Life with a family is all about striking a balance, which naturally includes learning how to give and take. Cooperation, compassion, compromise, collaboration, and conflict can be commonplace qualities in any given day with a large family. At the end of the day, though, when you’re tucking the kids into bed and settling down for the night with your partner, it is indisputably all worth it.
Owning a family car has been part of family life since the post-war period of the ’50s and ’60s. Family life with a car means that you can get to where you need to be exactly when you need to be there. Whether it is getting the kids to school, dropping them at sports or swimming practice, or heading on an adventurous road trip for the weekend – a family car makes life convenient and stress-free.
In this informative article, we’ll share how the 7 seater SUV has redefined the family car in recent years, compared to the family car of yesteryear – the humble station wagon.
Days of Cars Past – The Station Wagon
The humble station wagon was the car of choice for larger families in decades gone past. Most manufacturers had a station wagon as part of their range. The additional storage space was perfect for families – you could jam-pack it with bags, bikes, scooters, and even the family pets.
The station wagon dates back to 1910, although it wasn’t until after the Second World War that it surged in popularity as a family car. It continued to be the family car of choice for many across the United States and other parts of the globe until the development and release of the minivan in the ‘70s.
In the last few decades, however, another contender for the ultimate family car has swiftly overtaken the station wagon and the minivan in one fell swoop, and that’s the SUV.
Power, Performance, Stature, and Status
Short for ‘sports utility vehicle’, the SUV is now the automobile of choice for many modern families. As these modern movers often come in five, seven, or even eight-seater varieties, families worldwide choose these versatile vehicles, with the seven-seater being named the most popular across the globe.
SUVs come with all the power and performance of a sports car but are significantly larger in size, and are built to hold more passengers. This makes them an excellent choice for families who may be after increased seating capacity without having to sacrifice on size for torque and power. With powerful engines and superior handling, they make a great choice of a family car.
Superior Storage
As we mentioned earlier, an SUV offers superior seating and cabin space, especially compared to station wagons, hatchbacks, and sedans. They tend to boast increased trunk space too, which is a feature that many busy families look for in their daily vehicles. This means that you can carry what you need to when you need to – from kid’s bags to grocery shopping, pets, and even minor furniture items.
If you need even more storage capacity from your SUV, you could install roof rails or racks or even a tow bar to cart a trailer. Installing a tow bar to your car will also allow you to carry a caravan or camper trailer, making the family getaway that much more spacious and comfortable.
Safety Matters
A car’s safety rating is a significant feature for families to consider. A higher rating means a higher likelihood that both passengers and drivers will be protected in the unlikely case of a crash. Modern SUVs have a range of safety features that contribute to their generally higher safety ratings. Features such as front and rear airbags, lane drift detection, and ABS braking work in unison to ensure that your safety is guaranteed on the road. Reversing cameras also help you to stay safe when parking, as well as helping to avoid an accidental scrape or bump into another car or other obstacle.
Feel in Control
As well as boosting safety with regards to its sturdy build, features, and other safety inclusion, driving an SUV can feel infinitely safer than many other cars like sedans as their larger size and higher distance from the road can put both passengers and drivers at ease.
This additional height can be an absolute game-changer for people who may have driving anxiety, as a larger vehicle can help to alleviate anxious feelings that may arise when driving along highways with gargantuan trucks and other intimidatingly large vehicles. SUVs make you feel collected and on top of things, which is essential when driving your family from point A to point B.
Off-Road Capabilities
Finally, it’s important to note that some models of SUVs have all-wheel drive and off-road capability. This doesn’t mean that they are up to the tasks that a genuine four-wheel drive can achieve, but that they will handle fairly well on dirt and gravel roads. This is a superb capability for families who find themselves often travelling off the beaten path in order to go camping, hunting, fishing, or mountain biking.
The Evolution of the Family Car – Concluding
In this article, we’ve explored just how the modern SUV has come to redefine the family car, replacing both station wagons and minivans as the cream of the crop. Due to their increased storage capacity, power and performance, and high safety ratings, SUVs have rapidly become the ideal choice of car for not only the modern family but many independent inner-city drivers too. Combine this with their off-road capabilities and size, and you won’t find a better solution for your family’s transport needs.
