What is the Ideal Family Car?

As the public transportation options in this country is sorely lacking, people see cars as an essential means of transportation. This is especially true when driving around the country to visit tourist attractions during our many holidays. As Malaysian families have an average size of 4, an ideal family car tends to skew towards larger vehicles.

There are plenty of factors to consider when deciding the right family car, including financial obligations, preferences, makes/models and more. SUVs and MPVs are more preferred over sedans and compacts, these days. So, we’ll break down some pointers about an ideal family car, be it an SUV, MPV or sedan.

First up, an ideal family car would have to be comfortable. It needs to fit five occupants, carry the right amenities, and have safety features. There are more SUV choices than MPVs from various brands and models between RM50,000 to RM150,000 price range to choose from, such as the Proton X70, Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Perodua Alza, Peugeot 3008, Volkswagen Tiguan, Mazda CX-5, and Renault Captur. If your family’s size is around 4-7 people then you’d need a mid-sized or large SUV.

If you have more than seven in the household, then an MPV is more appropriate, supposing you will take the whole gang around. An SUV is also a good choice for soccer moms, who place groceries in boot and pick up the kids.

What features does an ideal family car have?

As the car industry becomes more competitive than ever, everyone is out to offer potential buyers the best deals with all the trimmings. You’ve probably heard of leather seats, fabric/leather seats, touchscreens, LED headlights/taillights, connectivity features with Android Auto or Carplay, USB charging ports, integrated steering controls, and infotainment with voice recognition. The above equipment exist to enrich people’s lives.

Safety First

For a family car, safety is the most important aspect and should be at the top of the list. A car’s safety features are often related to driver’s assistance systems, they go hand-in-hand. When shopping for a car, look out for a car with a 5-star Euro NCAP or a lesser known ASEAN NCAP rating for domestic brands, at least 5-star. Either safety rating is essential to denote the overall durability of a car.

Also keep an eye out for these important safety features and active safety systems:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS)
• Brake Assist (BA)
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Parking sensors (some cars even come standard with a reverse camera)
• Hill Assist

You might also want to get a car with at least two airbags and Hot Press Forming (HPF) body panels that denote a robust passenger safety cell for protection in the event of side collisions.

In a nutshell, when it comes to the right family car, it’s a necessity to consider comfort and practicality over performance and specs. Sometimes thoughts from your spouse and family members matter especially if they do get a lot of time in the car. Remember, safety and assistive systems help save lives!

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