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As a new parent, you will likely be making changes to your life to help you better accommodate your new child.
This may mean that you make alterations to your home to make it safer, get additional equipment to help care for your child, and critically, update your car to suit your new circumstances.
The car you’ve been using so far may not be the best option for a baby or young child, as it could lack some features that make it one of the best cars for new parents.
Thankfully there are plenty of great options available, either new or used, that can better accommodate a young family. Here at Car Adviser, we look at some of the best cars for new parents and what makes them so much better than other options on the market in 2023.
These are the top 10 best cars for new parents that you can buy in 2023 according to our team:
Not all cars will suit every lifestyle, meaning that as a new parent, you will have to opt for a vehicle that suits your unique situation.
There are many factors you will have to consider when getting a car and specific requirements your new vehicle will need to have for it to be suitable.
As a new parent, one of the main things you’ll have to prioritise is space in terms of passenger room and storage options.
As a parent, you’ll likely have to carry a lot of additional equipment when taking your child out on trips, such as prams, cradles, and more.
This means that it’s best to get a larger vehicle with ample boot space for you to store these items, such as MPVs, SUVs, and potentially even 4x4s. That said, some hatchbacks can also offer enough space too.
When getting a new car as a parent, you’ll need one with excellent passenger space to fit a child’s car seat into it easily. Having this space will be great for when that child grows over the years.
Another feature that will suit new parents is safety. If the worst were to happen, you’d want to ensure that you’re driving a car with top-of-the-range safety features. This includes passenger and side-door airbags, but also be on the lookout for vehicles with antilock brakes, lane departure warnings, and blind spot warnings.
One final important factor is that you want your car to be reliable and last a reasonably long time. This is because as your new child ages, you’ll want the vehicle you get now to be suitable for when they’re a toddler and then a younger child. So, when buying a car as a new parent, you want to get one that’s fit for purpose for the present and future.
If getting a new car, try to get one with a lengthy warranty. A great option in this respect is Kia, which offers a seven-year warranty. This means that any issues will be fixed by the manufacturer, ensuring that the car lasts a long time.
When looking for a car that can suit you as a new parent, these are the things you should consider and prioritise. The following car options are models that should excel in all of these factors, making them some of the best cars for new parents in 2023.
Despite not being the biggest car in the world, the Ford Focus still gives you plenty of enough space for a small family with a single child. It excels on shorter trips and darting around town, yet it is still comfortable enough for longer distances.
The Ford Focus is a great hatchback option because of its excellent handling, making it a much better option than some of its competitors. Its agility can give you confidence when driving it, and it also has many good safety features.
Child seat mounts come with the car as standard, and the rear doors have a tall and wide opening, making it reasonably straightforward to get kids in and out.
The boot could be a little bigger, but it offers a nice size compared to other hatchbacks. It’s also a pretty cheap car and is easy to grab off the second-hand market, making it a favourite for bargain-hunting new parents.
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Cons
The Skoda Octavia is versatile as it blends practicality, refinement, and affordability. Although it doesn’t excel in any aspect, it’s a jack of all trades and should make a very competitive option as a family car.
It’s got a reasonably long, saloon-style body, which can help make the car feel more spacious, but the downside is that it can make driving a bit more challenging, especially when parking.
All versions of the Octavia come with fantastic engines, allowing for a smooth and comfortable ride, while the suspension is also great, limiting any bumps. It’s also got excellent fuel economy, which is a big plus for a family car.
The Octavia is a bit old, with the model coming out in 2013, meaning that some safety features aren’t included as standard. If you’re getting the more modern version, this shouldn’t be an issue, and all versions will include reversing cameras.
The boot room is where this car shines, as you can easily fit prams and other items without needing to fold the seats down.
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One of the biggest things that the Kia Sportage has going for it is that it’s a cheap SUV option that comes with a fantastic seven-year warranty. With a price point coming in at around the same amount as a Ford Focus (when both are bought new), it represents great value.
The car is a very reliable option and will be a model that lasts you a very long time. Its size also makes it great for a newborn as well as toddlers and fully grown children, meaning it can be a long-term family car.
The ride is fairly smooth and has comfortably cushioned seats, although it can be boring to drive as it lacks dynamic handling. It’s got a large boot, which becomes massive when you fold down the rear seats and is a vehicle that will be a great option for now and the long term.
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If the Ford Focus is too small for you, you can opt to get their Sporty SUV instead. Its strengths are all about the extra space the car offers you, yet it’s also a car with superb driving performance, which can be a massive plus for new parents who don’t want their drives to feel tedious.
The Kuga has a good amount of boot space, although it’s still lacking compared to other crossover SUVs of the same size. The shape is good, though, making loading easy and simple.
The Kuga comes as a diesel or petrol option, although both are not as efficient as some other models. The petrol version is great for shorter trips, but you may want to buy a diesel if you’re going to be making longer trips.
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The Honda HR-V is another great option if the size is your main priority when getting a family car. The HR-V is much larger than its rivals of a comparable price point, and it is also an entertaining and reliable car to drive, as it handles well for its size.
The HR-V isn’t very powerful, though, as the engines are a bit weak and struggle to accelerate the car with much pace. It also has a critically panned infotainment system, which can be offputting if you’re looking for quality finer details.
Based on the Honda Jazz, the car is reliable and should last a long time. It also has a good-sized boot and comes with Isofix mounts to allow you to fit a child seat easily.
