When it comes to choosing a car for the family, there is often a lot to consider, especially as you find yourself having to suit several requirements in such a search!

You may consider such a car as this the family lifeline whereby it’s used for school runs, supermarkets trips, family holidays and even a taxi service! It is therefore vital you buy the right car that will allow you to do all of this in comfort.

Getting the Best Family Car for Your Money:

• Cost to Purchase: The biggest factor here is the amount you can choose to spend. There’s no denying that due to the more significant sizes of family cars, they are not always as cheap as a standard car, especially if you find yourself having to go by seat numbers and opt for people carriers. Work out what you can realistically afford to spend before you begin your search.
• Running Costs: Once again, the bigger the family car, the more likelihood of having to spend more than the average car on fuel. It is a good idea to look at how many miles you get to the gallon with each vehicle you look at. While bigger cars are efficient when it comes to long-distance runs, they are not as good when it comes to driving around the local areas, particularly where you need to stop and start many times.
• Maintenance Costs: With the more prominent family car comes a bigger maintenance responsibility. Tires may be bigger sized and cost more and the wear and tear may be costlier than your average It pays to scrutinize the potential running costs of each model before making that final decision, as what may seem a good buy now, may become one of the most expensive to maintain a few months down the line.
• Engine Size: Once again, the bigger the car, the bigger the engine size and this will influence insurance and tax purposes, increasing those overall costs after the buying process.
• Petrol or Diesel: This may be a personal preference, but it should be based on the type of driving you intend to take with the family car. If you know you will be putting on high mileage on the car, and traveling further afield regularly, then a diesel car is more suited for this purpose. The problem here is usually at the purchasing part; diesel is likely to be costlier, as well as when filling up at the pumps.
• Storage Space: A family car ultimately must have enough space to make the journey comfortable for all who travel in it. The more space, the better here! If you have smaller children and need car seats fitting, make sure the car has enough seating space to accommodate this as well as then having leftover room for those members of the family who must sit next to these car seats and still buckle up. Additionally, the bigger the family, the more stuff is accumulated. Are there reasonable storage compartments to hold the basics?
• Air-Conditioning: While many cars will have this as standard, not all do and more so the older of vehicles. This is a big point to factor in if you have children, especially if there are a few of you in the car. You may be buying it in winter, and think nothing of it then, but imagine the intensity of sitting in a car with no air-con in the extreme midst of the summer sun.
• Additional Features: Sometimes those all-important extra features that come with a car can be a lifesaver when it comes to family cars.

Cruise Control: A useful feature for those long journeys.

Built in Sat Nav: Essential for some, is it standard or optional in your car choice?

A Sunroof: Not essential but helps to make the car brighter and airier.

Bluetooth: A useful feature, usually in most equipped vehicles.

Additional Sockets/USB Ports: These days with so many of us using electronics in the car, it is a great idea to have a facility to charge such items, so the journeys run much smoother as a result!