The quest to finding the right car is never an easy
affair. Much like a vacation, careful planning and research is
required before purchasing your very first family four-wheeler. But
to help make that decision a little easier, we’ve compiled six
vital tips to help you find out which vehicle best complements your
family’s needs.
Type of vehicle
A family car is more than just a vehicle—it’s a comfort
chamber, an amusement park, a grocery mule, a moving diner and a
protective metal bubble. Whether you’re looking for a hatchback for
extra storage, or a spacious 6-seater to transport your kids to
school. The goal is figuring out what best suits you and your
family, because as much as we love the sleek look of convertibles,
coupés and child seats simply don’t mix.
How big is your boot
Depending on how much space you need, your family car
should have plenty of storage space for the stroller, your week’s
groceries, and even the family dog! SUVs and hatchbacks offer great
storage potential for all your shopping sprees. Foldable backseats
are another way of instantly increasing your boot space. Look to
invest in vehicles that offer storage solutions like this.
Safety first
Looking for a safe and reliable ride should always be
at the top of the list. Cars these days are often equipped with
state-of-the-art safety features and electronic driving aids that
guide you on the road. Side-curtain airbags and a 5-star Safety
Rating is also a MUST when ensuring the safety of your loved ones
and cargo.
Comfort and convenience
Whichever car you go for, you’ll want it to give you
and your family a smooth and comfortable ride.
Does it come with enough leg room? Is there limited
head space? Are your kids bouncing off their seats every time you
run over a speed bump? These are all important questions to ask
yourself before making your purchase.
Convenience is another factor parents should
consider—especially when you’ve got your squirming toddler in one
arm and a heavy bag of groceries in the other! Simple conveniences
like automatic doors or hands-free liftgates can make all the
difference in your daily routine.
What about family-friendly
features?
Examine the layout of the vehicle’s interior to ensure
there is ample room for multiple child car seats, find out what
material the seats are made of — and more importantly, if it would
be easy for clean ups. Having power sockets for charging or even an
onboard DVD player will definitely keep the kids occupied and in
their seats on the way to grandma’s.
Think green
More car trips means spending more money on fuel and
more CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Save money (and the environment) by choosing a car that can
give you the best mileage per litre. Opting for a more efficient
fuel like Caltex with Techron® can also help improve your car’s
performance and give your engine better protection. Click to
find out more!
From 1 July to 31 August, fuel up at Caltex with
OCBC Cards and stand to win a brand new Citroën C4 Picasso! Every
S$50 nett fuel spend with your OCBC Cards gives you 1 chance in the
lucky draw. OCBC 365 and NTUC/OCBC Plus! Visa Cardmembers will get
2 chances. In addition, 100 other lucky winners will each receive a
$100 IKEA Gift Card. Check for more
details.
Plus! Visa Card is a banking product provided by
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited for Plus! U.
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