Becoming a mum is an exciting time but it is life changing and means you will always need more space. There are so many changes and important decisions to make.

If you need to choose the right car for your new family, our tips will help you find a vehicle that fits your budget without sacrificing safety, convenience or comfort.

Okay, while I am not a first time new mother myself, I have been through it twice now with my kids as a dad, so I hope my first-hand advice is useful.

ISOFIX in car
An ISOFIX base is a legal requirement for new cars, but also very handy for quickly swapping seats

Safety Features to Prioritise

As a new mum, you’ll already know that the safety and wellbeing of your baby is paramount. Safety features are one of the first things to consider when choosing a new family car and you’ll want to look out for these as a minimum:

ISOFIX Points

Car seats are a legal requirement for all babies and children under 12 in the UK and these need to be secured in place by a diagonal seat belt or ISOFIX anchoring points.

Having ISOFIX points ensures your child’s car seat is always securely attached and removes the need to use a seat belt to anchor the seat in place. ISOFIX has been a legal requirement in all new cars sold in the UK since 2014, so even if you’re buying a second-hand car, your new vehicle will likely have this feature.

They are very useful, and we had an egg pram combo that meant the car seat could come straight off the ISOFIX base and click directly onto the pram. It was very handy to avoid waking my newborn.

Now despite the urge to want to look at your baby at every moment, you want the car seat facing backwards for at least 15 months by law, but ideally as long as possible. On any impact or breaking suddenly, it will not only absorb the force, but provide greater protection for the baby’s head, neck and spine which is softer in early infancy where the spinal cord hasn’t yet ossified (turned from cartilage to bone). You can get a mirror and position it with the rear view.

Advanced Airbag Systems

Airbags are life saving devices, however, due to their very nature of needing to deploy instantly on impact, airbags have been known to cause impact injuries, and the risks are higher for children in the front seat, particularly babies in rear-facing child seats.

Children under 12 should therefore always sit in the back seat. If your vehicle includes airbags for rear seat passengers, you’ll want to make sure these are part of an advanced airbag system, which has multiple stages of deployment. These systems can detect the weight of a passenger, and deploy airbags in a way that is most effective whilst being least likely to cause an injury.

Collision Avoidance Technology

Collision avoidance or collision detection systems can help to predict when a crash is about to happen using technology such as cameras and sensors and can then alert drivers or even deploy the brakes of the vehicle automatically, helping to prevent accidents.

Child Lock

Child locks on the rear doors prevent children from accidentally opening the doors while the car is in motion, adding an extra layer of safety. Don’t think it can happen? I can tell you first hand it can (my son was 9 months old at the time so fully strapped in). While the wind resistance on a moving car makes it difficult to open fully, it’s potentially dangerous and likely to take your concentration off the road.

Rear-view Cameras and Parking Sensors

Rear-view cameras and parking sensors are an expensive extra, but invaluable for preventing accidents while reversing, especially in tight spaces. While this isn’t necessarily a life saving extra, you may need to reverse onto a busy road.

Blind Spot Monitoring

This system alerts you to vehicles or obstacles in your blind spots with beeps, reducing the risk of collisions when changing lanes. It will also alert you if you fail to indicate when you cross the road markings too, designed to limit drifting.

pregnant woman puts pram in car
Ample boot space is essential for pushchairs and buggies and other junk in your trunk

Practical Considerations For Family Life

The best car should easily accommodate a pram, car seat, and other baby essentials. That means you’ll need to consider both the size of your new car and the number of doors it has.

While three-door cars are fine for drivers without kids, trying to get a baby seat or wriggly toddler into the rear seat of a three door car is no fun for anyone. Five door cars a much more family-friendly, and a better option for families.

Boot space is also hugely important for that perfect vehicle. If you’ve already bought your pram, pushchair or travel system, think about how this folds down and if there are additional sections (such as a detachable seat or carrycot, for example), that will take up extra space. Don’t be afraid to take measurements or even take your pram along with you when viewing new cars so you can check it will fit. And if there is a foot swipe to open the boot with no hands, all the better.

You’ll also want to consider the space within the car itself – is there sufficient leg room for a growing child? Handy extras like storage pockets for wet wipes and a cup holder can also make car journeys with young children easier.

Material matters too. With young children, spills and messes are inevitable. Look for cars with easy-to-clean interiors, such as leather or high-quality fabric seats that can be wiped down quickly.

If budget is not a problem, think about comfort and convenience too. Multi-zone climate control will help in the summer without opening windows, ensuring everyone’s comfort.  And obviously legroom is more comfortable, especially on long trips and family holidays.

Keyless entry and start allows you to unlock and start your car without fumbling for keys, which is particularly useful when you have your hands full with a baby.

toyata rav 4 suv
Sorry eco warriors, I have an SUV and live in a city. The Toyota Rav 4 is a hybrid at least!

Budget and Finance Options

Becoming a parent can be expensive, with all the clothes, nappies and baby equipment, not to mention maternity pay. For many new mums this means balancing the need for a safe, reliable car with budget constraints.

Do think about insurance costs, resale value and the car’s fuel efficiency to save on running costs. Location matters too, if you live in London, don’t get a diesel. Hybrid and electric cars can offer significant savings, particularly for urban driving. Certified pre-owned cars can offer the benefits of a new car (such as warranty and reliability) at a lower price point.

Whether you’re buying a new or used car, there are several finance options available. The most common way people buy a car is through car finance such as Hire Purchase (HP) or Personal Contract Purchase (PCP).

Alternatively, you might prefer to pay in cash, by credit card or take out a small personal loan to cover the cost of your new motor vehicle.

Whatever option you choose for your car finance, make sure you’re buying from a reputable dealer, such as trusted used car dealers in Wimbledon and that you thoroughly inspect and test drive the vehicle before purchase. It’s well worth doing just to test out the boot size and that it opens wide enough to get the pram in easily. (I would personally avoid saloon style cars for this reason)

If you’re unsure of the difference between an estate and a sedan, take someone along with you who’s knowledgeable so they can ask the right questions and you can be sure that your new car is right for you and your baby.

Examples of Suitable Cars

There are plenty out there, but on assumption a BMW, Mercedes or Audi are out of your budget you could try:

  1. Honda CR-V: Known for its reliability, spacious interior, and advanced safety features.
  2. Toyota RAV4: Offers a good balance of size, safety, and fuel efficiency. This is what I have and have no complaints, it’s a great size, has a moon roof and ticks all my boxes and needs.
  3. Kia Sorento: Provides flexible seating for up to seven passengers and comes with a strong warranty.
  4. Mazda CX-5: Highly rated for reliability and ample space for new parents and a growing family.
  5. Nissan Qashqai Combines the handling of a family hatchback with the height of a 4×4, making it a versatile choice.
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Ciaran Clarke
Ciaran is a father to Isabella (8) and Finnley (6) and lives in Hove, East Sussex. Our Digital Marketing, Technology, and Business expert we call on for business news and a light-hearted update on paternal parenting. Ciaran enjoys sports, cooking, and spending time with his children, and we enjoy his contributions so much we've nicknamed him Manny McPhee.