Are you in the market for a new car for your growing family? It makes sense to update your set of wheels as your family grows – but with our crowded auto market offering a wide variety of makes and models, there are just so many options to consider. It can be hard to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes time to upgrade your car.

That’s why we’ve prepared this helpful article, so you can easily select from Australia’s best family cars and find a ride that melds perfectly with your household and your shared lifestyle needs.

Here are a few car shopping strategies to help you get the best value from your next vehicle purchase.

Consider a Used Car

Even though you may be on a strict budget, this doesn’t necessarily mean you should have to skimp when it comes to safety and reliability. For families looking for a safe, kid-friendly vehicle, you always have the option to invest strategically in a lightly used secondhand car. With Australia’s secondhand vehicle market currently booming, families have oodles of options to grab vehicles with a higher ANCAP safety rating at more competitive price points.

With a relatively new used car, you should still rest assured that you have some years left on the manufacturer’s warranty period as well, which guarantees that your car will be repaired for free for any major or minor mechanical malfunctions, which is another excellent benefit of buying a used vehicle.

Pro tip: if the model you’re interested in still isn’t available at your preferred price point, you can take advantage of used car financing options to keep your purchase even more sustainable and aligned with your household budget.

You may even be able to find an ex-showroom model, or one that’s only been used for test drives, ensuring that you’ve grabbed a basically new car for a significant discount on the ticket price.

Look at Cabin Space, Boot Space, & Storage

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of huge SUVs or bulky, boxy station wagons, there’s no denying that one of the most important features of a family car is its available space, and we’re not just talking about storage space but also passenger legroom and cabin space as well. Why is this important, you might ask? Well, try a four-hour road trip on the school holidays with the whole family packed into a cramped car. It’s no fun for anyone at all, from the little kids bored in the back to the kidults trying to drive in the front.

Ideally, your new family car should offer room to move. You may want to look for a car with ample boot space that can fit everything the family needs to carry around, and ensure that your car’s storage space can be neatly organised for easy storage when on the move. Think of all those things like school bags, sports bags, groceries, and all the other various items that you inevitably need to carry around each day as you juggle a busy family life.

As well as boot space, cabin space is equally important. The kids are less likely to argue and bicker if they have some leg room to themselves, and it’s vital that the parents feel cozy and comfortable in their front seats as well!

Evaluate Vehicle Safety Features

The next feature to keep in mind when shopping for your next family car is the vehicle’s safety rating and available safety features. Ideally, you’ll want the highest ANCAP safety rating possible for your next family car purchase. This will give you peace of mind that your growing family will be protected in the unlikely event of an accident.

Furthermore, it’s imperative that you look for the safety features that come as standard features with each car on your shopping shortlist. Ideally, the vehicles you select should all have ABS braking systems, airbags around the car, lane drift detection, and reversing cameras as a starting point for growing families.

Alongside these built-in and software-based safety features, consider the structural integrity of the vehicle and the security of its cabin space. It’s also well worth assessing how a booster seat might be installed safely in the cabin space when assessing all the different vehicles in your shortlist.

Assess Fuel Consumption and Economy

Aside from the initial purchase price and vehicle insurance, fuel is usually the most expensive aspect of owning a motor vehicle. Filling up each week as you do the grocery or daycare run can hit the hip pocket pretty roughly, especially if a car has bad fuel economy.

Fuel economy is a rating of how much fuel your vehicle consumes per 100 kilometres. Ideally, a low consumption per this distance is ideal for your next car for your growing family. After all, how many other random expenses do you have with the rising cost of living? Probably a decent amount, and saving some money at the pump means that the saved dollars go right back into the family’s monthly budget.

Families are encouraged to look for vehicles with decent fuel economy. Evaluating unbiased third-party reviews and consumer reports can help you better determine what manufacturer claims hold water, and what claims fall short.

Do your Own Independent Research Before Buying

Keep in mind, however, that not all market reports are unbiased – this is why it’s essential to do your own independent research online. Often, internet message boards, Facebook groups, or platforms such as Reddit will have anecdotal evidence of safety features, fuel consumption, and other operational factors for the make and model you’re considering. All savvy spenders are aware that this anecdotal evidence must never be underestimated or ignored.

Pro tip: you might want to get all your facts in order by making a spreadsheet of all the different models you’re considering buying. This spreadsheet can also be utilised to see how all of the shortlisted models rate against each other in terms of stated and reported fuel consumption. This systematic approach to finding your next family vehicle can definitely help make your decision-making process faster and easier.

Find the Right Vehicle for your Family

Be sure to keep these top car shopping strategies in mind when finding the right vehicle to get your growing family wherever they need to be. With a systematic approach to your car shopping process, you can better ensure that your next vehicle literally ticks all the boxes, and supports you in keeping your family safe and secure on the road.