Mother’s Day Behind the Wheel: Our Favorite Family Cars and the Lessons We Aim to Leave for Our Kids
Celebrate Mother's Day with us as our writers share the life lessons they teach their kids through their careers and their favorite family cars.
As reviewers, we’ve all tested cars that claim to be family-friendly. Some pass the test and have us looking up prices in our area, while others leave us with a bad taste in our mouths. While criticizing things like tinted windows, built-in sunshades, or the number of cupholders seems frivolous, there’s an important reason for this: kids are hard on cars, and since moms do a lot of the kid-toting, we know what to look for and how it can affect a car’s potency in the future.
But there’s another aspect we look for: how a car makes us feel. Some of us love minivans. Others don’t. Some of us prefer a car that makes us do a double-take when we walk away. Others care more about utility.
To celebrate Mother’s Day (and how diverse our reviewing team is), we asked our writers for a peek of what’s behind their own garage doors, how these rides make life a little easier, and what we want our kids to take away from our fun careers in automotive media.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Here’s What We Asked Our Writers this Mother’s Day
To celebrate Mother’s Day, we reached out to our panel of expert contributors to share their unique perspectives on the intersection of family life and the automotive world. We asked these writers to dive deep into their favorite family vehicles, detailing the specific features that make them stand out in the daily shuffle of parenting and road-tripping.
More importantly, we challenged them to reflect on the legacy of car ownership: what lessons do they hope their children learn from the vehicles they drive, and how does their time on the road shape their family’s values? From girl-boss luxury SUVs to the dependable “husband material” of a modern minivan, their responses offer a heartfelt look at why the right car is so much more than just a way to get from point A to point B.
Erica Mueller is a Fan of German Engineering, For Excellent Reasons
Erica Mueller shares that her ultimate dream mom-car is the Audi Q7, a vehicle she chooses because it balances high-capacity seating for seven with performance and style.
“I enjoy driving, and I want the car I drive to be quick, powerful, and safe, and to reflect my personality,” Erica explains, noting that the Q7 allows her to have the passenger space she needs without feeling like she has “sacrificed anything.”
Beyond the technical specs, Erica views the time spent in the car as an opportunity to teach her children about quality of life and ambition. This Mother’s Day, she wants her kids to “realize that cars can be a part of that enjoyment” rather than just a way to get from point A to point B. By choosing a car that offers more than just utility, she hopes to show them that “we can have our cake and eat it too,” and that while “sometimes we have to work extra hard for it,” the enjoyment of their time together in the car makes the effort worthwhile.
Holli Fourniquet Loves the Parent-Proved Toyota Sienna
Holli Fourniquet offers a glowing endorsement of the Toyota Sienna, a car she knows intimately after driving it nearly 2,500 miles across Route 66. She highlights practical luxuries like the built-in vacuum, minifridge, and flexible seating, but her appreciation for the van goes deeper than its features. Holli excitedly describes the Sienna as the automotive version of “husband material,” explaining, “It’s not the sexy fling you find at the bar; it’s the one who consistently shows up, takes care of everything, and makes your life easier.”
For Holli, the automotive industry has provided a unique path for her family’s lifestyle and her son Tucker’s education. She incorporates car-related content creation into Tucker’s homeschool curriculum, using the industry as a living example of how to “chase his dreams” and avoid a “cookie-cutter future.” For Mother’s Day, she wants her son to understand that the opportunities they enjoy come from hard work and sacrifice, but ultimately, “the reward is sooooo worth it!”
Shannon Bassett Loves Her Trusty Kia Telluride
Shannon Bassett identifies her 2022 Kia Telluride as her “ultimate (and favorite) family ride,” noting that it hits the “absolute sweet spot for a family of four.” She appreciates the vehicle’s “elevated styling and tech upgrades” and describes the current model as having a “ballin’ on a budget vibe” with enough luxury looks and features to keep any parent sane.
For Shannon, the car is a symbol of a larger life lesson she is sharing with her sons. Having pivoted from a career in nursing to automotive journalism, she uses her journey to teach them that “you’re never stuck in one lane.” By working hard for her “dream car,” she hopes to show her boys the importance of taking risks and following their passions. “If they make a career out of what they love, they will never work a day in their lives.”
Scotty Reiss Loves an EV, and Her Hyundai Ioniq 5
“Even though I get to drive lots of great cars, coming home to something I really love, that improves my day, that is a delight to drive, matters to me,” Scotty said. The ease of driving an EV, from charging it at home to its get-in-and-go nature to the open cabin has convinced her: this is the way to go.
But convincing the family to follow suit? She didn’t think that would be quite so easy, but she wanted to try. So when her long-term test drive, the Ioniq 5, arrived, she put the whole family on her insurance policy so they can all drive it too. And the feedback and fresh perspective was worth it. Now her daughters understand and appreciate EVs.
“Of course I want my daughters to see me work, to feel proud of the work they do, to have a solid work ethic and realize reward for their hard work,” she said. “But I also want them to understand the value of trying and adapting to new things, and when it comes to cars, to realize that they can own the experience in these expensive, intimidating things, too. I think that’s one of the reasons women shy away from cars; but if they embrace the idea and try new things, they’ll love both the drive and the sense of accomplishment.”
Jenn Mitchell Comes From a Subaru Outback Family
Jenn Mitchell’s vote goes to the Subaru Outback, a vehicle she relies on for its safety rankings and its ability to handle “the snow and ice of New England winters.” She highlights the car’s practicality, from its “ample storage space” for luggage to the ease of attaching a cargo carrier to the roof rails for extra room.
The value Jenn places on Subaru’s safety this Mother’s Day is deeply personal, rooted in a harrowing experience where her children were involved in an accident that left the car on its side. She credits the vehicle’s engineering for protecting them, noting that “airbags, especially by the passenger seat, saved my daughter from what might have been serious injuries.” First responders on the scene even remarked that her children “were very lucky to be driving such a safe car,” leading Jenn to believe that when her kids are ready to buy their own vehicles, “they will choose Subarus too.”
I’m a Subaru Lover, Too, Every Day, Not Just Mother’s Day
I bought my 2011 Subaru Forester in 2017 when I was 24 and working at Domino’s. Looking out the store window, I remember thinking that one day I’d use that car to bring my future babies home from the hospital. Years later, my little Subie did exactly that—twice—after carrying me through countless road trips and moves across state lines and zip codes.
Nearly a decade later, I still drive it, and my husband, mother-in-law, sister, and father have all become Subaru drivers, too. The Forester offers the perfect mix of visibility, cargo space, and safety without the massive price tag. My commitment to the brand was solidified early on when a police lieutenant told me she had never seen a Subaru accident where the occupants didn’t walk away. That kind of peace of mind is worth more than any fuel mileage trade-off, especially when driving my kids through any season.
If there is one thing I want my children to learn from my career, it is that they can do anything they set their minds to. I originally studied law and criminal justice, but after watching Top Gear and thinking, “I can do that, too,” I made the pivot to automotive journalism. It wasn’t an easy transition, but I’ve built the life my 19-year-old self only dreamed of.
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