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Cars Mask Their Family-Hauling Abilities
Oct 31 2008 by Emily Hansen
In the spirit of Halloween, I’m unmasking family cars that parade around in disguise — in costume if you will. There are three vehicles types that are hot-looking or fun rides; the kind of rides our less-encumbered sisters flaunt at every chance (who could blame them, really). But under their costumes, they’re really family cars. So without further ado, let’s remove their masks.
The first type of concealed mom-mobile is the sun-loving convertible. Two surprisingly family-friendly convertibles are the BMW 335i, which we recently reviewed, and the Volvo C70, a car that remains a MotherProof.com favorite. These convertibles both have rollover safety technology and Latch connectors for child-safety seats. No tricks here, these convertibles are a real treat.
Next, we move to the pickup truck. A perennial favorite of many dads I know, these haulers can handle the kids nearly as well as they move home-improvement supplies. The Dodge Ram has been redesigned with an eye on families and how they use trucks in their daily lives. A more fuel-efficient choice is the Honda Ridgeline. It makes sense that a pickup can be a family vehicle; I mean, what else can haul as much trick-or-treating booty as a pickup?
Finally, let’s take a look at small, sporty cars. The Audi A3 and the Mini Cooper S are fun-to-drive cars that can accommodate a couple of kids, and they offer Mom some of the driving oomph that she craves. Surprised? We were, because some small cars can seem like spooky family-car option.
The next time you see a family car incognito, remember that we all like to dress up in costumes at least once a year.
