1. Your budget and a car's resale value
For most of us, this is the biggest consideration. What can you buy cheaply that is also going to keep your loved ones relatively safe and have all the necessary mod-cons? We can think of a few affordable cars that will be perfectly suitable, from hatchbacks like the Toyota Starlet to compact crossovers like the Vitara Brezza, Toyota Urban Cruiser and Nissan Magnite, as well as the Kia Sonet. Find out which other cars make our list by reading Best Cheap Cars for Parents (2021) here. We cover a variety of models and sizes. Those with larger budgets can obviously take their pick and these cars are usually well-specified with safety equipment.
With regard to resale value, if you plan on trading in every so often, resale value certainly plays a part. Some cars depreciate at an alarming rate, other cars retain their value for years; in fact, some cars are future classics and a bit of an investment! Most everyday cars aren't this lucky, though. Sedans, for example, lose their value because people only want to drive SUVs these days. That's good news for used car buyers, but if you're planning on buying a brand new sedan, not so much!
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2. Your lifestyle
You'll know better than anyone else how often you venture off the beaten track. Or are you the type of family who rarely travels on dirt roads? Is your idea of off-roading when you scale sidewalks at school or the mall? If you don't need ground clearance, the underrated sedan or a spacious hatchback (like a used Golf or Golf SV, Opel Astra Hatch or Ford Focus) will be to your liking. The used-car market is a great place to search for sedans such as the Volkswagen Polo sedan, Jetta, and Passat, Ford Focus sedan, Honda Civic and the smaller Honda Ballade, for example. Smaller sedans like the Kia Pegas may suffice if your family is small.
If you like the odd dirt road and you need a good combination of space and ruggedness, the Mitsubishi Xpander is a good choice too. Buying used? There's so much to choose from such as the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Seltos, Honda CR-V, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Toyota RAV4...the list goes on. It all depends on your budget!
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3. Space and practicality
How big is your family and are you planning on having more children? Small families can consist of you and a baby or just you and one older child, so you don't always have to go for something terribly spacious.
Practicality makes all the difference, however. You don't want to own a car that is going to be a nightmare from day to day. Coupés (or most three-door cars) are usually not a great choice if you have more than one child, especially if you need to install a baby seat often, as these cars are usually quite low. Will the boot fit the stroller? And how easy is it to fit the seat (or ISOFIX base) in the back, or to lift the stroller over the lip of the boot? Take your stroller and ISOFIX / baby seat along when you go test driving cars. We can't stress this enough.
Recommended: Best large SUVs for families in SA
4. The size of the dealer network, and their reputation for reliability
If you get stuck in the middle of the Karoo, you probably don't want to be in an unknown brand with parts that have to be sourced from somewhere you can't pronounce. For this reason, South Africans prefer their Toyotas, Fords, Nissans, and Volkswagens. Did you know that we manufacture many cars locally, like the Volkswagen Polo, Nissan Navara and Ford Ranger?
It's the same with roadside assistance. You should certainly consider how close the nearest dealership will be that has to send someone if you break down. If you encounter problems out in the sticks, you don't want to wait forever for help to arrive. If you're in a Toyota, for example, the nearest dealership is probably just a few kilometres away. You should also consider an AA membership if your car or general insurance doesn't include a form of roadside assistance.
Related: What are the best used cars you can buy?
5. Safety rating
Cars with poor safety ratings should be avoided for obvious reasons. Even if your budget is tight, you should settle for at least three stars from GlobalANCAP, EuroNCAP, or ASEANcap. it's all down to structural integrity in the end; even cars with airbags may score poorly if the car's cabin cannot withstand the force of an impact. Some cheap cars are surprisingly safe, like the now-discontinued Toyota Etios hatchback or the Mahindra XUV300, a compact SUV (very affordable if you're buying used). Some other entry-level cars that are known for being safe include the Volkswagen Up, Toyota Aygo, and Peugeot 108.
Related: NCAP crash testing explained - why you need a safer car, and why unsafe cars are allowed to be sold.
Finally...
We have written tons of articles on cars that are family-friendly. Use the search button in our News and Advice section to find out if the car you are considering is going to work for you, by typing "Is the (insert model name) good for families?" or simply type this into your preferred search engine. Chances are we've already covered the car you're wondering about. Go on, give it a try!
