So you’ve decided to upgrade to a family vehicle, but you still want those “cool” features that will keep the whole family happy, which quite honestly will keep you happy as well. Great…here are some things that will make every journey, be it short or long, an enjoyable one!

1 - DVD Player/Entertainment System(s): When your passengers are happy and occupied, you’re sure to have a better journey. Some vehicles feature dual screens, wherein two rows of passengers can be entertained by different programs. For instance, the second row of seating can watch a movie and the third row of seating can play a video game. And with wireless headphones, the driver can still hear their music while driving. It’s even better than home, where everyone has to watch/play the same thing…this way, everyone is happy.
2 - Driver Side Sliding Door: Not only will this be convenient when putting a little one in their car seat or groceries in the vehicle, it’s also a safety feature. A few years back, my daughter’s ringette team lost a player in a motor vehicle accident because she couldn’t get out of the van due to a lack of a driver’s side sliding door. To this day I wonder if her life would’ve been saved if the vehicle had been equipped with one. Need I say more?
3 - Storage compartments: For all the things you carry back and forth on errands – like the golf clubs and hockey gear; the strollers; toys; groceries; garage sale finds and snacks, wouldn’t it be nice to have enough space to tote everything around? The more storage you have, the more organized you’ll find you will be. If everything has a spot, then there is less chance of it rolling around under brake pedals, causing an accident or in spaces never to be seen again (until you miss it or worse, smell it…eww).
4 - User-friendly fabrics: Leather truly is very easy to maintain with passengers – especially children, but what does one do if they don’t like leather? There are fabrics on the market now that will make clean-ups easier than ever. Now consumers have a choice between leather and fabric and ease of cleaning with either.

A great vehicle I can recommend for choice on all of the above listed features would be our Dodge Grand Caravan or our Chrysler Town & Country. Both offer dual DVD screens; standard driver’s side sliding doors (which can also be power, for even more convenience); Stow’N’Go seating – giving more cargo storage than anything in their class and the choice between leather, or stain-resistant, anti-static, anti-odour cloth material called “YES Essentials.” All of these options will enhance your driving experience and make your passengers comfortable and happy. What more could you ask for?

Karen J. Williams is a Sales and Leasing Consultant with Okanagan Chrysler Jeep Dodge. You can reach her at (250) 861-1040.

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