Detroit Says the Family Car is Back!
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?
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
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.
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
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.
2017 Chevy Bolt EV
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
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!
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
2017 Kia Sportage SX AWD
2016 Buick Envision
2016 BMW 750i xDrive
Which vehicle can you envision your family in? Tell us which one you’d choose and why.
Categorized:Car Buying