Good Family Cars Are More Important Than Ever

This post has been written in partnership with Kelley Blue Book. All thoughts and opinions are my own based on my experience.

Are you looking for a great way to learn about the best family cars? The past 14 months or so has been a very, uh, unique time for just about all of us. Our lives have generally been changed in ways we never really thought possible. From being asked to stay home more, to working from home, to not being able to go to some of our favorite places for a while. There have been many challenges and many opportunities. For example, many city dwellers came to the suburbs and the country, and things like nice yards and good family cars became paramount to their lives.

Newfound Importance of Family Time, Good Family Cars, and More

It’s been a year of uncertainty and upheaval, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. My family and I have many more family game nights and movie nights, and we go to each other’s games and shows more than ever. It’s the little things that make a big difference and I think this past year has allowed many of us to really understand that a little bit more. I know I have.

Over this past year, families have spent more time together, at home and in the car. From taking road trips Out East when nothing was really open to driving to the beach because it actually was, everyone I know was leaning on good family cars , trucks, and SUVs perhaps more than ever before. Having a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable way to get around is just so much more important today than it was in the past.

As the year has progressed, things have slowly come back to normal. People are getting back to the office more. We have been seeing family and friends more. The kids are back in school full time again. This past month has been absolutely bonkers with sports, rehearsals, and all manner of kid activities. And thank God for that. We are so happy to be getting back to normal again.

With those activities and this newfound normalcy, appreciation for those good family cars is all the more heightened. We are driving all over the place for baseball, lacrosse, dance recitals, and basketball…and we are loving every precious minute of it. The best family cars take a beating and do it in style! Haha!

It certainly has been a wild ride, indeed. Now, we can’t solve all of your, mine, or the world’s problems right there, but maybe we can help at least figure out what good family cars are out there now and how it will benefit you and your family. It’s something I’m really passionate about, so please read along and let’s see what’s out there for 2021!

Kelley Blue Book

With such busy lifestyles, it’s so important that families have the right, safe car that’s equipped to keep them going from place to place. We seem to be spending more time than ever in our cars…and that’s not really a bad thing! I love driving and seeing new places from behind the wheel. Plus, who can argue with all those great places our cars take us these days?

But there’s so much to consider when looking for a car. You really need some great insights from people that know and that have been trusted for years. I know I do, at least. This is why I’ve always turned to Kelley Blue Book to figure out which cars and SUVs make sense for me and how I really should be valuing them. It’s just so important to be informed.

Family First, Always

As with every other part of life, when you have a wife, kids, and a dog, it’s all about them first. Family first, always and forever. That goes for the food we eat, the places we go, and the things we do. It also goes for the cars we look to buy. Right now, it’s the number 1, 2, and 3 consideration. As Kelley Blue Book puts it:

There are so many transportation options available to new car buyers these days. But for shoppers who put their families first, crossover SUVs offer the passenger and cargo-carrying capacity that make them the go-to choice over traditional midsize sedans. Full-size SUVs and minivans also hold appeal for roominess. In the case of the former, that also means towing capability. For the latter, a big benefit is flexibility.

This is very important to me and my family and it really hits all of the important points for me. Over the years, I’ve become more and more of an SUV guy, I just love everything about them. From the roominess and size to the safety and the features, they just always seem to be at the top of my lists for good family cars. Always. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon with three very active kids, a dog, and tons of friends to carpool around with. It’s awesome, isn’t it?

Best Family Cars of 2021

I love how Kelley Blue Book’s list of Best Family Cars of 2021 is broken down into Two Row SUVs, Three Row SUVs, Full-Size SUVs, and Minivans. Just this breakdown alone makes it easy for me. I look right to Three Row SUVs and Full-Size SUVs as I know this would be my preference.

Taking a look at the list, I am very eager to take a look at the 2021 Kia Telluride and the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. These cars seem to be exactly what I would be looking for. Hey, my 2021 GMC Acadia is awesome, but at 115K miles, it’s time to start considering other options. The car won’t last forever and it’s good to keep up to date with the current safety and efficiencies of the newest models…especially with a 16 year old girl looking anxiously at getting her driver’s learning permit in June. Ugh…is there a car with 234 air bags, Kelley Blue Book??

Evaluation Criteria

I also love how they talk about what I should look for in a family car in clear and easy to understand language. There’s a long list of factors that go into making the right family car choice. Some of the top things Kelley Blue Book considers when creating their list of best family cars include safety, value, reliability and durability, driving experience, comfort and convenience, cargo capacity, and child seats. Yep, they pretty much cover it all, don’t they? This is why I value their insights and rely on them when making what is a big and important decision…picking which family car to buy.

Testing Procedures

Testing new cars, trucks, and SUVs by the editorial staff at Kelley Blue Book is a year-round affair.  This is serious business and something the company takes very seriously. The process starts with last year’s list of Best Family Cars. Other candidates also go through rigorous tests as part of the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards, where both past winners and new models undergo evaluation.  As part of that regimen, many of these vehicles are brought to their offices for head-to-head tests.

Their staff includes parents of children ranging from toddlers to young adults. All this experience is invaluable in arriving at the final list of Best Family Cars for 2021.

It’s because of this info that I strongly encourage you to check out the article on KBB.com. Kelley Blue Book is the most trusted resource when it comes to car research and advice for car buying, selling, and ownership for a reason. They are thorough and they know what they are doing. It’s what they do.

Being a Dad

I love being a dad. It’s the greatest gift I have ever been given. Seriously. Even when they kids are a little much, it’s still just awesome. Seeing them grow and learn, and just being able to spend time with them is something that any parent really cannot compare anything else to. Period. I just love being able to see and do all of these things.

Crazy weeknights and weekends driving the kids from one place to the next and being able to see them play and perform is a privilege and a pleasure. It’s never been something I took for granted, but this past year has made it all the more important and precious. As with every other part of life, you just never know when and how things can end. It’s my job and I love it and I’m very thankful for it. It’s the best non-paid job that actually costs money to have that anyone can ever have.

Encourage your followers to check out the article on KBB.com and talk about how Kelley Blue Book is the most trusted resource when it comes to car research and advice for car buying, selling, and ownership.

Enter To Win

Isn’t it great to feel like a winner? Not only should you feel like a winner with all of this great car knowledge you now have, but you can be an actual, bonafide winner! Woot! Kelley Blue Book’s Best Family Cars Sweepstakes is here! Consumers will be able to enter for a chance to win a Stay Connected Tech Prize pack to help stay in touch with your loved ones near and far!! Think tablet, smartwatch, and more! 

If you’d like to take part, and why wouldn’t you, you can easily enter on Twitter from May 3 – 17 for an opportunity to win a prize pack to celebrate the mom or dad in your life.  During this time, consumers can go to Kelley Blue Book’s Twitter (@kelleybluebook) to see a pinned Tweet with instructions on how to enter: must follow @KelleyBlueBook, use #BestFamilyCarsSweepstakes and Tweet 3 words that describe their Mom/mother figure in their life. Feel free to retweet Kelley Blue Book’s tweet to spread the word!

Find Out More

So, have you been able to think about this last year much? What went right and what went wrong? What do you love and what do you hope to never have to deal with ever again? How has your current vehicle supported you over the last year, and which car are you most excited about from the list? I’d love to hear all of your thoughts!!!

Find out more about Kelley Blue Book Best Family Cars of 2021 by visiting KBB.com, following @KBB_com on social media, and searching for the hashtags #LifeInDrive and #BestFamilyCars!

Ok…off to today’s soccer practice, lacrosse game, playdate, dance recital…