Going back to school means joining in with the car pool and gearing up for being your kids chauffeur for the school year.  Whether its morning drop-off, soccer games, study groups, or day care – driving kids around is just a part of being a parent.   When shopping for your next car it is important to make sure it suits your needs and your families needs. Some factors to consider are space (both passenger and cargo), safety features, convenience, ease of use, and entertainment features.

Look for plentiful cargo space, second-row legroom and sliding second-row seats. Minivans, such as the top-rated Dodge Grand Caravan, are still the most practical choice here, but there are plenty of other options, particularly crossover vehicles. For those who want a smaller minivan that’s fun to drive, less expensive and a cinch to park, the Mazda Mazda 5 is an alternative, but it doesn’t yet have traction or stability control.

Crossovers and wagons are also great choices.  They have the space, fuel mileage, and safety rating that parents look for.  At the same time, they add a little style form the ho hum design of the minivan.