As your family grows, there will come a time when your beloved four-door sedan is going to be too small. The minivan seems to be the next logical step, but there are plenty of spacious vehicle options if you just can’t bring yourself to become a minivan driver.
Luxury SUVs
With an SUV, you get the room of a van without actually having to drive a van. Many luxury SUVs have three rows, so you can fit eight people total in some models. Some luxury SUV models employ hybrid technology and get excellent gas mileage while you drive your entire family around. If you live in a climate that gets a lot of snow, you are in luck since most luxury SUVs come complete with all-wheel or four-wheel drive. Some SUVs even have 6-cylinder engines and turbocharged V8s, a set-up which may impress any mechanics in the family.
Crossovers
Crossovers fall between a sedan and an SUV in regards to size. They’re bigger than cars but not quite as large as an SUV. Crossovers have spacious seating options with plenty of head and leg room, but these vehicles typically only seat five to six passengers, unless you find one with a third row option. To make up for the limited seating, the cargo areas are quite spacious, giving you plenty of flexibility when transporting lots of groceries or a giant stroller. Crossovers typically have all-wheel or four-wheel drive and perform well in a variety of weather conditions. The higher-end crossovers offer packages that include built-in DVDs and a voice-activated computer system. Reviews and vehicle comparisons on sites like J.D. Power acts as a reliable source for getting down to the nitty gritty of vehicle designs and specs.
Minivans
While not the most popular choice, families who end up purchasing a minivan rarely regret it. Once they get used to the ease of loading and unloading kids and all of the room inside, it’s unlikely that van owners will ever go back to something smaller until their kids are in college. Minivans seat up to eight people and offer tons of leg room without compromising how much cargo space is available. You can purchase swanky models with automatic doors and hatches, built-in entertainment systems, and even built-in coolers.
Choosing the right vehicle for your growing family doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re looking for more room, easy car seat installation, or great gas mileage without sacrificing space, there’s a vehicle out there that will perfectly suit your family.