From Woman's World · Patty Bontekoe · · 1m 30s
Best Family Car Features Worth the Splurge
Experts weigh luxury car features that save money and ease family life.
In brief
Experts weigh luxury car features that save money and ease family life. Experts recommend 360-degree cameras, rear climate control, and hands-free liftgates for family cars over expensive extras like rear screens and panoramic roofs. Originally reported by Woman's World.
Parking Tech Matters
Experts say parking sensors and cameras save money on repairs for big family SUVs.
“You may find it useful to invest in additional parking sensors and cameras. It can save you money in potential repair bills in the long run.”
Small Comforts Win
Rear climate control and easy third-row access improve family drive comfort.
“A cold or sweaty kid in the back causes more trip disruption than the infotainment ever will.”
Skip Rear Screens
Rear screens are unnecessary for families with tablets and phones.
“It’s not something I’d recommend. The features you should spend on are those that improve safety and your driving experience.”
Test-Drive First
Experts advise testing car features with family items like strollers and car seats.
“Bring a stroller, car seats, anything else you’ll be using to make sure everything fits so there are no surprises when you get home.”
360-Degree Camera
360-degree cameras help see curbs and pillars without twisting around.
“Having this camera in my car has helped with seeing curbs and pillars without twisting around in my seat.”
Rear Climate Control
Rear climate control keeps kids comfortable during long drives.
“A cold or sweaty kid in the back causes more trip disruption than the infotainment ever will.”
Hands-Free Liftgate
Hands-free liftgates save time with toddlers and groceries.
“A hands-free liftgate pays for itself the first time you’re holding a toddler and a bag of groceries.”
Skip Panoramic Roofs
Panoramic roofs don’t help napping toddlers as much as sunshades do.
“A plain manual rear sunshade does more for a napping toddler than tinted glass does.”
Skip Power-Folding Seats
Power-folding seats can be slow and pose safety risks for kids.
“Power-folding seats can sometimes pose a safety hazard if your kids climb all over the inside of a car.”
Skip Fancy Tech
Oversized wheels and gesture controls cost more and are rarely used.
“Most people turn them off within weeks.”
Infiniti QX80 Test Drive
The 2027 Infiniti QX80 offers practical features for family use.
“After a few days with the QX80, my husband and I agreed: We didn’t want to give it back.”
Why It Matters
Features that save time and money are worth the cost for families.
“Think about the situations your family encounters most often, then choose features that make those moments easier.”
The Bottom Line
Test features with family items to avoid surprises after buying.
“Bring a stroller, car seats, anything else you’ll be using to make sure everything fits so there are no surprises when you get home.”
What to Prioritize
Focus on features that improve safety and daily family life.
“Spend your time looking at what’s going to suit your family, and most importantly, what it’s going to cost you.”
Here's the gist
Experts recommend 360-degree cameras, rear climate control, and hands-free liftgates for family cars over expensive extras like rear screens and panoramic roofs.
