Ross Downing Chevrolet Blog!

The size and makeup of your family and the types of activities in which you participate influence what type of vehicle is best for you. Safety, reliability, economy, and personal concerns—such as ease of access, child-seat compatibility, and size of the cargo area—should be considered when purchasing a family car. Consumer Reports has identified the questions you must ask yourself when considering a new vehicle for your family!

How many people will you be carrying?
You may want to think about whether you will be carpooling, having out of town guests fly in who may need to ride with you while visiting, etc. Even though you may not need the extra seats daily will you need them several times a month or year?

How old are your children?
You need to consider the logistics of carrying children of different ages. If you have 3 young ones in car seats then you might want 3rd row seating with a walk-thru 2nd row so getting all three kids strapped in is easier. Or if you have 3 teenagers with long legs then you need a vehicle with lots of leg room.

How much cargo space do you need?
Do your kids play every sport imaginable? Then you need lots of cargo space for transporting not only them, but their gear! New parents may not have sports to deal with but must consider space for baby gear such as strollers. Just like all vehicles are not built the same, neither are strollers. Will yours fit?

What conditions will you be driving in?
This is where you need to consider highway vs. city driving. 2WD vs. 4WD. Think carefully about all the places you might drive and what type of vehicle would excel in such driving conditions. Talk to your sales consultant to make sure the vehicle you choose is designed for the conditions you will drive in most often.

How important is fuel economy?
Today fuel economy is a big concern for many. You can still drive a vehicle that has all the space you need for passengers and cargo without burning up your wallet at the gas pump. Do your research. Don't write off a vehicle just because it is a SUV. Not all SUV vehicles come with the same engine size and therefore they don't all get low gas mileage.

Final words: Research, Research, Research! Think about what you do and do not like in your current vehicle. Make a list of what you would like to retain in a new vehicle and what you wish you had to make driving more pleasurable.

Here are a couple examples of family friendly vehicles sold at Ross Downing Chevrolet. We encourage you to search both our new and used inventory at RossDowningChevy.com to find the car that fits your needs best!

Example 1:
Silverado Crew Cab

Example 2:
Tahoe

Example 3:
Malibu

Example 4:
Avalanche

Example 5:
Traverse

Example 6:
Suburban

Example 7:
Impala