What to look out for when buying a family car?

By Stella Thng
The writer is a freelancer for Young Parents.

1. MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE SAFETY FEATURES

Mr Colin Yong of Volkswagen Group Singapore has this to say: The vehicle should also have at least two airbags, one for the driver and another for the front passenger.

"There should also be an option to turn off the front-passenger airbag if you want to put a rear-facing child seat in front," Mr Yong added.

2. PERFORM ESSENTIAL CHECKS ON A SECOND-HAND CAR
Buyers should look for more than just lower prices. Ask for an STA evaluation. This is a 120-point check on various components to ensure that the car has not been in an accident.

During the test drive, look out for smooth transmission, the brakes' effectiveness, and the firmness of the suspension.


3. CONSIDER FUTURE NEEDS
A larger car may be more practical if you plan to have three or more children within that time span.
It's also important to have a flexible seating layout.

"You should be able to fold down the rear seats to accommodate bulky loads, be they big prams or diapers bought in bulk," said Mr Yong of Vincar.

 

Whoops, wrong picture.

 

Yup, this one.

One Mr Yong bought a powerful hatchback before his three-year- old daughter was born. "The car didn't have much interior and boot space, so I had to compromise on my preferred stroller and child seat," he said.

4. TAKE THE FAMILY ALONG FOR THE TEST DRIVE
He advised taking the whole family along for the test drive, as that will give you an accurate "feel" of how the car would handle when fully loaded.

Make sure everyone has enough space and, where possible, simulate the daily activities of loading up the kids, groceries bags and strollers.

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Blogger's note:
For those who wants a compact and affordable family car, based on the above, you might want to consider a Daihatsu Sirion Sports 1.5. Also comes in 1.3.

Consumer Reviews of Daihatsu Sirion

OVERALL RATING 8 Reviewers 3.5 out of 5 Comfort 3.5/5 Reliability 3.5/5 Handling 3/5 Features 3/5 Exterior Styling 3.5/5 Interior Design 3/5 Value for money 4/5 Engine Performance 3/5

5 out of 8 (62.5%) reviewers said they would recommend this vehicle to a friend.

If you want something like the Sirion, how about a Toyota Vios 1.5? It has all the Sirion has INCLUDING  a boot for your family's shopping and other necessities.

Consumer Reviews of Toyota Vios

OVERALL RATING 54 Reviewers 3 out of 5 Comfort 3/5 Reliability 3.5/5 Handling 3/5 Features 2.5/5 Exterior Styling 3/5 Interior Design 2.5/5 Value for money 3.5/5 Engine Performance 3/5

34 out of 54 (63%) reviewers said they would recommend this vehicle to a friend.

Or, or, or, if you can hack it, why not go for a 7-seater?

The Daihatsu Terios 7 is an SUV with 7 seats, making it something like a cross between an SUV and an MPV.

Consumer Reviews of Daihatsu Terios 7-Seater

OVERALL RATING 4 Reviewers 4 out of 5 Comfort 4/5 Reliability 4/5 Handling 4/5 Features 4/5 Exterior Styling 4/5 Interior Design 3/5 Value for money 4.5/5 Engine Performance 3/5

4 out of 4 (100%) reviewers said they would recommend this vehicle to a friend.