Collision avoidance systems. 

5. Technology and Infotainment

Modern family cars often come with advanced infotainment systems, including: 

  • Touchscreen displays. 
  • Smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto). 
  • Navigation systems. 
  • Bluetooth connectivity. 

It would be useful to evaluate these features to ensure they meet your family’s technology needs. 

6. Test Drive Your Options

Never underestimate the importance of a test drive. It’s the best way to get a feel for the car’s handling, comfort, and driving experience. Bring your family along to see how everyone fits and feels in the car.  

You can book a test drive with Ucan simply by choosing your ideal car from our showrooms and clicking on the “book a test drive” button, directing you to a quick and easy form to fill in.  

7. Choose your car

After going through all the above steps, you should now be in a good position to choose your car.  

Need more help? Check out our top picks for the best used family cars. 

Find your family car with Ucan

A well-chosen family car will not only provide safe and comfortable transportation but also contribute to countless memorable journeys with your loved ones. 

With Ucan Car Credit, all our cars come with free 6 months warranty, 6 months breakdown cover and to ensure your family is safe and protected, all our cars are fully serviced and MOT’d.  

Find your perfect family car in our showrooms, where we stock a wide selection of used family cars fit for your family and their needs.