You can’t just buy any car when you have a family. After all, you might not be able to fit everyone in or all the stuff you often have to carry. You might also need the car to have particular features, plus you must be comfortable driving it. Here are some things you should think about when choosing a family car.

Style of car

Lots of cars can be defined as family cars. This includes saloons, estates, MPVs, and SUVs. Some hatchbacks can also be considered as good family cars, depending on the size.

Of course, some makes and model of car are specifically marketed at families. MPVs are a perfect example. These are definitely worth looking at, but don’t limit your search to this type of vehicle – you might find something else that better suits your needs in another style.

Size of car

This is probably the most important factor when buying a family car. You firstly need to have enough seats for everyone to sit in. If your family is five people or less, this usually won’t be a problem. If you have a bigger family, however, your options will be more restricted, i.e. you will usually have to go for a seven-seater MPV or SUV.

Make sure you check the storage space too. A family car will, at various times, need to carry prams, groceries, sports equipment, and school bags – often all at the same time. You should make sure everything fits.

Car seats

Make sure your car seats fit into any new car you plan to buy. This applies even if the car is large as it can still sometimes be tricky fitting in multiple car seats, particularly if you have to get three into the back seat.

Don’t be afraid to fit your car seats in while deciding on whether or not to buy the car as it is better you know there is a problem before you hand over your money.

Technology

Finally, check the technology to ensure it meets your needs – USB charging ports for the children’s iPads, DVD screens, etc might all be essential on those long family road trips.

Buying a family car is different to buying cars for other purposes as you will use it differently. It is important, therefore, that you approach it with the right mindset. If you’re making room for a little one and thinking of selling your car in UAE to upgrade to a family vehicle, start your journey at Simply Car Buyers. We buy any car for a guaranteed hassle-free sale.

The latest numbers are out, and we can see which car make and models are proving to be popular choices in the UAE. It’s not surprising that 4x4s have a heavy influence on the list, but there are one or two surprises, too. These are the top-five selling car models in the UAE.

Toyota Land Cruiser

The Land Cruiser is the best-selling car model in the UAE, and it’s not hard to see why. The four-wheel drive from Toyota is the company’s longest-running model and has comfortably outsold all other car types in the UAE. A great choice for off-road capabilities – a feat that holds high importance in the UAE – the Land Cruiser offers a 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine with 174bhp. Costs start from 163,454 AED.

Nissan Patrol

In second place is the Nissan Patrol, a direct competitor to the Toyota Land Cruiser. The car dominates the road with its big and bold look, fitting in nicely with other popular 4x4s in the UAE. The top-spec models come with satellite navigation, and there’s a powerful 5.6-litre V8 engine that pumps out plenty of torque. It may not be an upmarket, luxury 4×4, but it was never meant to be. For durability, though, you can’t go wrong. Prices start from 257,059 AED.

Toyota Hilux

Toyota enjoys a good relationship with car buyers in the UAE, featuring twice in the top-five list for car sales. The Hilux starts from 88,000 AED and is in its eighth generation. The pick-up features high durability which has made it a popular car choice in the Middle East. Even in the harshest off-road environment, the Hilux still performs admirably. Features include air-con, Bluetooth, heated door mirrors and satellite navigation.

Mitsubishi Pajero

Starting from 175,302 AED, the Pajero ranks fourth in the UAE’s most popular car models. The Pajero has a 3.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder turbo diesel engine and consumes around 9l/100km on the combined cycle. The high-range four-wheel drive means it can be driven on all surfaces, no matter the conditions. The car has excellent on-road handling, yet is still a contender for great off-road use.

Lancer EX

Mitsubishi makes their second entry on the list, this time with the Lancer EX, in fifth place. The Japanese car combines a sporty look with family practicality and offers a comfy interior. The base model is front-wheel-drive and is powered by a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4, with a five-speed manual gearbox. The Sedan is popular with many families in the UAE and costs around 44,000 AED.

If you’re thinking of selling your car or would like to know how much it’s worth, take a look at our car valuation page.

Hot on the heels of Tesla’s electric cars, which are now on sale in the UAE, comes Jaguar’s surprise entry into the all-electric car market.

Development well under way

The most radical car in Jaguar’s proud history of British engineering and design, the I-Pace was revealed at last November’s motor show in LA. But although everyone assumed it was a concept vehicle, built just for show, Jaguar design director Ian Callum stated that it was a “preview of a five-seat production car that will be on the road in 2018.”

Sporting heritage

With Jaguar’s roots in motorsport since the company’s birth over eighty years ago, the team in England strived to get the centre of gravity as low as possible. This prevents roll and allowed the designers to create a very stiff car, meaning it will respond well to driver input.

Grace, space, pace

Jaguar’s motto for years was “Grace, Space, Pace” and the twin electric motors certainly deliver the pace, with incredible grace from smooth delivery of high-torque power. The I-Pace will go from nought to sixty mph (96.5km/h) in around 4 seconds and has the power of the Jaguar’s F-Type R with very responsive delivery characteristics.

As there’s no engine or conventional drive train to rob the interior of space, the I-Pace is a true five seater with exceptional legroom, particularly in the back. The looks are similar to the recently launched F-Pace SUV and the I-Pace has full-time four-wheel drive too.

Tough market

The I-Pace is aimed squarely at the Tesla Model X. But that can already be bought in the UAE, so the Jag will have to be very good to take sales from it in 2018. But Jaguar is not wasting any time – a full-working production model is already being driven by UK motoring journalists and over 350 deposits have already been put down.

Selling a car in UAE easily and quickly

It’s too early to sell your car in preparation for a new I-Pace as it won’t be properly launched for eighteen months or so. But when the time comes, remember you can sell your car in 25 minutes just by contacting us at Simply Car Buyers.

There is nothing like a hypercar to set pulses racing and fire the imagination, and as manufacturers compete to produce the most beautiful and powerful cars on the planet here is our choice of the most spectacular.

• Aston Martin Valkyrie

  The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a totemic example of the direction this historic car company is being taken by new president Andy Palmer. The antecedent DB10, made for James Bond, was a beautiful, and seductive supercar, but the Valkyrie is on a whole new level. A product of collaboration with Red Bull Racing’s Adrian Newey, the Valkyrie showcases a newly invented aerodynamic scheme, features a 6.5-litre, naturally aspirated v12 engine, and a perfect 1:1 power-to-weight ratio.

• La Ferrari Aperta

  An open top version of Ferrari’s fastest ever production car, the La Ferrari Aperta was unveiled at the 2016 Paris Auto Show. The Aperta boasts the same engine and features as the hard top La Ferrari such as the top mid-rear mounted 6.3-litre Ferrari F140 V12 and the Formula 1 HY-KERS kinetic energy recapture system. Aside from the lack of a roof, the Aperta introduces some critical new design elements to optimise what was already spectacular performance.

• Bugatti Chiron

  Handmade in a studio, the Chiron is Bugatti’s successor to the Veyron. Even more powerful and more expensive, the Chiron features an 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, that can produce 1,500 horsepower. Although this hypercar’s speed has been limited to 420kmh on the road, its top speed has apparently not yet been tested. But looking at the dashboard and seeing 500kmh is as spectacular as it gets.

• Lykan Hyper Sport

  The Lykan Hyper Sport is the first hypercar brought to market by a middle eastern manufacturer. Built by W Motors, a company operating out of Lebanon, the Hyper Sport is spectacular in its opulence. When you turn on the headlights of this vehicle, the road in front will be illuminated by titanium LED blades that have been embedded with 420 15-karat diamonds. Performance wise the Lykan is powered by a mid-rear mounted, twin-turbo 3.8-litre engine and can hit a top speed of 386kmh.

With temperatures averaging 36°C, the climate in the United Arab Emirates can be inhospitable at times. Despite thriving infrastructure and some of the best irrigation engineering in the world, swathes of the country are naturally characterised by an unrelentingly arid desert climate which is subjected to searing heat in the daytime and severe temperature drops in the evening.

When it comes to long-distance transportation in UAE, it’s important to choose a car that offers reliability, off-road capabilities, plenty of storage space and a great air conditioning system in order to make the hours spent in the vehicle that little bit more enjoyable.

With these criteria in mind, we’ve selected our favorite models for UAE car buyers to traverse the climate in style and comfort:

Subaru Forester

For decades, Subaru has long had a good reputation for offering powerful performance and exceptional traction in all conditions, and the Forester is no exception. The latest model features a 6-speed manual transmission coupled with an all-wheel drive system. Despite having plenty to offer in terms of sheer brute force, the Subaru Forester is surprisingly light, and with nearly 9 inches of ground clearance, it’s perfect for rocky terrains.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited 2016

This Wrangler is perfect – almost like it’s been specifically designed for a desert adventure. Featuring an extra-long wheelbase, large axles, a removable front sway bar and locking differentials, it’s more than equipped for what the terrain of the UAE can throw at it. With an extra-large interior and four doors, it’s fair to say that Jeep has created a truly family-friendly vehicle here.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Don’t be fooled by the idea that the G-Class is the preserve of parents in the Hollywood Hills doing the school run; it’s actually a competent sports utility vehicle. Of course, the prowess of the G-Class has long been cemented across the UAE, where car buyers have been impressed by its distance-running capabilities, even in rough terrain. Perhaps the only downfall is that the G-Class tends to use a lot of fuel – so bring a jerry can to avoid getting caught out.