Cars.com's 2012 Family-Friendly Feature Roundup
The year's end is just days away, and that means a flurry of "Best of" lists
will make their debut. Cars.com Family writers decided to get in on the fun and
share their favorite in-car features found in the test cars they've driven in
2012. Some of these features are safety-minded; others make things more
convenient, and some just keep us smiling in the driver's seat.
Keeping Things Cool in the Car
Heated seats have become common, but what really makes me happy is ventilated
seats, like the ones in the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CTS-V and GMC
Acadia. While a few other cars I drove this year had this feature, I give
extra kudos to GM's brands for making the ventilated air extra cold. Sometimes
the simplest things bring the greatest rewards — not having your legs or
back stuck to the seat on a hot summer day were definitely two of them.
A Parent's Tech Friend
Honda's intelligent-Multi Information Display came to the rescue for Family
reviewer BreAnn Ahara, a busy mama of three, when she drove the Honda Civic this year. With a 5-inch color screen next to the speedometer, BreAnn said
it gave her the information she needed right at eye level. It was especially
helpful when using the navigation system. Instead of looking away from the road
and at the navigation screen, i-MiD displayed how many feet she had left until
the next turn. She always knew where she was going thanks to Honda's little
helper.
Happy Mom Equals Happy Kids
Courtney Messenbaugh, Family reviewer and mom of three, says that massaging seats
should be standard on any car marketed to parents of young kids. While massaging
seats are only found in luxury cars like the Audi A8, Jaguar XJL and
Mercedes-Benz GL350 she tested this year, it's a safe bet that all of the
Family reviewers are rooting for this premium-of-premium features to be brought
to the masses.
Secret Storage Saviors
It's no secret that most families need all the storage they can get in a vehicle,
but sometimes a mom needs a space that's just for her. Reviewer Sara Lacey, who
has two kids, said she loved the Dodge Dart's hidden compartment under the
front passenger's seat. It was small, but Sara said it fit her wallet, a small
pack of tissues and sunglasses.
Because You Can Always Use an Extra Set of Eyes
Cars.com Family editor Jennifer Newman, a mom of two, likes Honda's LaneWatch
system, which she tested in the 2013 Accord sedan and coupe. A camera
attached to the passenger-side mirror shows what's going on to the right of the
car. When signaling a right turn, the camera view is displayed on the dash's 8-inch screen. It was distracting at first, she said, but found she relied on it
often while navigating Chicago's busy streets.
To Each Their Own Throne
Cars.com's Chief Mom Kristin Varela casts her best-of vote for captain's chairs
— specifically those in the Infiniti QX56 she test-drove this year. Even
though many three-row crossovers try to squeeze in as many seat belts as possible
with a second-row bench, having captain's chairs makes things so much better for
her family, Kristin said. Captain's chairs are comfortable for both kids in
child-safety seats and adults. They also make it easy to access the third row
— even when safety seats are installed — thanks to the walkway
between the two captain's chairs.
Related
Top 10 Family-Friendly Car Features
Third-Row Access: Captain's Chairs Save the Day
More Family News on Cars.com
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Wow, side cameras would save people a lot of close calls or scrapping other people's cars.