Expecting a new baby and need to upgrade your ride?
If you are looking for a new vehicle before your baby arrives, you’ll want one that has the right mix of technology, safety features, and comfort. Your list of wants and needs might include roomy rear seats and ample cargo space for a large stroller and baby gear.
You will also want to look for a vehicle that makes it easy to correctly install a car seat. Installing a car seat can be confusing, especially when you are a sleep-deprived new parent. When deciding whether or not a car seat will be easy to install, you will want to evaluate the car’s Latch system — Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, making sure the lower Latch and top tether anchors are easy to find and use.
We have compiled a list of a few of best vehicles for new parents that check many of the boxes on the wish list.
The Subaru Forester is one of the top compact SUVs in the market for families. It has cutting edge safety technology, and a roomy interior.
The backseat of the Forester is wide, has ample legroom and easy access Latch anchors, making for easy car seat installation. The Forester can accommodate a variety of car seats in 3-across scenarios. Plus, adults in the front seats have more legroom, even with rear-facing car seats behind them, thanks to a deep second row.
The Forester also comes standard with a Rear Seat Reminder, which will alert the driver with an audible sound after the vehicle is turned off and will display a warning message in the Combination Meter Display, reminding the driver to check the rear seat area.
The Hyundai Santa Fe continues to shine and rack up awards. One of the areas that make this roomy two-row SUV stands out to new parents is how well the roomy backseat handles child-safety seats.
Key safety features that new parents will appreciate include Driver Attention Warning (DAW), which alerts the driver of his/her fatigue level or inattentive driving, and the Ultrasonic Rear Occupant Alert. The ROA door-logic system detects if a rear door was opened or closed before the car was started, then reminds the driver to check the rear seat with a message on the center cluster when exiting the vehicle. If the system detects movement in the second-row seats after the driver leaves the vehicle and locks the doors, it will honk the horn and send an alert to the driver’s smartphone via Hyundai’s Blue Link connected car system.
The Volkswagen Atlas is a great pick for new parents and it is easy to see why it won the 2020 Family Car of the Year.
The Atlas has more than 33 inches of legroom in the backseat and offers easy installation of several styles of car seats, including an average-size infant seat, convertible seat, harnessed booster and backless booster. The Atlas is ideal for fitting multiple car seats and the second row Car Seat Safe Lift + Slide allows you to independently slide the second row seats for easy access to the third row.
Key features that we like on the Atlas include the available built-in rear sunshade and 17 available cup holders. While you might not have a need for 17 beverages, these cup holders also come in handy for crayons, phones, snacks and everything else a child needs to stay happy and entertained along the journey.
If you aren’t looking for an SUV, this midsize sedan is packed with cutting-edge technologies, and it comes standard with an all-wheel-drive system. The Subaru Legacy features standard EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology, which monitors traffic movement, optimizes cruise control, and warns you when you sway outside your lane – which are all good to have for distracted new parents.
In the backseat, legroom is plentiful and two complete sets of easy-access Latch anchors make it simple to comfortably install two car seats. The Legacy has 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, which is enough for a large stroller and diaper bags, or several suitcases.
When it comes to hauling kiddos, the backseat of the two-row Chevy Equinox really shines. It’s roomy enough to handle rear-facing car seats or lanky teens. The Equinox also has well-labeled tether anchors, making for easy car seat installation.
The Equinox comes with a Rear Seat Reminder to help give new parents some peace of mind. The feature is activated when either rear door is opened and closed up to 10 minutes before the vehicle is started or while the vehicle is running. Once the system is activated, the vehicle is designed to sound five chimes and display a message in the driver information center that reads “Rear Seat Reminder / Look in Rear Seat” the next time the vehicle is turned off.
To learn more about any of these vehicles or to schedule a test drive, visit DGDG.COM or any of our Bay Area locations.
Posted By: Del Grande Dealer Group
Posted In: Recent Posts, Vehicle Comparisons
• San Jose,
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