Great tips when choosing family friendly vehicles

Something that often  evades our minds as parents is just how reliable our vehicles really are. Pregnancy happens, the baby comes, and more often than not, we just continue driving our vehicles not worrying enough about them. For many parents, transportation is a big part of their livelihood. Getting to work, pediatric appointments, and the ability to go out and get supplies are all much more important when we are taking care of another human being.

Being a parent gives us added responsibility. One of those responsibilities is maintaining a safe vehicle for your family. Everyone has their own favorite brand of vehicles, so we made this list of the safest and most reliable vehicles by the most popular manufacturers.

• Chevrolet – When it comes to safety, the Chevy Silverado has been one of the safest full-sized pickups on the road for years. They always score well in crash test ratings, and they are roomy enough for the entire family. Silverados also often come with the ability to turn the air bags on and off to make the vehicle safer for transporting children. When it comes to reliability, few vehicles are as reliable and easy to maintain as a Silverado.
• Ford – The Ford Focus is arguably the safest mid-size car on the road. It is a fuel efficient alternative, and may not be as spacious as a full-sized vehicle, but it has proven itself in multiple crash tests. The Focus is also a very affordable model, which is music to new parents’ ears.
• Dodge – The Dodge Dart is another family-friendly mid-size car. We’ve all seen their hilarious commercials, featuring Craig Robinson, but in all seriousness the Dart is a great family car. It scored incredibly high marks in safety tests, and offers a bit more room than the Ford Focus.
• Honda – When it comes to Honda, the Accord is by far the safest option. Honda is known for being fuel efficient, and the Accord is known for adding class to family-friendly vehicles. The Honda Accord might not score as well as the Dodge Dart or the Ford Focus in crash tests, but it is not far below.
• Subaru – The Subaru Forester is known as the safest crossover vehicle. Crossovers are the new rage, and are quickly replacing SUV’s. They are popular picks for parents, because they are often spacious, good on gas, and cost effective. The Subaru Legacy and Outback also scored well in safety.

There are a few cars that should actually be avoided for parents, also. The Toyota Camry and Prius are both models that failed to bring safety first, in the past. Until 2013, the Camry and Prius models were not made with safety first. The Mazda CX5 was also not built with safety as a priority until after 2013, and the same story goes for the Mercedes-Benz M Class. Luxury doesn’t often equal safety, so buying a luxury car can come with a higher price tag than even expected. Although they aren’t necessarily bad cars to drive, they are not the safest alternative

Travis Newville
Breckenridge, Michigan