Thinking about a new family car, mamas? We’ve recently got behind the wheel of 3 very different makes and models and have loved each one!
Choosing a car can be a bit of a minefield. So many makes, models, funky little extras to consider – and while we might all love to be that mama who drives around town in a cool VW Camper Van (or is that just me?!), the reality is that it just wouldn’t be very practical. From SUV’s to modern style minivans and CUV’s (that’s compact crossover vehicle by the way, I learn something new everyday), here are 3 that recently got the Sassy Mama seal of approval. And remember, all of these cars are available for test-drive so if you fancy checking them out yourselves, simply get in touch with each respective brand and do it! Now buckle up and get ready for the ride….
Remember zipping about in your VW golf pre-kids, mamas? The Tiguan is basically an extension of those days, offering more space for your brood but with plenty of those lovely VW design features. This 5-seater is perfect for families of 4 (we are 5 and we did manage to squeeze in though), offers lots of boot space and rear legroom if your passengers get fidgety and are prone to kicking out (like mine) and is nippy too.
But it’s all those little extras that really made a difference when driving this car. First up, this car offers just about every safety feature you could want, with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist just to mention a few. The parking sensors/cameras are brilliant – you get front, side and rear assistance plus a birds-eye view of the vehicle too with guidelines for getting in and out of tight spots (ideal for mall parking or if you tend to get too close to walls…ahem!). And you need never take your eyes off the windscreen as a little pop up screen (the technical name of which escapes me) projects your speed or map just in your line of vision.
And as for those moments when you’re carrying ALL the groceries plus kids school bags and the children themselves actually plus trying to open the boot – they’re made so much easier with a hands free easy open/close option that allows you to unlock the trunk simply by kicking your foot under the rear bumper. Genius.
Lovely to drive, safe, comfortable – a great choice of car for a little family (until they bring the 7 seater version to the UAE – hurry up VW!).
The XC90 has long been the king of the school-run – it has 7 seats so there’s plenty of room for kids and kit (plus playdate pals), AND it’s been hailed as one of the safest SUV’s on the road! An A380 pilot friend I know says he wouldn’t drive anything else – and if it’s good enough for him then I’m jumping on that wagon (car). In fact safety has always been at the centre of Volvo’s appeal and, with the new model, the company has vowed that no one will die in any of its cars by 2020 – that’s pretty darn impressive – and frankly a good enough reason for every mama in Dubai to want one.
But there’s more: the car is cool – I mean it looks nice and it does clever things. Driving it feels much like I’d imagine flying a plane does (will have to ask the pilot friend) – with an awesome interactive display much like an iPad, sensors that tell you if anyone’s getting too close, if the car is drifting across lanes, if you’re in danger of bumping the car in front (we’ve all had that heart-in-mouth moment while dealing with tantrums in the back) and it’s incredibly smooth and quiet. Until you crank up the stereo, complete with Bowers & Wilkins philharmonic orchestra hall surround sound – oh yeah baby!
There are awesome little extras like the built in booster seat, the fact that all 7 seats are configured ‘theatre style’ meaning that everyone gets a good view (important when you have kids fighting over who can see the camel on the side of the road – and amazing for all those epic desert adventures) and there are super sensitive parking sensors with 360 cameras on the back so reversing into Spinney’s spaces is a doddle. It’s so clever that it even knows when you have your hands full with shopping bags and will open the boot for you. What a true gent.
And the car is just gorgeous to look at (yes, it’s fickle but it’s true). I found myself smiling when walking towards it in the parking lot and feeling a little smug at the traffic lights – even when Mr. Lamborghini pulled up alongside.
It may not look the coolest (we’re old and wise enough to know that looks aren’t everything right mamas?) but the new 2018 Odyssey 8-seater minivan is a fab family choice – and much of its features have been designed by women/mums who know what it’s like to cart a bunch of kids and all their kit around.
With sliding doors, removable seats and a huge ‘cabin’ space – you could literally live in this car it has so much room and is so easy to get in and out of. And don’t let looks deceive you, this car has some oomph – with a V6 engine (that’s powerful btw) it can sprint to 60 mph in just under 7 seconds which is really quick for a minivan and for this type of car. But all that engine stuff aside, again it’s those convenient extras that make this car appealing. An entertainment system means that your kids can be watching tv in the back, using wireless headphones that spare you from the noise of peppa pig and her friends. And when you need to communicate with them? the in-car PA system allows you to page them from the front with the touch of a button and their programme will be paused while you deliver your message (eg. can child 1 please stop kicking child 2) either via the vehicle’s speakers or through any of the headphones.
Speaking of which, if you’re forever turning around to see what the kids are up to in the back or trying to ascertain who really ‘started it’, a cabin camera allows you to spy on them without taking your eyes off the front of the car – also perfect if you have teeny tinies who you want to check on all the time. And, my favourite, if your little people are in the habit of asking ‘are we nearly there yet’ every 5 seconds, a little cartoon map can show them where the car is on each particular journey so that they can actually see how far there is to go. Genius! Oh and onboard Wi-Fi enabled through a 4G LTE data connection allows passengers to stream video, radio etc through the ceiling-mounted 10.2-inch flip-down display too.
And now for the safety features. With automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist there are lots of them to keep you feeling in control on the roads – ditto with the parking sensors and getting this beast in and out of little spaces. Finally, you can say goodbye to getting into a boiling hot car with the ability to start the engine and the a/c from afar – leaving the cabin to cool down and avoiding a meltdown too – perfecto!
Designed with families in mind, the Odyssey is brilliant for everything from long road-trips to school runs – for carrying around all the kit and for keeping the kids entertained and comfortable. And remember, beauty is much more than skin-deep, mamas – this car has oodles of appeal that goes far beyond its physical appearance.
featured image via Pinterest
