Looking for a new car for the family. Here’s Carbee’s guide to the features you should add to your checklist
Let’s be real – your perfect family car needs to be more than just an Instagram-worthy peoplemover. Here’s the stuff that’ll actually make your life easier (and keep your sanity intact) on everything from school runs to road trips.
Easy-Clean Seats
Vegemite fingerprints? Squished mandarins? That mysterious sticky substance? Leather or fake leather seats aren’t just bougie – they’re your best defense against the chaos. One wipe and you’re done. If you’re stuck with fabric, at least make sure it’s the kind that won’t permanently document every snack time disaster.
Built-in Storage Solutions
Some cars (like the Skoda range) come with actual rubbish bins built into the doors. Game changer. The Ford Territory nailed it with a removable, dishwasher-safe bin compartment. Because sometimes you don’t want to know what’s been festering under those seats.
Power Everywhere
Remember when “are we there yet?” was the most annoying thing on road trips? Now it’s “my iPad’s dying!” Make sure you’ve got USB ports within reach of every seat. The more the better – think phones, tablets, Nintendo Switch, and whatever else is keeping the peace.
Kid Surveillance System
Some cars (like the Kia Carnival) have a special mirror so you can spy on the back seats without breaking your neck. Perfect for catching who really started that fight or checking if anyone’s actually sleeping.
Next-Level Air Con
It goes without saying DON’T buy a family car without aircon… And look for:
Separate rear climate controls = fewer complaints about being too hot/cold
Check those rear air vents actually reach the back (especially in seven-seaters)
Your toddler might not appreciate climate zones now, but your teenagers definitely will
Smart Seating
Consider if you DEFINITELY need more than five seats because seven seats does limit your choice. Once you’ve decided also consider:
40/20/40 split rear seats (the holy grail for separating warring siblings)
Built-in booster seats (Volvo’s got this sorted – they pop up from the seat cushion)
Good visibility for little ones. Some trendy SUVs have such high rear windows kids can’t see out – a recipe for car sickness!
Door Defenders
Tight supermarket parking spots aren’t just a pain to get into, they are a recipe for damage. There are a few smarter choices you can make when choosing your new family wheels. Sliding doors = no more car park dings from excited kids and some cars (like the Skoda Kodiaq) have clever pop-out door edge protectors. Both of these could save you from both damage bills and awkward conversations with other parents.
Child Seat Flexibility
Not all seven-seaters let you put car seats in the back row. If you’re planning on kid-grandparent combos, check where the location of those anchor points actually are. FYI: the Ford Everest and Mazda CX-9 are good at this.
Next-Level Nice-to-Haves
Some cars have cooled gloveboxes or centre consoles and even built-in fridges. Perfect for keeping snacks and drinks cold without lugging an Esky. Your road trip game just leveled up.
Meanwhile, Skoda puts umbrellas in the doors. Sounds minor until you’re trying to get three kids from the car to childcare in the rain.
Pro Tips
Test the back seats properly – put your head at kid height to check the view
Check all the seatbelt warning systems work (especially in older cars)
Think about how you’ll actually use the space – a surfboard AND three kids is a different challenge to just three kids
Bottom Line
The best family car isn’t always the fanciest or the most expensive – it’s the one that makes your daily life easier. These features might seem small, but they’re the difference between “I can’t wait for this trip to end” and “yeah, we could do another hour.”
Remember:
Your kids won’t care if the car looks cool on your driveway. But they (and you) will definitely care if they can’t see out the windows or if there’s nowhere to put their drink bottle.