Detroit Says the Family Car is Back!

Detroit Auto Show
The electric Chevy Bolt has a rear hatchback design. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

The 2016 Detroit Auto Show focuses on family.

During the past couple of days AGirlsGuidetoCars explored the Detroit Auto Show – browsing the concept cars, new 2016/2017 releases and listening to the reactions and comments of the other spectators. We’ve noticed a common denominator in both what we were seeing on the show room floor and what people around us were saying – it seems as though the focus of the manufacturers and what the public might be looking for has shifted. Will this shift is design affect your family’s car buying decisions in the next year?

Detroit Auto Show
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

As the manufacturers unveiled their new designs one by one over the last few days in Detroit, many of them had a very similar focus: FAMILY. We watched as larger vehicles like SUVs and vans took the spotlight over some of the smaller and sportier vehicles. Amenities like rear seat reminders and teen driving safety features were the hot topics buzzing around in conversations – more so than the typical conversations of horsepower and torque. People were reveling in the way the newly designed features being added to the cars would make their family’s lives easier. Talk of where to put groceries and ways to keep kids entertained came up frequently – I kid you not! So what was it about these new designs that is making them so appealing to families and was enough to get an entire show room floor blabbing? We’ll show you.

Hot family picks from the Detroit Auto Show: the big daddy of all car shows

2017 Chrysler PACIFICA

Detroit Auto Show
2017 Chrysler Pacifica. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

One of the most talked about surprises of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show was the re-release of the Pacifica – a stunning new minivan which will soon take the place of the Town & Country.

Detroit Auto Show
2017 Pacifica interior. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

The Pacifica designers understand families, especially those with young children! They thoughtfully created the new Pacifica with a built in vacuum cleaner between the second and third row seats for easy cleanup where the vehicle gets the messiest, plus easy to maneuver rear seats that open and fold back down with just the touch of a button. Not only is the Pacifica a prettier than average looking minivan but the inside is also loaded with fun buttons and the hybrid version boasts a glorious 80 miles to the gallon!

2017 GMC Acadia

Detroit Auto Show
2017 GMC Acadia. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

Apparently the new 2017 GMC Acadia has shed some weight and had a recent face lift. The new 2017 version is now shorter in length but still has room for seating up to seven. Just to prove that the new Acadia was designed with families in mind, the brand now offers a rear seat reminder system standard on every new Acadia. This system will remind the driver to check the back seat before exiting if she had previously opened the rear doors before starting the drive.

Detroit Auto Show
Inside the 2017 GMC Acadia. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

2017 Chevy Bolt EV

Detroit Auto Show
2017 Chevy Volt EV. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

If running around to and from the house all day, getting kids to school and practice is your norm, then the new 2017 Chevy Bolt is something you might want to take a closer look at. This new all electric vehicle doesn’t need gas and can run up to 200 miles on a single charge – plus it has a sportier look that doesn’t necessarily scream “electric vehicle”.

2017 Honda Ridgeline

Detroit Auto Show
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

The new 2017 Honda Ridgeline was designed with every day family life in mind – by adding a sideways opening tail bed gate and an extra storage compartment within the truck bed itself, every day chores like bringing home the groceries just got a whole lot easier!

Detroit Auto Show
The 2017 Honda Ridgeline features. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

While the previous four seemed to dominate the majority of conversations at the auto show, there were several other new vehicles that I would recommend watching for as they arrive at the dealerships. These include:

2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid

Detroit Auto Show
2016 Chevy Malibu Hybrid. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

2017 Kia Sportage SX AWD

Detroit Auto Show
2017 Kia Sportage SX AWD. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

2016 Buick Envision

Detroit Auto Show
2016 Buick Envision. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

2016 BMW 750i xDrive

Detroit Auto Show
BMW 750i xDrive. Photo by Mary Moore for AGirlsGuidetoCars.

Which vehicle can you envision your family in? Tell us which one you’d choose and why. 

Mary Moore
Mary Moore

Mary Moore is a frequent road tripper, vintage car collector, and quirky travel enthusiast. One might say that her appreciation of how a vehicle looks and performs is deep-seated in her "Motor City" roots. It was this appreciation, and love of writing, that drove her interests in automotive journalism after earning her Bachelor Degree in Marketing from Western Michigan University. That and maybe the opportunity to work at home in her pj's on snow days if she wanted to. When Mary's not writing about the thrill of the track or sharing inspiring stories of the women she admires in the automotive field, she's sharing her own stories about life and travel on her blog, RaisingDickandJane.com. Mary currently resides in a state that is cold more frequently than it is warm. She appreciates her career choices daily.

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