Lifestyle

Family Carpool: Alternatives to the Mini Van Mom

Family Carpool Alternatives to the Mini Van MomIf you’re a mom who wants a safe vehicle for carrying the kids around, skip the mini-van and move up to an SUV. SUVs offer more space, have all safety features you expect, and they have plenty of cargo and seating capacity. Here’s a few to check out before you buy another family van.

The Ford Expedition Limited

A standard rear view camera and power-adjustable pedals come standard on the Ford Expedition Limited. Another great feature are the power operated third-row seats. Instead of manually lowering the row for increased cargo room, you only need to push a button. If you have a small child, the second-row’s unique center seat slides forward 11 inches, so you can be closer to your baby. Finally, plenty of airbags and vehicle stability control systems round out the Expedition Limited.

Honda Pilot 4WD Touring

Active families will appreciate the easily accessible 87 cubic feet of cargo space and lift-up glass hatch. Inside, seven can fit comfortably in the leather-trimmed seats while enjoying the powerful 650 watt sound system. And, when you’re driving a full-size family around, you need your eyes on the road—so the Pilot has steering wheel mounted controls and a bright, eight-inch information display. Like most SUVs, the Pilot also has side-curtain airbags with a rollover sensor along with active head restraints and front airbags for the driver and passenger.

Toyota Sequoia SR5

With room for eight, the Toyota Sequoia SR5 will safely transport your large family in comfort. Amenities include 16 cup holders and three-zone automatic climate control. Electronic safety devices, including traction control, anti-lock brakes, and airbags will ensure a safe ride for all your passengers. And you don’t have to worry about maintenance costs with Toyota’s two-year or 25 thousand mile ToyotaCare package.

Chevrolet Suburban

The Suburban is a classic family car, your parents might have had one when you were a kid. The name lives on today in the Suburban LTZ. An optional rear-seat Blu-Ray/DVD player will keep your kids entertained on your around-town errands, and the front and rear park assist makes city driving easy. Whether your commute takes you over smooth asphalt, or bumpy rural roads, the Suburban’s Magnetic Ride Control automatically adjusts (in real-time) the suspension for current driving conditions.

 

Although you might have your eye on a certain model or brand, visit a local car dealer in Lansing with your whole family, see how they fit, and take each SUV for a comprehensive test drive. With these models you are sure to get your family to your destination safely.

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