Top 10 features to look for when buying a new family car on the Sunshine Coast

Top 10 features to look for when buying a new family car on the Sunshine Coast

The excitement of buying a new car can sometimes distract you of the important things to look for when deciding what vehicle will best suite you and your families needs. The top 10 features to keep in mind are:

1. Safety Rating

Firstly, the most important feature of a family vehicle is the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme (ANCAP) safety rating. This organisation performs a robust series of universally recognised crash tests on new to market vehicles, which are carried out by independent and specialised laboratories to determine each vehicles safety rating. Choosing a vehicle with a 5 star ANCAP rating is the best way to know that you and your loved ones are as protected as you can be.

2. Enough room and sufficient anchor points for baby/car seats

A commonly overlooked aspect of choosing the right family car is whether or not your baby seat can be easily and safely installed. And the amount of room in the back seat as well as the height of the vehicle has a lot to do with it. If you already own a car seat, a good tip is to bring it along when car shopping so you can see if it is the right car for your needs. As for access, you want to be able to install and remove the car seat without straining your back or (and perhaps more importantly) waking the little passenger. 

3. Storage and space

Whether it’s room for prams and baby bags or bikes and sports equipment, the constant logistical struggle of moving a family from A to B has to be considered when choosing the right family car. Flexible flat-fold down seating as well as roof racks can be the key to keeping your sanity when trying to fit little humans and all of the “extra baggage” that comes with them into one vehicle quickly. Flexible seating is also great to keep the kids out of each other’s hair on long road trips.

4. Smart entry and start system

Juggling the kids, shopping trolley and heavy bags of groceries becomes a lot easier with the smart entry and start system, which allows you to unlock and start the car while the key remains in your pocket or bag. That’s one less thing you have to try locate when your hands are full!

5. Built-in Entertainment

To keep the tribe quiet on long trips, rear seat entertainment systems are a blessing from above. Blu-Ray and DVD players with wireless headsets really will be your best friend.  

6. Multi zone climate control air-conditioning

Keeping you and the little ones all at the right temperature can be a tricky job. But with multi zone climate control they can adjust their own air-conditioning and heating temperature so everybody is happy.

7. Lane Departure Alert/ Pre-Collision Safety system/ Active Cruise Control

Keep your family safe on the road with an extra set of eyes. These safety features will:

• Stop you from accidentally entering into another lane
• Monitor your blind spot
• Alert you of upcoming threats
• Keep a constant distance between vehicles while using cruise control

8. Front and rear parking sensors

When trying to manoeuvre and park your car in tight spaces with the distraction of children wanting to get out of the car, some assistance from reversing camera, front and rear sensors can save you from unwanted contact with walls or rails (especially if you are driving a larger SUV).

9. Window Tint

We are blessed on the Sunshine Coast to have such long hot summers. However, protecting your family from too much UV is extremely important. A good quality window tint is good for:

• Maximising visibility
• Reducing glare
• Protecting your eyes and skin from UV damage, and
• Keeping the cabin (and your little ones) cooler.

10. Satellite navigation

This one is a no brainer. Just enter in the kids friends address and you will be on your way without having to reply on their memory and sense of direction.

Family cars on the Sunshine Coast

If you would like to chat to one of our team about finding the best family car for you, simply click here. If you would like to check out Sunshine Toyota’s current stock click here. To find out more about window tinting your vehicle click here.