Choosing Your First Family Car: The Top Features to Prioritize for Peace of Mind

When it’s time to buy your first family car, the best opening move is to select a trustworthy dealership. Before you go there, however, know your priorities beforehand.

Here we lay the groundwork for you as you seek the ideal family vehicle. Understanding a few key considerations will make your choice smarter and easier.

Safety Is Your First Consideration

For a family car, vehicle safety means children’s safety. You and your spouse matter as well, but ensuring your kids are okay in the event there is a collision, or other mishap is where the first family car focus starts.

A family-friendly vehicle must be sturdy. Luckily, Canadian cars must meet Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to be sold in our markets. Knowing the basic vehicle safety equipment will help you get the specific vehicle you need:

LATCH Systems

LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. For babies and smaller toddlers, this is a method that anchors child safety seats without using seat belts. It may be rear-facing or forward-facing.

Seat Belts

The number of seatbelts in the vehicle determines how many passengers you can have. Most cars have five seat belts. If you intend to have a larger family, then a many-seated vehicle like a people carrier may be the best choice.

Airbags

Some Canadian cars have airbags in the rear seats, depending on the model and manufacturer. If this is important to you, inform your dealer so he can direct you to the right vehicles.

Reliability Is Essential

Your car can be comfortable, safe, and durable, but it won’t matter much if it occasionally won’t start or needs pricey repairs. Both issues pose risks to your family’s well-being: not having a reliable car is stressful, and costly repairs can take a toll on your household budget.

Here are some vehicular concerns to have when thinking reliability:

·       Infotainment System: Kids quickly get used to these systems. If it stops working, they won’t hesitate to let you know how much they miss it.

·       Fuel Economy: With rising gas prices, your car shouldn’t be burning through more fuel than necessary.

·       Brake Issues: Stay informed about what’s required to properly maintain your car brakes.

·       Transmission Problems: Pay close attention to how your car’s warranty covers transmission issues.

·       Engine Issues: Be clear about which engine problems are covered by your warranty.

Most reliability issues are covered in the car’s warranty.

Warranties Tell You the Important Things

Dealerships must offer a completely honest warranty. They have no legal recourse except to honour it. That’s why you should follow this Golden Rule of car shopping:

Trust the Salesman Who Sees the Vehicle Warranty as a Selling Feature!

An excellent warranty is only offered on cars so good they won’t require maintenance in most circumstances. 

Purchase Your First Family Vehicle at Kross Mitsubishi!

We’re located in Edmonton, Alberta, and our vehicles are among the most reliable in the automotive industry!

A new Mitsubishi comes with a 10-year/160,000km powertrain limited warranty. We also offer additional warranty packages to meet your needs. Contact us today so we can get you into one of our safe and reliable vehicles.