Top 4 Cars 4 Mums: The Best Cars for Motherhood

There’s a special place in our heart for all of our parent customers so this Mother’s Day we thought we’d compile a quick list of baby and child-friendly vehicles for anyone who is looking to buy.

We know how hard it can be to find a car that suits your every need particularly when it comes to motherhood. Does it have ISOFIX? What is its Euro NCAP safety rating? Will this double-buggy pushchair fit in the boot space? Motherhood can be a daunting time and definitely not a time to be doing endless research on which car to buy when expanding your family, so you can leave that to us! We’ve rounded up our top 4 favourite baby and child-friendly vehicles that will make your life as a mum, that little bit easier.

Let’s begin with the Ford C-Max. The mid-sized multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) would be a great choice for parents who enjoy a comfortable ride. This family friendly car is not only high on safety but also allows for ease and practicality. Immediately you will notice the car is slightly bigger in height (for example compared to the Focus) making it very accessible for both passengers and for parents who are trying to get their children in to their car seats without having to bend into the vehicle so much – say goodbye to painful head bumps! The MPV is made further child-friendly with picnic trays attached to the rear of the front seats and built-in rear blinds, making journeys comfortable as well as minimising a mess in the back!

Whether it’s one child, two or three, you’ll probably have your hands full with all sorts of equipment when trying to enter your boot and that is why the C-Max’s Hands-Free Tailgate is an extremely convenient feature. Ford’s KeyFree Key Fob allows you to open your boot by simply waving your foot under the rear bumper. The C-Max boasts a spacious interior as well as a spacious boot space with 432 litres trunk space. Store pushchairs, day-bags and shopping at ease with the C-Max family-friendly MPV. The C-Max is able to fit 3 car seats in the rear at ease.

For older children, sliding doors (available of the Grand C-Max) are a great option as it prevents the possibility of doors banging into other cars or into walls, not to mention the security offered by the powered Door and Window Child Lock put in place so you can ensure your child’s safety at the push of a button. The C-Max will also make sure all passengers are fastened in safely through visual and audio warning. But that’s not all, driving with children can already be difficult without the hassle of checking your wipers or de-icing your car in the mornings so Ford has engineered the C-Max with rain-sensing wipers and Quickclear technology. When the C-Max detects moisture on your windscreen, they will automatically spring into action and if you wake up on a frosty morning be sure to take advantage of Ford’s cleverly designed Quickclear button that will send ultra-thin filaments to de-ice, de-fog and de-mist your windscreen in a matter of seconds.

As well as all the practical features mentioned above, the C-Max also comes equipped with an extensive list of driving assistance technologies including Active Park Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Pre-Collison Assist and Active Braking to name a few. These advanced technologies increase your safety on the road without you having to put in more leg-work.

In summary, the Ford C-Max is a great car for those wanting to take the hassle and worry out of travelling with children.

Next up is Mazda’s gorgeous SUV, the CX-5. Mazda’s CX-5 offers a spacious cabin, large boot space, refined manoeuvrability and a stylishly trendy exterior. You’ll be pleased to know the SUV comes with ISOFIX compatibility and allows for larger car seats due to the spacious interior meaning you won’t need to worry about your car practicality as your child grows. The interior is designed with a large glovebox and larger-than-usual door panels for extra storage space for toys, food and other essentials whilst on the road. The boot space boasts a storage area of 506 litres, perfect for family vacations or storing pushchairs and groceries.

It’s important that when on the road, you and your little passengers are as comfortable as possible, especially when your passengers are known as big nappers! Although the Mazda CX-5 boasts powerful driving, G-Vectoring technology delivers a soft and quiet ride thanks to reductions in road, tyre and wind noise ideal for long journeys with children. Further to this, Mazda’s i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive system ensures road safety by cleverly adjusting to road conditions every mile of the way meaning you can rest easy knowing you will get from A to B safely whatever the weather.

Being a mum is tough at times and it’s easy to forget to check in with the rest of the world but with the CX-5’s tech savvy infotainment system, you can be connected to all your social media channels in no time. Alternatively, keep the kids from crying by putting on some of their favourite entertainment straight from your mobile through wireless technology!

The Mazda CX-5 earns a 5-star rating on the Euro NCAP safety test as well as having built-in features such as Child Safety Locking and Seatbelt Reminder. You can make your journeys even easier in the Mazda CX-5 when you use the vehicle’s latest driving assistance technologies including Advanced Smart City Brake Support, Lane Keep Assist System and Blind Spot Monitoring system with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

In summary, the Mazda CX-5 proves that you don’t have to compromise on looks when looking for practicality and safety.

Nissan’s award-winning crossover makes a great family car through its smart, sophisticated design and the safety it offers with intuitive All-Wheel Drive adaptability. From the simpler things such as ISOFIX compatibility to the delicate intricacies regarding NCAP ratings, the Nissan Qashqai is a great contender in our Top 4 Cars 4 Mums range!

With its 5-star Euro NCAP rating, the Qashqai proves it is engineered with you and your passengers in mind. But that’s not all, as well as higher visibility, Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility provides a Qashqai driver with innovative driving assistance technologies that will make driving with the kids in the back feel like a breeze. For example, ProPilot options make motorway driving safer and easier when you set your car into semi-autonomous modes which lets your car accelerate, brake and even steer for you whilst you sit comfortably and keep your hands on the wheel. Other safety features include Adaptive Front Lighting, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Moving Object Detection and Blind Spot Warning which not only puts you in safe hands but others around you too.

The Qashqai will fulfil your needs when it comes to storage space with a boot capacity of 430 litres, enough space for a pushchair and a few suitcases for some great family fun! Don’t worry about noise levels when on your road trip as the Qashqai drives impressively quiet meaning you can enjoy a relaxing journey whilst the kids sleep calmly in the back. The family-crossover’s body shape offers height making it more accessible for getting children in and out of the car. It also boasts a large glove box and other cubby holes for several various items great for storing snacks and toys.

In summary, the Nissan Qashqai will make sure you’re comfortable and safe at all times, not only in the car but on the road.

Lastly, we have the Euro NCAP 5 star rated Kia Sorento. A car that expands and configures to tailor your lifestyle. The Sorento 4x4 SUV is a great addition to any family’s driveway but with a seating capacity of up to 7 people, it works particularly well for larger families. The versatile seating arrangement means you can alter between additional car seats and a generous boot space of 660 litres depending on the purpose of your journey. With such a big boot space, you’re bound to have your hands full of various equipment (pushchairs, luggage, sports gear…etc) so Kia’s Smart Power Tailgate makes life easier whenever you do. Slide heavy objects into the back of your Sorento without the stress of locating your car keys – stand back and watch your boot lid open once your car has sensed your keys close by, a real treat for busy mums!

Regarding child seats, the middle row is fitted with ISOFIX compatible mounts and can fit up to three car seats. Child lock and seatbelt features follow suit the same way as the vehicles mentioned above so you have the essential safety features in place before you begin your journey. Once on route, your children can enjoy a relaxing ride with the Kia Sorento’s refined driving performance. A soft suspension allows the SUV to absorb obstacles on the road at ease such as speed bumps and harsh road surfaces whilst motorways feel smoother than ever.

Other reasons the Kia Sorento makes for a child-friendly space includes the built-in pull-down blinds and USB ports available in the back of the car for older children to charge phones or other entertainment equipment keeping them occupied and happy at all times.

Think you may have found your next car after reading our article? Let us know by commenting in our social media comments and we’ll be sure to reply.