Choosing a Car for Your Family

Whether you’ve just found out that you’re going to become a parent for the first time or are planning to add to your numbers, you should start thinking about how you’ll transport your little bundle of joy around. As responsible parents your first concerns will be no doubt be safety.  Practicality is also a major issue; your two-seat convertible probably isn’t the best car to fit a child seat and store a pram.  This guide, brought to you by http://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/, will give you some hints and tips on what to look out for in car safety features and baby seats…

Baby Seats

Buying a good quality baby seat for your car is one of the most important purchases you’ll buy in the run up to the birth. When looking for a family car, take note of these tips before you buy your new car…

·         Look for a car with flat-bottomed seat cushions.  The flatter the seats, the easier a car seat will be to install in the back- as well as being more stable to hold the seat. 

·         Make sure access to the back seat is easily accessible.  Make sure the car door opens out as far as possible to make it easier to install the car seat and lift your baby out of it with ease. 

·         Take your baby seat along when trying new cars out.  You will need to see if your baby seat is compatible with the seat belts and whether a baby seat will be secure enough in that particular car. 

Which Model of Car?

Renault Laguna- The Laguna was the first car to be awarded five stars for its list of safety features by Euro NCAP, and is now recognised as one of the best family cars in terms of safety and practicality. Listed are its safety features:

·         Brake-by-wire system- an anchor is applied as soon as you lift your foot off the throttle, making it easier to stop.

·         A radar system what alerts you when another vehicle is getting too close, or when you get too close to a vehicle or other object.The Laguna also boasts a radar system which alerts you when another vehicle is getting to close for comfort. 

·         A top of the range airbag system.

Vauxhall Astra- The Astra is a fantastic car if you want something that is suitable for a family but don’t want something huge.   Here are some of its safety features:

·         Scored extremely well on impact tests.  The back is very well protected where your baby is likely to sit.

·          A brilliant traction and breaking is also of a very good quality, meaning it takes less time to stop. 

·         A top of the range airbag system.

Honda CR-Z- This is another car which was awarded five stars from Euro NCAP, the independent safety assessors for cars in the European market.  Its array of safety features:

·         VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) which controls acceleration, corning and spontaneous manoeuvres.

·          Airbags for every passenger.

·         Bumper technology which makes impact less severe if you were to hit a person.

·         The CR-Z also airbags down the side of the car too, meaning every part of the car is protected.