You care about your family’s safety on and off the road, so make sure your first family car purchase passes all safety checks — and also has features you need for a comfortable ride. From wagons to sedans, you can find several vehicles that provide just a little extra security and better handling for those heavier loads. Enjoy some peace of mind on that next family road trip, rides to soccer practice, and when running errands by picking out a safe and affordable vehicle. Here’s a roundup of your safest bets for your first family car:
SUV: 2016 Honda Pilot
When you’re planning on taking large groups of kids to school, on a day trip, or on vacation, you’ll need a safe and reliable SUV to accommodate the larger party. The 2016 Honda Pilot fits the bill with ABS brakes and an anti-theft system. It’s a great match for larger families who want comfortable seats and plenty of leg room for those longer rides. This SUV features third row seats and fold down rear seats if you need to accommodate for bigger items, such as bikes, suitcases, and musical instruments.
Compact Car: 2015 Kia Soul
If you want something compact and efficient — but don’t want to compromise on safety — the 2015 Kia Soul could be your best match. A good fit for smaller families, this car has deluxe features, including heated and cooled seats, a sun roof, and a premium sound system. You can also make use of fold down rear seats for extra space and enjoy easy maneuvering with the ABS brakes system and FWD. The car also has its own anti-theft system.
Sedan: 2014 Chevrolet Malibu
A smooth ride and high ratings on crash test scores makes the 2014 Chevrolet Malibu a great pick for a first family car. It’s a solid, midsize family sedan that can accommodate up to five passengers. It also has fold down rear seats if you need to carry some extra cargo for a road trip or longer ride. It boasts 16.30 cubic feat of cargo volume and is equipped with ABS brakes and an anti-theft system. It’s a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission with overdrive options, which could provide a safer and smoother ride compared to manual transmission vehicles on the market.
Minivan: 2016 Honda Odyssey
If you’re in the market for a minivan with all the bells and whistles, set your eye on the 2016 Honda Odyssey EX-L. This vehicle can accommodate eight passengers and is designed with third row seats, fold down rear seats, and power rear and side doors. It’s also outfitted with a lane departure warning for extra safety. Boasting 38.40 cubic feat of cargo volume, this minivan provides plenty of extra space for storing sporting gear, camping equipment, and luggage.
Wagon: 2016 Subaru Outback
A station wagon offers the benefit of extra space in the trunk and a spacious interior. The 2016 Subaru Outback 2.5i is no different and provides several advanced safety features, including lane departure intervention and automatic crash notification via the Subaru Starlink system. It’s an all-wheel drive, midsize wagon with better fuel economy than other models of years past. You’ll also enjoy features including voice controls, a sunroof in the 2.5i Premium version, and adaptive cruise control with Subaru’s EyeSight system.
Finding your ideal first family car can be a challenge, but there are several makes and models that provide more safety features than others — and are easy on your budget.
