When you are in the market for a new family car, kicking the tires won't give you the full picture.  This big-ticket purchase requires parents to balance out the demands for safety, usability and economy.  The ideal vehicle includes an affordable sticker price, solid fuel economy and features that meet the needs of your family as it grows.

To take some of the mystery out of the process, work up a list of features a potential vehicle must have to keep your family safe and comfortable.  The suggested features below can help start your list.

Must have features:

Tips for buying:

Whether you are considering a new or used car, the purchase is a sizable investment.   Before deciding upon a vehicle, test out how well it fits your family and what type of impact it will have on your budget in the short and long-term.

The following shopping tips will help you identify which vehicle best meets your family's needs.

• Bring along any carseats to determine how easily they fit in the vehicle.  You also want to test how easy or difficult it is to maneuver kids in and out of them.
• Bring strollers, diaper bags and any other gear your family commonly totes  to evaluate how well the vehicle's storage area can accommodate it and how easily you can access items you need.
• Have the entire family enter and exit the vehicle to determine how well the size and design accommodates your needs.   Remember to consider whether the vehicle provides enough room for kids to enter and exit comfortably as they grow too.

In addition to the sticker price, you'll want to consider long terms costs when shopping for a family friendly car.  Upkeep and fuel costs over the long term are just as important to consider as the initial cost.

• Find out what type of warranty or maintenance package is included with any potential vehicle.  It's important to have an idea what type of maintenance costs you can expect down the road, even if you are buying a new vehicle.
• Smaller sedans typically provide better fuel economy than SUVs, however minivans and smaller SUVs provide more cargo space than sedans and do better on fuel than larger SUVs.
• Hybrids do better than gasoline-powered vehicles for fuel economy, but their purchase price is higher.
• Diesel vehicles also do well on fuel consumption, but the price of diesel is higher than gas per gallon.

Finding a vehicle with features that meet your family's comfort and safety needs with  initial and long term costs that meet your budget's needs is no small task, but it is not impossible.  Having a clear picture of what you need before even beginning to shop is the best way to ensure your purchase continues to fit your family well down the road.