hen you have a family, your priorities in a vehicle change. Namely, things like safety and connectivity become much more important. So, when you visit a car lot, you need to settle on a vehicle that will help keep your passengers entertained and safe. These are some features you absolutely must look for when shopping around for a used family car.

Connectivity

Entertainment is more important than you might think — just ask any family that road tripped with kids before the days of in-car Blu-ray players and Wi-Fi. Some connectivity features that can make a huge difference on the road include:

• USB ports
• Wireless charging stations
• Wi-Fi hotspot (note that a subscription is needed to have internet access)
• GPS or navigation apps, such as SiriusXM Traffic

Of course, connectivity is about more than entertainment. It’s also about staying safe on the road. A car with Wi-Fi can help you stay updated on traffic and weather, and some vehicles have built-in apps that you can access from a touch-screen display to get real-time data about hazards and delays. Make connectivity a priority to ensure your family is entertained and safe on the road. Also, features like tire pressure monitoring can help you stay connected regarding your vehicle’s maintenance.

Visibility

Visibility aids are essential safety features for a modern family vehicle. Additions such as a rearview camera, for example, can help you safely back out of your driveway and ensure that there are no people or hazards in your path. Two other examples are rear-cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring. These types of safety features alert you to oncoming traffic that’s occupying areas that are normally very difficult for drivers to see.

Highway Safety Features

Visibility is important on the road, but it’s only one category of safety features that can prevent an accident from happening. Advanced features like these can be hard to come by since they’re often only available in certain trims or as optional packages. But if you find a vehicle with them, it can make a huge difference when you get out on the road. A few safety features to add to your want list include:

• Forward collision warning
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane departure alert
• Active cruise control
• Emergency brake assist

Other Modern Safety Features

If you’re buying used, you can rest assured that any vehicle made within the last five years will have modern features, such as a comprehensive air bag system and Latch attachments for child seats. However, you should still take a moment to check that these systems are functional. Looking at a vehicle’s repair history should inform you if there’s ever been an issue with these safety features. Things like electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes are also standards in newer vehicles, but you should still check for them.

Picking the vehicle that’s best for your family is worth the effort. You don’t want to compromise on essentials that will keep all your passengers safe, so check for these features while browsing the selection of used cars at Rath Auto Resources NWA.

Photo by The National Roads and Motorists’ Association | Licensed under cc BY 2.0

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