Mother’s Day: Happy Moms on the road
Moms are always on the run whether it’s commuting or acting as the family chauffeur--driving kids to school, activities, a friend’s house and daily errands, Moms always seem to be in the car and on the go.
In commemoration of Mother’s Day, check out our ideas for family friendly vehicles and tips on how to help Mom on the road. For those looking for a new car, here are some recommended models that have done well in safety tests, in reliability ratings, and that we've found to be comfortable, quiet, and spacious during our testing, yet attain reasonable fuel economy. In addition, we’ve also included models from some of our car testing staff, who also happen to be Moms, that are particularly functional and include features that make them easier to live with such as easy access, quiet, have good visibility, and particularly roomy and versatile interiors.
Minivans: The Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey minivans are roomy, comfortable and seat up to eight people. They have ample storage and above average reliability. The Sienna also offers AWD.
Mom’s pick: Let’s face it, if you add up all of the criteria that a Mom may need or want you're more than likely going to come up with a minivan. But if you don’t need quite that much room or just aren’t quite ready to make the leap to a minivan consider the Mazda 5 or Kia Rondo. These somewhat smaller hatches give you roomy, versatile interiors that are minvan-like but aren’t quite as large or uncool.
Sedans: The Honda Accord is a good choice in a mid-sized sedan. It has a generous back seat and powerful four- and six-cylinder engines. Stability control is standard on all models and crash-test results are impressive. If you’re looking for something more luxurious, the Infiniti M is roomy and comfortable with a well-appointed interior and logical controls. All-wheel drive is also available.
Mom’s pick: When the noise and chaos of the day put you on the brink of overload you may find some solace in the Toyota Prius Hybrid which his surprisingly more roomy than you might think and the quiet (at times silence) of the interior can have an almost calming effect for any crazed Mother.
SUVs: The Toyota RAV4 is comfortable, agile, and gets impressive fuel economy. For a larger SUV or minivan alternative, the three-row Toyota Highlander scored high for its refinement, quiet interior, ride comfort, power, fuel economy, and flexible and roomy second-row seat. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers great fuel economy.
Mom’s Pick: The Subaru Forester is also a great choice. It has a quiet cabin, very good fit and finish and a roomy backseat. Kids also find the Forester easy to get in and out of and if you have to be out driving in poor winter conditions (and what snowbelt dwelling Mom doesn’t) the AWD can provide some additional security.
If you’re the Mom who always ends up with an extra kid or two, then you may also want to take a look at the Hyundai Santa Fe. It's another SUV where the optional third row can come in handy and is easy to raise and lower.
Hatchbacks and Wagons: The Volkswagen Rabbit hatchback is sporty, practical and fun to drive. It has a versatile interior and good crash-test results.
If a new car is not in the cards this year, you can help Mom by giving her a driving break on her special day. Many people hit the road on Mother’s Day to visit family. On this road trip, let Mom just relax in the passenger seat or even in the back seat. Let Dad drive and have kids play a leading role in road trip preparations--getting directions (see our Ratings of GPS navigation systems), choosing activities and snacks, and bringing her favorite music or DVD along for the ride (including headphones). For more information on in-car entertainment, see our guide to mobile electronics. Better yet, Dads should be encouraged to take the little darlings out of the house so Mom can get some peace and quiet for a change.
By giving a Mom a break on the road it will ensure for at least one day she’ll be stress-free and prepared to take on Monday’s challenges.
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