Cars & Transportation

Best car for a young family with a baby

Cars & Transportation

Posted by: annacathryn

13th Jan 2014 03:38pm

My husband and I are expecting a baby and are looking to buy a new car but we disagree on what is important. I want something practical like a station wagon, but he wants something a bit more sporty. What are the most important things to look for in a car for a young family? Has anyone had the same disagreements and if so, how did you resolve them?

Comments 100

Jen88
  • 17th Jul 2017 08:37pm

I have looked up reviews recently and all reviews have stated that the Mazda CX-5 is the best SUV on the market compared to the Subaru Forester and the RAV4.

yaso
  • 29th May 2017 09:49pm

Toyota RAV4 is the best. Not a too small or too big car. When a baby seat is set it it easy for u to get baby n kids in their seat(s) without having ur back in pain. Safe and reliable car brand n model too! :-)

raju
  • 11th May 2017 11:22am

wee need buy a new car

TysonM
  • 8th May 2017 12:33pm

Volkswagen Golf R wagon is the way to go

LARRY
  • 29th Nov 2016 03:47am

hools
  • 12th Nov 2016 09:49pm

We had a Hyundai Santa Fe this is a really good car, as it has heaps of space in the back for prams and baby gear

happychappy
  • 23rd Jun 2016 11:41am

HI THERE, I HAVE BEEN A CAR MAG READER FOR 50 YRS, AND HAVE OWNED 25 CARS; AND MY CHILDREN, NOW ADULTS, HAVE HAD SIMILAR DISAGREEMENTS TO YOURSELVES WITH SPOUSES. I would suggest the following, you do need a wagon with all the gear you need to car around for bubs, and it needs to be safe above all else, Kia Sportage, my daughter bought one a few yrs back, very reliable,safe, excellent warranty,now 7 yrs, was 5, with unlimited kms. Around $30.000 on road in Victoria. If you do lots of travel, I would suggest the diesel, you can get up 800kms to a tank or better. Her car has now done 140.000 kms, no problems with it! Option 2: if hubby wants something sporty, buy a holden commodore sv6 sports wagon. Hope this usefull input, wish you well with birth etc.
Chris, western Vic

Yqsymnx
  • 18th Nov 2015 10:54am

The obvious choice would be a crossover vehicle.
I have a Subaru XV and they are very good.
There is plenty of space as it is a style of SUV and there is the Boxer engine under the hood, which is the same one they use in the Imprezza models. This should satisfy his need.

Good luck

Rossissmellingtheroses
  • 9th Aug 2015 09:58pm

Hi. I have had several Subaru's. Cost of dealer servicing has long been a problem, but I understand fixed price servicing is now being offered. So all the boxes are now ticked. My daughter has a Toyota Kluger which she bought as a demo. She has 3 young kids. It ticks all the boxes for her.

daisy
  • 10th Mar 2015 01:09am

well you need some thing thats practical and cheap to run on petrol because thats very dear to buy now personally idont think asporty car would suit afamily sorry but ithink husband has to listen and give and take abit its like this whats more important asports car or having afamily

Magenta Bruine
  • 4th Feb 2015 05:40pm

Hi AnnaCathryn,

Well, I remember when I had my kids that the most important thing was having easy access to the back seat, especially with a bassinet, so 2 door cars are out. Other than that, as long as it has 4 doors, anything goes...
These days you can get sporty looking 4WD type vehicles, I hope you can find something you both like.

Simply Paper
  • 16th Jan 2015 10:55am

For 1 child a Honda Jazz is perfect, economical, good safety rating and fits a full size pram in the hatch boot. For 2 children I would suggest a Honda CR-V which is a little larger. It fits a collapsed double length pram in the boot and has great inclusive features such as cruise control and reversing camera.

bettythrelfo
  • 27th Nov 2014 06:18pm

it literally depends on what your finances are... a sporty car would take perhaps one extra person, like the baby, but probably no more, whereas with a station wagon you can take more, plus the bonus is for shopping, a stroller when needed, bringing things home from a hardware shop, getting bulk groceries... it depends on what you really need the car for... me I would look at long term and go for stationwagon.. we had ours for years and years and it did literally everything mentioned above..

rajanakl
  • 13th Oct 2014 12:44pm

as long as it has 4 doors and five seats its manageable but make sure it has a spacious trunk to carry extra baggage. Just remember a man "NEVER" wants to drive a minivan unless he really has no other choice and even if he agrees to it will slowly eat him away from the inside which will stress him out and cause other types of problems in the family.if your doesnt want to get a wagon my advise it get a sedan. just remember station wagon dont miraculously give you better protection hope it helps :)

Anonymous
  • 29th Aug 2014 09:27pm

i think that a range rover car can do the job ,it's safe strong and practical ,not only inside the city but also outside .

hardyyp
  • 2nd Aug 2014 02:29pm

My family has three kids all under 5 years old. A total of 5 people regularly need to be transported. When we recently upgraded our vehicle, we took onto consideration safety, space and price. As all the children are still in car restraints, we also had to take into consideration the number of car restraint anchor points on the vehicle. For this reason, we purchased a SsangYong Slavic, which is a 7seater people mover. It really met our requirements. $30,000 for a brand-new automatic diesel. When considering our purchase, we also found that both the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore were fantastic options. Heaps of room, great safety features and very sporty.

jjdrer
  • 8th Sep 2014 01:55pm
My family has three kids all under 5 years old. A total of 5 people regularly need to be transported. When we recently upgraded our vehicle, we took onto consideration safety, space and price. As...

You need something with a decent size boot too. Room for baby gear, shopping etc. especially if you shop once a week, not every time they decide to make something different and don't have the ingredients. If you buy a station wagon I very strongly suggest a cargo barrier.

Bigfoot
  • 4th Jul 2014 02:18pm

My wife and I are going (Slowly) through the same argument----I currently am 74 years old and drive a Ford XR6,my wife believes that it too powerful for me (Ridiculous!!) and wants to buy a Mirage or something similar. I f I have to change I would like a Mazda 6 as I believe it is an excellent car for the money. I do 99% of the driving and my argument is just that. Find out between you and hubby, what a car/wagon will need to hold ie pushchair, sporting gear, camping or fishing gear etc?? that should make your decision on what is needed a little easier to make.

mikeleehm
  • 23rd Jun 2014 11:49pm

Yeah, Subaru Forester is good and reliable. Safe and stable in high speed and with the AWD, you can feel the power when going up slope.

TimEwilson
  • 21st Jun 2014 12:23pm

Driving in city traffic definetly want 4 cylinder possibly auto transmisson
hybrid and electric cars are not stylish most of the vehicles expense is in the technology of the motor and not creature comfits or advanced safety features
subaru forester
is a good choice but i own an 05 imprezza having a lot off maintance cost due to AWD wheel bearings
Honda CRV
has family features such as a small picnic table in spare wheel cover
mazda 2 hatch has a roll and tumble rear seat giving as much room as a wagon minus the use of the rear seat
dont ever buy a family vehicles for looks any perants knows reliability is key
i would ask where you drive atm
what times type of roads. dirt and hills and traffic your daily drive takes you.
Ie small car for short traffic filled routes.
Any car can be made to look the part

TimEwilson
  • 21st Jun 2014 12:23pm

Driving in city traffic definetly want 4 cylinder possibly auto transmisson
hybrid and electric cars are not stylish most of the vehicles expense is in the technology of the motor and not creature comfits or advanced safety features
subaru forester
is a good choice but i own an 05 imprezza having a lot off maintance cost due to AWD wheel bearings
Honda CRV
has family features such as a small picnic table in spare wheel cover
mazda 2 hatch has a roll and tumble rear seat giving as much room as a wagon minus the use of the rear seat
dont ever buy a family vehicles for looks any perants knows reliability is key
i would ask where you drive atm
what times type of roads. dirt and hills and traffic your daily drive takes you.
Ie small car for short traffic filled routes.
Any car can be made to look the part

Anonymous
  • 31st May 2014 07:14am

I think ur right or a twin cab ute

Anonymous
  • 30th May 2014 05:43pm

Skoda Octavia Wagon is one of the best family cars on the market. You buying Audi & VW technologie, Skoda is fully own by VW, safety 5 stars, very economical and family friendly car & excellent value as well. Every new Skoda passenger vehicle is covered by a three-year unlimited kilometre manufacturer's warranty which includes Skoda Assist ( 24/7/365 ). Octavia VRS model will bw my personal choice. Top car and excellent pricing.

Anonymous
  • 21st May 2014 01:10am

I reacon for a small faimly smal car suits the most in terms of fuel efficiency and less accommodation

Anonymous
  • 5th May 2014 04:29pm

Most likely would be a 4wd or something big like you have mentioned, a wagon , mini van, or something with great space. Definately don't get a real speedy car like a sports car just go with big and spacious.

Anonymous
  • 5th May 2014 04:29pm

Most likely would be a 4wd or something big like you have mentioned, a wagon , mini van, or something with great space. Definately don't get a real speedy car like a sports car just go with big and spacious.

Catenary
  • 4th May 2014 07:30pm

A Toyota Camty or Corolla station wagon is a great way to go. I have had a succession of Toyotas, over the years from the time of young children onwards. Loading a pram or pusher and the weekly shop is easier into a station wagon. BIG PLUS - over the years, my mechanic has thanked me on several occasions for giving him Toyotas to service. Some of the other Asian name cars are absolute dogs to work on, which of course pushes up the cost of service and repairs.

Anonymous
  • 1st May 2014 11:36pm

SUBARU OUTBACK OR FORESTER, ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS A GREAT ADVANTAGE FOR SAFETY.

fredsukkar
  • 15th Apr 2014 03:06pm

Toyota Corolla's are good all round cars. Importantly they don't feel "Tinny" like other cars around that price range. They are also very good on fuel and have a decent amount of power. Also spacious enough for a small family in my opinion.

Anonymous
  • 14th Apr 2014 05:27pm

Most important to us was able to get capsules etc and the pram in and out its only for a few years so sometimes you have to compromise and now there are some very nice largeish hatchbacks

Anonymous
  • 13th Apr 2014 05:48pm

The Hyundai IX35 is the most wonderful car. I have a little girl and i feel extremely safe in this car. It has everything a car needs for safety for your baby. Go and test drive one and you will see what i mean..and also great to drive in wet weather too.

Sil sil
  • 9th Apr 2014 03:57pm

I would go for a station wagon, I have 2 young kids & found I need boot space. Ppl I know get 4 WD but don't have the space they need just a higher bulkier car. That would be my tip, prams, bikes, helmets, shopping etc... Think about car park spaces sizes too

jjdrer
  • 15th Apr 2014 10:21pm
I would go for a station wagon, I have 2 young kids & found I need boot space. Ppl I know get 4 WD but don't have the space they need just a higher bulkier car. That would be my tip, prams, bikes,...

Good advice about car park spaces too. Some aren't very wide and you may not be able to open 4WD without damaging your door or another person's vehicle.
Also it is very hard to see around a 4WD when trying to get in & out of car parking spaces which unfortunately has caused some accidents. You have to protude out of your parking bay to see past a 4WD and another vehicle passing may not see you moving or you see it either.
Some supermarket car parks now have areas designated for people using prams, but they may be at the side of the building not at the front if they are a "later addition". Even if putting your baby from a trolley not a pram they are a good idea as you really need to be able to open your car door wider to put baby into his/her babyseat/booster seat.

annie
  • 7th Apr 2014 04:39pm

When my children were little we had a toyota corolla station wagon and then with 3 other children in quick succession we got a toyota tarago.These were really good cars and quite safe as well

Anonymous
  • 27th Mar 2014 10:40pm

We have a young family only 2 children, and when buying a new car we looked at how much space in the boot for pram, shopping etc. and also if we were to have 3 children if 3 car seats would fit across the back seat or 2 car seat and room for an adult to fit as well. We ended up with a Dodge Nitro. Just some things we looked at hope this helps.

carmyandy
  • 27th Mar 2014 09:19pm

we just had the same problem, we have a 6 month old son and ended up with a Toyota Camry. . they have a large boot enough room for a pram and shopping, very light on fuel too :) good luck..

billsutton
  • 27th Mar 2014 11:40am

Several people have suggested a Subaru Forester. As a person who has owned one, I can recommend them as a well made and well designed vehicle, that will perform well with good fuel economy.
Resale value is good. It is an excellent choice for a new family

Anonymous
  • 24th Mar 2014 10:28pm

Test driving a car is very important for best results check for comfort ,pick up,leg room,crash rating,fuel consumption and weather you can fit the gear you need into it

Ambrose
  • 17th Mar 2014 07:14pm

I can vouch for the Subaru forester (or any Subaru, for that matter). Very safe, long lasting and comfortable cars. You'll find that boot space is very handy (with more people you'll have more stuff to transport, when travelling for example).
I would also look into the Hyundai ix35. A rapidly growing company with more affordable options that don't leave out the important stuff.

yenly
  • 16th Mar 2014 07:12pm

hi I got same situation like yours, I prefer large car like Isuzu or Nissan x. trail or CRV HONDA.

Gerry1945
  • 13th Mar 2014 05:02pm

Mitsubishi Outlander all the space you will ever need and safety and a family

dennis
  • 13th Mar 2014 12:24am

Perhaps a second hand car...Avoid the massive upfront costs and depreciation. Subaru, Toyota and Mazda are all great brands. I would recommend Toyota for its reliability, perhaps get an ex-fleet car from a dealer.

Anonymous
  • 11th Mar 2014 07:44pm

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Anonymous
  • 5th Mar 2014 11:12am

I think the important things to look for are easy access to car seat anchors, one that is not too high as lifting a baby into the car is a delicate process at least for the first couple of months. Toyota are a reliable, fairly priced car, the corolla wagon is good and has plenty of space in the back for the pram as well as the groceries!! Good Luck

JIBIE
  • 4th Mar 2014 07:52pm

by compromising find something in-between, that both party's agree on.

cuddlykoloa
  • 28th Feb 2014 06:53am

I say a Toyota carmy they can be sporty you can get station wagons in the toyota and they are so reliable to have. We have had ours for over 10 years and she has never broken down and always gets our family from a to b on time every time.

sepsqueen
  • 27th Feb 2014 11:27pm

It would have to be the new holden vf commordore.

sepsqueen
  • 27th Feb 2014 11:21pm

It would have to be the new holden vf commordore.

Anonymous
  • 23rd Feb 2014 06:30pm

Toyota Yaris. It is a nice small car and good car to start a small family. That is what my cousin has got for his small family

jjdrer
  • 15th Apr 2014 10:12pm
I would go for a station wagon, I have 2 young kids & found I need boot space. Ppl I know get 4 WD but don't have the space they need just a higher bulkier car. That would be my tip, prams, bikes,...

They are good if you only have one child but if you have another one later and both are in babyseats/booster seats they will almost fill the rear seat. Definitely no way a 3rd passenger of any size will fit in the tiny gap on the seat. Their boot isn't very big either - or the one a friend of mine had wasn't anyway. A week's shopping and baby gear needed will pretty well take up the boot.

Phyxius
  • 23rd Feb 2014 06:07pm

Honestly The one that will be the cheapest to fix. We have 8 cars and 3 bikes from BMW Mini coopers to Holden HSV and Harley Davidsons. It doesn't matter who makes it these days they will all end up with some sort of problem that needs fixing. For instant. Wesco did a simple service on the mini, we pick it up and it over heated on the way home. $3500 to replace a plastic thermo fan. If it has a computer, which they all do then I am afraid to say it will never have a mechanic work on it even in a dealership. They are all simply NEW PART FITTERS hence why they are now call Technicians as all they do is whatever a computer tells them to do and not even have the common sense to even look at what or why they are changing an expensive part. Forget about keeping up with the Jones's as they will be re mortgaging their home for the next service on their new SUV or 4X4

penszen
  • 15th Feb 2014 07:52pm

We are on our second Mitsubishi Lancer wagon - a small station wagon which is still easy to park but big enough for our family of 4. Can't fit the bikes in now the kids are bigger but can manage the summer holiday stuff fine. I'm not a fan of the big 4WDs for urban driving as they make visibility so much harder for everyone else but everyone else seems to love them. The other good contender for a small station wagons is the Toyota Corolla Ascent, our friends love theirs.

Holdfast
  • 20th Feb 2014 12:48pm
We are on our second Mitsubishi Lancer wagon - a small station wagon which is still easy to park but big enough for our family of 4. Can't fit the bikes in now the kids are bigger but can manage...

Can understand you desire to stay clear of the big SUV but one of the new Hyundai i40 seems a very adequate family vehicle with plenty of boot space, capable of pulling a small trailer for bikes,etc on holidays and is reasonably priced. The internal finishes are better than to be expected and the fuel consumption is quite reasonable.

freds1
  • 15th Feb 2014 12:36am

yep have that all the time because I grew up loving ford v8 cars my wife is a bit more concretive than that and she looks at what will keep us going long term which is the wright way to go but it still didn't take the longing for the v8 away so we came to an agreement that we would get the car that suited the family and when we got a head a bit we could get the v8 which suited both of us but the agreement has to be kept ,
but back to your question first look at price what you can afford ,rember that things happen like unexpected things happen along the way I found over the years I have found depending on the use of the car, if you have to travel a fair distance then a 6 cyl car is what you need but if you are only going to be traveling say 15/20 kays to work and shops then you can get away with a small 4cyl car but if you like to go away on the weekends then look at a ford or commodore a good second hand one of these somewhere around 10/15 thousand dollars and wont brake the bank ,if you get a 4cylender car look at a Hyundai elantra very safe and roomy but keep the services up and you will have no trouble wit it ,I hope that this has been of some help to you .

thankyou

fred

Anonymous
  • 5th Feb 2014 08:16pm

the most important things to look for in a car is its safty and fuel

Anonymous
  • 5th Feb 2014 12:13pm

It all depends on where you live, what your lifestyle is like, and your personal preferences of whether it be brand/economics/budget/car shape etc.

I bought a Hyundai Tucson before getting married as I saw it as a good family car. 5 yrs old now and have never had a problem with it. I got it as I like the SUV's but could not afford a 4WD at the time and it's a 4 cylinder and is great on fuel economy. I have never had a safety issue with it, but as we do a bit of highway driving, we are looking at finding something with more comfortable seating for long distance travel. Around town/city it is fine and a great small/medium car

Anonymous
  • 31st Jan 2014 01:58pm

Yes with a family on the way pratical is the way to go

Hol94
  • 30th Jan 2014 11:15pm

subaru liberty wagon gt, or subaru forester gt

meg
  • 22nd Jan 2014 09:51pm

I agree with Subaru, the forester is a wagon & thus is easy to load & unload strollers etc., as well as shopping. It is also 5 star safety rated. I have had mine for several years without a problem. The Impreza might also be worth considering.
Meg.

anie
  • 22nd Jan 2014 12:14pm

Which ever car you chose before buying check out the boot the madza 3 is one of the best buys but the boot space lets you down try fitting a pram in

ozziedigger
  • 22nd Jan 2014 11:04am

Without a doubt, a Volvo wagon is the best for you, depending on your finances ,a
new V50 or a 2nd hand Cross Country. You can have that special feeling of being
safe with your family tucked inside the safest family car on the road with every luxury, and your hubby can safely power on with the turbo charged proven motor and all the elect. suspension additions to power out of any trouble. The leather
seats take a lot of kids to damage them and there are 2 booster seats for the kids,
built in at the factory. No family shopping day could use all the room in the back,
and you can even camp/sleep in the back when camping.Oh, it has all wheel drive too--for mildly rough roads.
Lots of luck and i hope you fill a station wagon full of happy family .
By the way ,they are also very reliable.

Muzz411
  • 22nd Jan 2014 10:25am

I would recommend the Holden Malibu,an AUSTRALIAN car NOT something from S E ASIA; a car built for Australian & an excellent car. My son & daughter in law have twin babies & spent months researching for the best vehicle to transport their treasures.They looked at all the vehicles & the only choice was the MALIBU not some cheap S E ASIAN vehicle.The MALIBU will still be running when most of the others are dead & gone.Good luck with you upcoming arrival.
MUZZ

jjdrer
  • 24th Feb 2014 01:26pm
My parents had a similar problem with a 1967 Ford Falcon which they bought new and was still under warranty. We went away on holidays, and I don't remember which part it was attached to but a bolt...

If forgot to say that it was after the nut came off first and was no-where to be found - probably in the scrub nearby - certainly couldn't be found on the road.

jjdrer
  • 24th Feb 2014 01:03pm
I had a Holden Astra, the bolt holding the metal band around the fuel tank in place came out which left the tank being held up by the rubber filler hose on the side the band came off. local dealer...

My parents had a similar problem with a 1967 Ford Falcon which they bought new and was still under warranty. We went away on holidays, and I don't remember which part it was attached to but a bolt came undone from under the bonnet.
Bo Mobile Phones back them. A passing Motorist contacted the equivalent of the RAA in SA who came out and fixed it for us. Apparently Ford didn't want to re-imberse them because it wasn't taken to one of their dealers.
After some other incidents. when I helped my Mother buy another car we too bought another brand because Customer Service had left a lot to be desired.

chris01
  • 24th Jan 2014 10:05am
I would recommend the Holden Malibu,an AUSTRALIAN car NOT something from S E ASIA; a car built for Australian & an excellent car. My son & daughter in law have twin babies & spent months...

I had a Holden Astra, the bolt holding the metal band around the fuel tank in place came out which left the tank being held up by the rubber filler hose on the side the band came off. local dealer would not do anything until I got the car to them and all they had to do was bring me a replacement bolt. Contacted Holden and told them the problem and the just ask me what was my concerns. I know it was made overseas for Holden like most of their cars. Since the Astra problem, I never bought a Holden again, I buy Hyundai who have come a long way with their cars since the first models they had made. Now I have had no problems and good back up service.

Poppy.
  • 22nd Jan 2014 08:22am

I believe that a Subaru Forester could be ideal. The car you really need is a car for safety, 7 Air Bags, ABS etc, etc and as many safety features as possible. The only way to decide is to test drive several cars in your price range. You guys will know the right car for you after test driving a variety of vehicles. I did this 13 years ago and settled on a new Toyota Corolla Hatchback. I hope you find the right car for you and your family.

Ingi
  • 22nd Jan 2014 12:30am

I am 72 next month and we have never had a new car and unless we win some money never will. We always had old V8's, loved the burble of a V8. Had 2 kids I was 21 when we had first baby, had "Yank" tanks old cheap American cars, wide, roomy, petrol was 30 bob a gallon, I worked for 37 years and my hubby was into speedway cars, we managed, he worked, I worked because I loved working, they retired me in March 2011. Nowadays we just bought a 2002 Statesman V8, all grandkids are adults, we have 5 living, 1 died from Cot death, 1 granddaughter Adelaide and 1 coming in May. With today"s gas, petrol and diesel there are many out there to choose from brand new, you have to look at them and have a good think.

jjdrer
  • 27th Feb 2014 06:08pm
No Blossom, we raced at Trafalgar Speedway and between Morwell and Traralgon, went to watch at Brooklyn (in Melbourne) and Nyora in South Gippsland. Our son, grandsons, daughter raced about 7 years...

You are right there. When my brother was racing in circuit racing in the 1970s it cost about $200.00 to $300.00 to buy race suit, helmet, leather shoes, fireproof underwear and balaklava. You would be lucky to buy fireproof safety racing boots for that now. His suit was also rinsed in Calgon mixture to remove any laundry soap powder. The last I heard a few years ago their suit alone was about $1000.00. My 2 cousins only raced at Rowley Park Speedway. The guy he has part time pit crew for went down to Mt. Gambier and into western Vic. a few times. He stopped doing it as he runs his own business + was doing a bit of circuit racing at the time. It became to stressful trying to manage everything all the time. You also have to have a specialised medical with your GP on a st time basis (I can't remember how often) More expense.

Ingi
  • 25th Feb 2014 12:18am
Interesting ! How long ago was your husband into speedway cars and was it at Rowley Park in Adelaide.?? I have 2 cousins who raced at Rowley Park. My brother was part of a pit crew for a guy at...

No Blossom, we raced at Trafalgar Speedway and between Morwell and Traralgon, went to watch at Brooklyn (in Melbourne) and Nyora in South Gippsland. Our son, grandsons, daughter raced about 7 years ago then gave it up, became too expensive, when we raced it was for fun and did not cost the earth lol.

jjdrer
  • 24th Feb 2014 12:52pm
I am 72 next month and we have never had a new car and unless we win some money never will. We always had old V8's, loved the burble of a V8. Had 2 kids I was 21 when we had first baby, had "Yank"...

Interesting ! How long ago was your husband into speedway cars and was it at Rowley Park in Adelaide.?? I have 2 cousins who raced at Rowley Park. My brother was part of a pit crew for a guy at Speedway Park out at Virginia.

Nor4
  • 22nd Jan 2014 12:00am

Well I have a benz now but when my twins were little we always had Toyotas - for their price, you can't go past them for comfort, safety and cheap to repair or service. Agree with you - something practical not sporty. Station Wagons are great when you have kids. Good luck

Jarad
  • 21st Jan 2014 11:27pm

I think any Volvo wagon made after the year 2000 would be a good family car especially being a big wagon and Volvo's are known as the safest built cars in the world and I know that by experience, I was in a accident with one and the only damage on the Volvo was some paint and a few scratches and my car, well the whole front was smashed in, I couldn't believe how much damage my car had taken compared to the Volvo which had no damage, I bumped of the Volvo like it was a rock...
So I say Volvo's are a safe solid car.

jjdrer
  • 24th Feb 2014 01:11pm
Hmm... Not so safe. "You canna change the laws of physics" to paraphrase a quote from Star Trek. If the Volvo came to a stop with almost no outer damage then occupants came to exactly same...

The later cars aren't so safe either. If there is impact and the driver of your car doesn't apply the brakes the belts won't hold you as firm as they did in the plder cars.
It took a pretty hard hit to dent an older model style Volvo.
BMW are to be a safe sturdy car - if you don't get a new lemon. Friends bought one and the steering/suspension was terrible. It spent more time at the Dealer's than home and they couldn't get it right. THey ended up trading it in on a new Commodore and they reckoned it was a dream to drive compared to the BMW

jaguar
  • 21st Jan 2014 11:42pm
I think any Volvo wagon made after the year 2000 would be a good family car especially being a big wagon and Volvo's are known as the safest built cars in the world and I know that by experience, I...

Hmm... Not so safe. "You canna change the laws of physics" to paraphrase a quote from Star Trek. If the Volvo came to a stop with almost no outer damage then occupants came to exactly same sudden stop and whiplash damage would likely have occurred. If your car had a great deal of outer crumple without much bending of the inner passenger cell then a great deal of the crash energy went into bending the crumple zone allowing your body to decelerate at a much slower rate and protected you from damage. Modern design requires this progressive crumple zone construction to pass approval to sell and license. The better the crumple zone the higher the AMCAP safety star rating. Bottom line, yes Volvo is a very safe construction crumple zone car unless we are talking about an ancient one.

jjdrer
  • 21st Jan 2014 08:46pm

There aare practicalities to take into account. Are you planning on having more than 2 or more children ? You need to take into account the width and shape of the back seat. Friends of ours have 3 children - 2 in booster seats and 1 in babyseat.
They have a Commodore which is a few years old. The seats...just...fit. There are almost touching. Where you buy a station wagon or 4WD make sure it has or install a strong cargo barrier (with very narrow gaps in it) to prevent objects moving forward if you brake, go around corners, are forced to swerve or are involved in an accident. Some small cars fit 2 car seats across what is supposed to be seating for 3 people. My nephew has a great little Ford Prius. It was very economical to run and quite sporty in some ways as it had so many standard accessories such as extra storage, drink holders etc. But..it was impossible for even a small bodied 3rd passenger to fit on the back seat as the booster seat took up part of the centre space. The babyseat just fitted in single space. You should be looking for safety before thinking about sporty. I would not even consider a 2 door or a car that is hatch-back. It is too hard to retrieve a passenger of any age from the back of a 2 door, especially in an emergency. A relative of mine found that very difficult when she had a mechanical breakdown and had to get her toddler out in a hurry. It is not that easy to get in and out of the back anyway. Many people with children requiring child restraints (anchors are already in cars) do not consider them safe. I know of several families who refuse to have hatchbacks for safety reasons. The covers that "hide" articles placed in some hatchbacks are not very strong at all. Relatives of mine have a Holden Commodore - Berlina (I think it is a 2006 model). They currently heave a babyseat and a good quality booster seat on the back seat. A large framed person would find it impossible to fit between the 2 childrens' seats. An average width person just fits.

Anonymous
  • 23rd Feb 2014 08:40pm
There aare practicalities to take into account. Are you planning on having more than 2 or more children ? You need to take into account the width and shape of the back seat. Friends of ours have 3...

I agree Blossom! The safety of your child is also an important aspect in regards to your purchasing your vehicle. You need the safety of enough room for the babyseats, pram, baby bag and for parents to put their child in and out of the car as well as the safety of the vehicle. I think the i30 is an awesome car but you would have to take into account what other than the babyseat would you be using the backseat for as there is not a lot of room in the back! Other than that I really don't think you can go wrong, it's an all over great car! Economical, comfortable, affordable, fantastic to drive and suitable for both male and female!

jaguar
  • 21st Jan 2014 06:59pm

G'day Anna,
4 doors is way better for getting kids in and out of back. About only 'comfortable' one down near cheap end that has 4 doors with enough leg room for an average non Asian adult to sit comfortable behind another similar size adult in front seat, a full height rear interior that has a lot of space and also was best/safest awarded car for several years is the Hyundai i30 station wagon. We sat in/test drove all the competition short of 50% higher cost before buying to suit new grand daughter and are very satisfied 4 years down the track. It is not a slouch off the mark but do not challenge the likes of the WRX and similar which will smoke everything else (and lack enough interior space of course :-) ).
Cheers.

Kayleen
  • 8th Jun 2014 08:22pm
G'day again Blossom,
Something to remember if you are ever caught inside in an accident. Front windscreens are very strong in resisting forces from outside the car but very weak against forces...

I bought a Mazda 3 neo hatch and it's great, quite spacious, easy to drive. I have done two road trips and it drove beautifully

jjdrer
  • 22nd Jan 2014 08:08am
Hmm... As all cars these days have electric locking, luxury ones even have keyless, so the scenario you paint is universal for new cars it would seem you should buy one at least 30 years old. I...

Structure wise the some of the older cars are better than the new cars. The doors didn't crumple in as far. My brother is a motor vehicle recovery driver who witnessed the recovery operation process used by emergency crews forcing the door of a car which had lost control and hit a tree. Forcing the door open at the point it is normally opened, the middle section of it went inwards which resulted in more injury to the passenger's left leg. Had they allowed the car to be pulled away from the tree a metre or so they would have been able to open the door from a different angle. There was other professionals present who were of the same opinion. The same thing happened at a Car Rally. The Doctors in attendance (they always have at least one accident trauma doctor at Motorsport events. If he is late for any reason, the event doesn't start until he does so. The same applies to ambulances and rescue crews). My brother is one of a few volunteers who do motorsport recovery in SA and and has never had a complaint that he has damaged a car more than it already was, even if it had lost a wheel opr was a write-off. He also has a specific Accident First Aid Certificate so that he can help the medical staff to a degree. He wanted to do so one night when he found a car which had run into a bus stop and was bleeding internally. He wanted to help turn the person onto his side because he could hear the patient struggling not to choke on his own blood but the Police wouldn't let him. When the Ambulance arrived the first thing they said to the Police "why didn't you put him in recovery position" The patient was conscious and had said his back was OK. Much longer and the patient would have died at the scene. He made a full recovery in Hospital.

jaguar
  • 22nd Jan 2014 02:20am
How many people carry screwdrivers inside their car? I would never have of storing one in the glovebox. If you can't open your door, you could need one to break it from the inside or you have to...

G'day again Blossom,
Something to remember if you are ever caught inside in an accident. Front windscreens are very strong in resisting forces from outside the car but very weak against forces from inside. While sitting on the seat recline it a little and place both feet (leave shoes on) on windscreen and push hard. Even a weak older lady will have enough strength to push the screen out the front. Screen is not worth as much as your life so do break it rather than wait for rescue if there is a risk to your life. If ever you get a screen cracked and replaced watch the repairer because that is how they will remove the old one - if not already in bits it will crack all over the place as it is pushed out. Because screens are weak in that way they are always stored and transported upright on an edge so they do not break under their own weight. Yes scrambling out through the windscreen hole could be a bit of a job but in an emergency I am sure most people could accomplish it if their life was at stake.

jjdrer
  • 22nd Jan 2014 12:26am
Hmm... As all cars these days have electric locking, luxury ones even have keyless, so the scenario you paint is universal for new cars it would seem you should buy one at least 30 years old. I...

How many people carry screwdrivers inside their car? I would never have of storing one in the glovebox. If you can't open your door, you could need one to break it from the inside or you have to wait for emergency services to arrive, very dsangerous in warm or hot weather. In country areas it can be too late by the time somebody finds you and emergency services arrive.They usually use equipment (jaw of life) to jemmy cars open. Be it a door, roof or bonnet. In country areas some of the Ambulance Officers were trained to use them on wrecked cars at a dump. That is how my uncle learnt to use them. It is an offense not to wear a seat belt. My Dad had seat belts fitted in our cars as soon as they were available. Before Baby Capsules were invented my brother worked out a way of fitting extra belts etc. to hold his baby daughter's carry basket in position in both his family car and for the grandparents in case of an emergency. It has always been safety first in our family, Having seen somebody else car catch fire, we even had a fire extinguisher in our car, professionally fitted in a carrier bolted to floor in the passenger's side. Fortunately we never needed it.

jaguar
  • 21st Jan 2014 11:30pm
In an accident and a person in the front is trapped it may be impossible them to open the rear doors or smash a window. I know of police officers and other emergency service personell who have...

Hmm... As all cars these days have electric locking, luxury ones even have keyless, so the scenario you paint is universal for new cars it would seem you should buy one at least 30 years old. I really like the window winding handles on my past cars but even mechanical handles/locks are easily damaged and can become inoperative in a crash. All modern windows will submit to a long heavy screwdriver levered in any edge to break the glass (without striking it hard and causing glass to splinter off with force into interior) - usual very rapid method of 'thief' entry before they disable alarm and hotwire it. Rescue/ambulance officers are very aware of the ways to get in a crashed car. Other sporty one I drive besides the Hyundai is a 1967 E-Type Jaguar without any modern electric/electronic gizmos :-) . Safety Council advice and RAC and vehicle manufacturer advice has always been wear belts and lock doors from inside while driving as it is safer for occupants not to get thrown out or have body parts projecting through windows or door openings and broken off in an accident or indeed bits of trees or other vehicle enter the car (and stops hijacking at traffic lights etc.).

jjdrer
  • 21st Jan 2014 11:04pm
Both. There is a mechanical lever in the door itself in area where door closes that disables the inside but not outside handle in each rear door. There is a button on drivers door rest that...

In an accident and a person in the front is trapped it may be impossible them to open the rear doors or smash a window. I know of police officers and other emergency service personell who have attended accidents who have had to jemmy open doors rather than smash windows because of possibility of eye and other injury to passengers. If the motor doesn't shut itself down the doors are still locked. The glass in cars is tempered and quite strong. You have to be able to hit it pretty hard and at the right angle to shatter and break it. A few years ago I was shown a car that had been rolled over but the glass in the doors wasn't broken, and what is more the occupants had only minor injuries. Considerring the condition of the car, the Police and Ambulance crews reckoned it was a miracle.

jaguar
  • 21st Jan 2014 09:14pm
Do you mean catches in the rear doors you can "lock" in position manually ?? Or electrically ? Bear in mind that if a car is involved in an accident or part of the "electrics" fail nobody will be...

Both. There is a mechanical lever in the door itself in area where door closes that disables the inside but not outside handle in each rear door. There is a button on drivers door rest that locks/unlocks all doors electrically. They operate independently. With the mechanical latch only on lock you can get in back but not out with normal door handles. With electrically locked you cannot get in or out with door handles till driver electrically releases it. Clear as mud? Basically this system is standard in most cars of any significance today, including auto locking of all doors electrically without any input from occupants several minutes after car is put in gear and starts moving. Electrically fail safe so if electric supply fails the latches become electrically unlocked and inside lock lever can be moved by hand. In that case if the child lever in rear door(s) is set locked the child still cannot get out but anyone outside can get in. Any adult in rear locked in in such a circumstance could easily reach forward and open a front door, climb out and then open rear door. If the bad event caused a rear door window to break it would be easy to reach out the hole and open the door.

jjdrer
  • 21st Jan 2014 08:16pm
Oh, forgot to mention driver can set rear doors to child proof so they cannot get out without driver releasing the doors. There is a cargo blind cover over rear up to bottom of hatch window that...

Do you mean catches in the rear doors you can "lock" in position manually ?? Or electrically ? Bear in mind that if a car is involved in an accident or part of the "electrics" fail nobody will be exit via the rear doors at all. There can also be a safety issue with windows in an accident or mechanical breakdown.

jaguar
  • 21st Jan 2014 07:14pm
G'day Anna,
4 doors is way better for getting kids in and out of back. About only 'comfortable' one down near cheap end that has 4 doors with enough leg room for an average non Asian adult to...

Oh, forgot to mention driver can set rear doors to child proof so they cannot get out without driver releasing the doors. There is a cargo blind cover over rear up to bottom of hatch window that both restrains and hides stuff under it that comes standard. I have made up a steel frame with a mesh cover and 6 long steel rods that slide down into the headrest holes in the back of the seat to further restrain items in the back (seat would fail first). Main function is isolate the cat which often travels in the back on holiday trips, do not need the headrests till kids heads are higher than top of back seat of course. Carrying adults can just lift out the 6 rods and replace barrier with rests in around 2 minutes.

dfkirk
  • 21st Jan 2014 04:59pm

Volvo V40

tobytinribs
  • 20th Jan 2014 10:56pm

I have a Hyundai i30 tourer - they have heaps of room in the back seat with enough leg room for adults, they are a station wagon with plenty of room for prams, travel cots etc and come with cargo nets etc if you need them.
They are a small car but have sooooo much room in them. They will suit your family for many years to come.

GJ
  • 20th Jan 2014 06:33pm

Hi this depends on weather u need car for private or going to use for work or maybe more children as u can have both I believe the best car is something like the Kia Carnivale xtrail or Honda crv gives u acess for kids is a little bit sporty and has room for prams shopping tolls golf cart etc and most inportant is 5 star safety rated

Dakey
  • 20th Jan 2014 05:15pm

I would reccamend a Rav4 anyday , It is a stationwagon and has plenty of room.great safety and excellant resale value.They do look really sporty as well maybe with a stripe on the side.They even come with a sunroof and diesal models as well as great on fuel usage

forestgrump
  • 25th Mar 2014 07:09pm
I would reccamend a Rav4 anyday , It is a stationwagon and has plenty of room.great safety and excellant resale value.They do look really sporty as well maybe with a stripe on the side.They even...

RAV4's are no longer the viable option. Even the base model is getting pricey.
Not everyone is on FIFO wages. Suzuki Swift, sporty, cheap to run and a load of fun to boot. RACWA says they rarely get calls for them

col
  • 21st Jan 2014 03:15pm
I would reccamend a Rav4 anyday , It is a stationwagon and has plenty of room.great safety and excellant resale value.They do look really sporty as well maybe with a stripe on the side.They even...

Spot on Gracie. We have had Toyotas (currently a Yaris YRS) since our first 1976 Celica which did 230,000 miles with only an exhaust replacement and 1 valve spring. It did 5.5 -6 litres per 100km with the air cond. flat out in the northwest. Having sold spares for all types I know that overall the cost of mtce. is very economical.

summer
  • 21st Jan 2014 08:09am
I would reccamend a Rav4 anyday , It is a stationwagon and has plenty of room.great safety and excellant resale value.They do look really sporty as well maybe with a stripe on the side.They even...

depends on cost, we have a holden captiva diesel and love it, go for practicality rather on sporty, anyway, in a few years you will most likely get a second car, then let him have the sporty type. Meanwhile, you need the space for prams etc.

vernissage
  • 17th Jan 2014 07:09pm

We had a VW Polo: small zippy sporty. It's a Tardis. It fitted us well for 2 kids. It's safe, efficient and with a good power to weight ratio, it feels sporty. Most driving to be honest is single occupant, but a Polo served us well going away for weekends packed with all the baby stuff.
Good luck and enjoy a wonderful time of your lives.
Neville

david
  • 17th Nov 2016 05:23pm
only if it is a Korean built one as the holden plant could not get their act together etc.using Korean dies

bought this year new new ford suv has good passenger space.no boot,but a door which opens to theright.has a lot of spave for shopping etc made in china,have had 1 recall parts had to come from china took 4 weeks to fix.ford did gives us a car for that period,have had no trouble since

George
  • 11th Apr 2015 01:47pm
get a holden cruze sedan; station wagons allow objects to fly around. The Subaru is not necessary and likes the fuel. You can't trust VW - too many people I know have complained about them and they...

only if it is a Korean built one as the holden plant could not get their act together etc.using Korean dies

gdtrue
  • 20th Jan 2014 05:12pm
We had a VW Polo: small zippy sporty. It's a Tardis. It fitted us well for 2 kids. It's safe, efficient and with a good power to weight ratio, it feels sporty. Most driving to be honest is single...

get a holden cruze sedan; station wagons allow objects to fly around. The Subaru is not necessary and likes the fuel. You can't trust VW - too many people I know have complained about them and they are a lot more expensive than the cruze.

Jeeves01
  • 17th Jan 2014 04:58pm

Subaru Forester...safe,reliable,good resale and with the constant AWD they are REALLY safe in the wet. Go and drive one...it's the only way to find out.

Anonymous
  • 29th Mar 2014 10:17pm
Subaru Forester...safe,reliable,good resale and with the constant AWD they are REALLY safe in the wet. Go and drive one...it's the only way to find out.

I agree.. we loved our Subaru Forester. fantastic safety rating, resale and great to drive. We only sold last year as we were needing more leg space in the back. (have a tall 7 yr old and as we still put her in a large booster, was a tight fit if an extra passenger needed to sit in back...we also have a 3yr old in a booster seat. We traded in on a Ford xr6,(a big mitsibishi pajero out of our financial reach for now)..its roomier for the kids at this stage.
Also worth adding how easy to park in the Forester as it isn't as wide as most sedans or long as station wagons.. Loved it and highly recommended.

Brad
  • 20th Jan 2014 08:31pm
Subaru Forester...safe,reliable,good resale and with the constant AWD they are REALLY safe in the wet. Go and drive one...it's the only way to find out.

Great cars, but we've found servicing at dealerships expensive. Our three cars (Honda, Toyota and Subaru) are all great vehicles, but the Subaru Forester has some nice little refinements which make one ask: "Why don't other manufacturers do this?" Will our next car be another Subaru? If so, we'll buy it from a dealer further afield, hoping that our local dealer is an exception to the rule.

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