- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- moms today articles
- moms today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Trends in Transportation
What Will Meet Your Family's Needs? By Lisa Marie Metzler
. "It's a flexible people and cargo mover, offers safe driving amenities and makes reasonably efficient use of fuel." Toljagic transports not only his own immediate family, but often one of the children's grandparents as well. In addition, the Toljagics frequently go on family outings – three children, three adults, coolers, a picnic basket and toy wagon take up a lot of precious space. The Nissan Quest fit the bill for his family.
Charles Zinkowski and his wife, Dawn, of Medford, N.Y., want to upgrade from their small SUV to a minivan. With two children, the small SUV is no longer suitable. "Now, I need room for a stroller, and not just any stroller, but a stroller for two," says Zinkowski. Their friends have children the same age, so frequently the Zinkowskis will be driving six to eight people on their outings.
Currently, the Zinkowskis are looking at three different minivan models. They are considering the recommendations of friends, visiting dealerships and reading the newspaper classifieds. Their final decision will be based on safety and crash test ratings. "We want our kids, and others, to have room in our minivan, but we need them to be safe first," says Zinkowski. 
Debby Curran, a Horn Lake, Miss., mom of three is shopping for a newer SUV. "We like the body style and dependability of an SUV," says Curran. Though SUVs can be gas-guzzlers and some of the full size models present maneuverability issues, they remain popular.
For Seth Berkowitz, father of four, the Chevy Suburban was the top choice. "When my wife was pregnant with our fourth child last summer, we traded in our seven-seat 1998 Toyota Sienna minivan for an eight-seat Suburban," says Berkowitz. Since they travel as a family often and have carpool commitments with other families, they need the extra space.
The trendy and sporty SUV is easy on the eyes, but safety can be a consideration. Some SUVs score lower than others in crash and rollover tests. Be sure to check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's statistics on rollovers for your selected model. The highest and best rating a vehicle can receive is five stars.