Choosing a Car for a Family That Loves to Road Trip | #CP

Are you a family who like a road trip? If you love driving across the country and the continent, or even just like going for a drive at the weekend, having the right car for all the family is important. You all need to be comfortable, and the car needs to be capable of exploring all the types of terrain that you like to discover. When you're in the market for a new car, it makes sense to take into account all of the factors that will make a good vehicle for your road trips. Here's what you should be looking at.

Make Sure There's Plenty of Space

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Firstly, you can't have a family road trip in a cramped car. You need enough space for everyone, preferably with some legroom. If you have younger children, you will need enough space to car seats. Getting three seats into one car can be especially challenging. Plus, if you want to take any four-legged friends along with you, you will need enough space in the boot or perhaps an extra seat. And that's before you get to your luggage. Remember that there is always the option of a roof box or even a small trailer to help carry your stuff.

Focus on Safety and Reliability

When you're choosing a family car, safety is always going to be important. It's even more important if you want to drive long distances and if you're considering some more challenging terrain. Start checking safety of cars by paying attention to the Euro NCAP ratings, which provide lots of information about safety features. Considering buying a used car? Be sure to pick somewhere like Belmont Autos so that you know all cars have been thoroughly checked for safety. Used cars can be very reliable, but it's best to buy them from a reputable seller.

Look for Off-road If You Like Adventures

Some road tripping families will stick to main roads that are reasonably well-maintained. Others want to seek adventure and perhaps explore some country roads, back roads or even completely off-road. If you're an adventurous family, a car with off-road capabilities is perfect. SUV-style cars tend to have more space anyway, which makes them perfect for a family and all of their stuff. Four-wheel drive can be safer too, giving you plenty of control. You might also want to consider other conditions you expect to drive in, whether it's driving at night or through rain, wind and snow.

Think About the Future

Don't forget to consider your future needs. For one thing, are you expecting your family to grow at all? Whether you think there could be another child added to the mix or maybe a dog, having enough space for everyone is important. You should also consider what sort of travelling you might want to do and how your needs might change as your children get older.

If you're a family that loves to road trip, you need a car that's up to the job. Look for a vehicle that's going to keep you all comfortable, wherever you choose to go.

Karl Young

Part-time daddy and lifestyle blogger. Father of 2 boys under 2. Golfer, scare-fan, tea-lover, traveller, squash and poker player. I write on the @HuffPostUK http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/karl-young/

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