Top 4 Car Features for One-Car Families
If your family is considering going down to just one vehicle for environmental reasons, financial reasons, or both, there are a few key characteristics to look for in your ride. Here are four features that will make your family’s one-car lifestyle a bit easier.
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Memory settings
Some might consider memory settings a luxury. However, when you’re a one-car family, memory settings go a long way in helping you and your loved ones stay sane and get on the road faster. This feature is especially useful if you and your partner have very different seat height and side-mirror position preferences, says Cars.com’s Mike Hanley.
Teen driver controls
Another feature to prioritize is a built-in teen driving monitoring system, as U.S. News & World Report recommends. This technology will allow your family to wait a couple of years before buying a new or pre-owned vehicle for your older child that’s about to leave the nest. When you go with a brand like GMC or Chevy, for example, it’s easy to find a vehicle equipped with Teen Driver technology. This advanced system gives you an easy way to monitor your teen’s driving habits and even gives you a report card for each drive, which indicates stability control and antilock brake events, as well as the distance traveled and maximum speed the vehicle reached.
USB ports and connectivity tech
Make sure your family’s sole vehicle has enough USB ports to keep everyone’s devices powered on commutes and road trips. And if your vehicle has extra connectivity perks, that’s a plus. For instance, some models let you pair two smartphones at the same time. These functions will let you and your crew access the contacts, apps, and infotainment you need when away from home.
Zoned climate control
A climate control system with multiple zones is another “must” when you’re a one-car household. It’s super easy to find a new vehicle that has dual-zone temperature control. Though, you can also go one step further and find a model that has a triple- or quad-zone climate control system to keep even the pickiest people in your family comfortable and contented.
Looking for a new vehicle to appease the whole family? Check out the 2021 Buick Envision and Chevy Equinox for these reasons. Then get the scoop on the Suburban RST, which got rave reviews from U.S. News & World Report.
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Whitney Russell resides in Dayton, though her spirit can be found beach-bumming in Puerto Rico (the land of her half-Puerto Rican heritage). When not crafting car-related content, she can be found chasing after the most amazing toddler in the world, watching her “beaver” of a husband build amazing woodworking projects, hanging out with two crazy dogs, and visiting family and friends. She also enjoys traveling, crafting, and binge-watching period dramas when time allows. See more articles by Whitney.