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Picking the kiddy car
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June 16, 2000: 6:37 p.m. ET
Safety, economy and sanity all play part in family vehicle choice.
By Staff Writer Rob Lenihan
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Pack your bags, get the kids and everybody climb into the ... well, what, exactly?
Buying a motor vehicle is one of the most expensive purchases you will make. When you're buying for your family the right choice means everything, especially if you and yours are partial to long rides.
What's the most economic vehicle? That's not going to be an easy decision.
Which one has the best safety record? How can I travel and keep my kids from killing each other all at the same time?
Well, family vehicles have advanced somewhat since the pioneers loaded everything into a Conestoga wagon and headed for the horizon.
Many vehicles have entertainment systems aimed at keeping your kids happy while you keep your eyes on the road. Looking for size? Sports utility vehicles are becoming more popular. However, as gas prices continue to rise, you may want to keep one eye on the pump as you chose the family wheels.
Hit the streets
David Champion, director of automobile testing for Consumer Reports, said minivans and station wagons are a good choice for families since children usually have bicycles or other such items in tow.
"(Minivans) are fairly easy to get in and out of," said Champion, who is also a parent, "and you can move the seats apart so warring factions cannot reach each other to fight over armrests." 
Then there's the view. The Chrysler Concord and the Dodge Intrepid are among several vehicles that have high waistlines and low seats, Champion said, making it difficult, if not impossible, for children to see out the window.
"If kids can see what's going on, they're much happier," he said. "If the seat is low, they sit in this black hole. They can't look out the window, so they look to their baby brother ... and after 10 minutes a fight starts."
Carrie McElwee, a spokeswoman for DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX: Research, Estimates), which makes both vehicles, said the she was unaware of this complaint and noted the vehicles had won awards for design.
"They're a good combination of fun to drive and practicality," she said.
In the sedan category, Consumer Reports recently named the Volkswagen Passat as tops among mid-priced six-cylinder sedans. The vehicle was cited for its handling and spaciousness. The four-cylinder Passat got the top rating earlier this year.
Several minivans come with a TV system that allows parents to slip a tape into the VCR and keep the children entertained. Champion had some concerns about this because it tends to distance the parent from the child.
"I like to chat with the kids in the car," he said. "The entertainment system does take that away."
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Safe at home ... and on the road
Crash injuries are the leading cause of death among children five to 12 years old, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, so safety is a key issue when choosing a family vehicle.
Automotive consultant Lauren J. Fix picked the Ford Windstar as her favorite family vehicle. "It has lots of room and double access doors," she said.
Fix also noted the Windstar received the highest rating of five stars from the National Highway Safety Administration. The rating indicates a belted person has 10 percent or less chance of suffering a serious injury in the event of a crash. Other vans receiving a high rating were the Ford Econoline and the Dodge Caravan, which each received four stars.
Fix also liked the Mercury Sable because of its advanced restraint system that gauges the timing and power of the driver's airbag deployment.
Fix said the minivan's popularity has been declining since 1995, as motorists have migrated to sports utility vehicles.
"The Gen X'ers are starting to get older," Fix said, "and they don't want to be like their moms. They want to be sport; they want to be active. It's a generational move."
Sudden impact
While some SUVs have tipped over in side impact collision tests, they generally fare better when involved in a crash with a smaller vehicle.
Unfortunately, passengers in a vehicle struck by an SUV are six times more likely to die than those who had been hit by a sedan. Fix maintains the SUVs road warrior reputation is more the fault of the driver than the vehicle.
"They think they're immortal," she said. "They get in there and think 'no one can hurt me.' The only driving instruction they've had was probably back in high school with the gym teacher sitting next to them."
Fix said many SUV drivers fail to read that little book buried in the glove compartment—it's called the owner's manual—which advices people on how to safely drive an SUV.
"The SUV, if driven properly, is a safer vehicle," Fix said. "It uses more gas and the insurance is higher, but if money is not an issue, it's an absolutely wonderful option."
NHTSA has a guide to buying a safer car on its Web site that gives consumers access to information about crash tests and safety features. Heavier vehicles offer more protection than light vehicles with the same safety equipment, NHTSA said, particularly in two-vehicle crashes.
NHTSA advises consumers to ask some basis questions when looking for a safer car:
· How well does this vehicle protect people during a crash?
· What features does this have that help you avoid a crash?
· What other types of safety features does this vehicle have?
A word on gas
After safety and the sticker price, young families have to look at additional costs—like putting gasoline into these vehicles. 
The news from the fuel front isn't very encouraging. American Automobile Association spokesman Mantill Williams said the organizations believes gasoline prices will go higher and probably not come down until the end of the summer.
And the drop probably won't be dramatic, Williams said.
"Fuel economy is obviously an issue today," Fix said. "Because of the cost of gasoline, a lot of SUVs are getting very expensive to fill up."
Champion said SUVs eat up the most gas at 14-to-15 miles per gallon.
Minivans are next in line, using 17 to 18 miles per gallon, followed by sedans, which get about 20 to 22 miles per gallon.
"The resale value on SUVs is much better, currently due to their popularity," Champion said. "But with the rising price of gasoline, we wonder how long this is going to continue." 
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