Child-seat friendly sedans to choose from

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Child-seat friendly sedans to choose from
SAFE AND SOUND: Making sure your little one is firmly strapped into the car is one of the best actions you can take to protect them in the event of an accident. PICTURE BY Zululand Observer

Three years ago government made it compulsory for all kids under the age of four to be in fastened to a car seat when travelling in a vehicle.


Buying a car is not an easy process. It takes time, research, planning and a lot of patience. It becomes even more challenging to shop for a family car that is a both of safe and spacious. 

When you have a family that you care about and want to protect, safety and space are two key factors that are of the utmost importance. Add a baby to that equation, then your need for space becomes critical as you will need enough room to accommodate a car seat for your baby. 

Typically, parents choose to buy SUVs as they’re known for being big and comfortable. But there are sedans that offer just as much space to accommodate a car seat and safely secure your new bundle of joy. The trick is buying a safe car that has an ISOFIX mounting system. 

What is ISOFIX mounting system?  

ISOFIX mounting system refers to attachment points which connect a child-seat to the car seat. When a child-seat is attached to the metal points, it remains stable. ISOFIX makes it easy for the seat to be connected and is more secure than seatbelts. 

There are many sedans with ISOFIX mounting systems available on the market. But you have to consider a car that won’t limit your backseat space after having installed a car seat. To do that, you’ll have to do a bit of digging but soon enough you’ll be taking a drive in a safe and spacious car that you will fall in love with.

Fortunately, we’ve done our best to help you cut the research time. Below, you’ll find a list of sedans that are safe, reliable and spacious to fit in your baby’s car-seat. 

2019 Volkswagen Passat

The 2019 Volkswagen Passat sedan not only has enough leg room but also has cutting edge safety features such as the adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, rear traffic alert and more. These features are there to help you, giving you warning signs for any possible danger. We all know that it takes even a simple distraction to cause an accident. 

In addition to these features, the car comes mounted with connecting points on the backseats to make sure you’re able to safely attach your baby’s car seat. The VW Passat is one of the safest cars in South Africa that also has plenty of space to accommodate three child seats. If you have more than one child who requires a designated seat, this is the best family car to get.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class 

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers more than world-class performance; it has all the standard safety features you’re searching for in a family sedan. This includes collision prevention assist, a rearview camera, brake assist, attention assist, antitheft alarm system with remote panic feature and more. There are other optional features such as the blind spot assist that you can add should you need it. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is one of the best family cars in South Africa. So whether you prefer the 2017 or the 2019 model, the Mercedes Benz C-Class car allows you to install your child’s car seat on the two mounting points it comes with.

VW Polo Vivo 

The Polo Vivo is one of South Africa’s best selling car. Drivers love this car because of its versatility, sporty look and performance on the road. When it comes to safety, the Polo Vivo is a more affordable contender with similar standard safety features as the above-mentioned sedans. The safety features are somewhat more prominent compared to other cars in its class, with a child-lock and two car-seat anchors to secure one child in your car. It still offers a lot more space for other passengers to settle in at the back, even with the car seat installed. If you’re looking for something more compact, comfortable but also something that offers safety and enough room for your baby’s car seat, the Polo Vivo is perfect for you.

2017 Toyota Corolla 

The 2017 Toyota Corolla is a classic quality sedan that speaks volumes about reliability and safety. It’s the first of its kind to be fitted with the latest safety technology such as safety sense p-package, a forward collision warning system, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a lane departure warning and other cool features that will come in handy during an emergency. The car has two mounting points to attach and detach a child car-seat whenever necessary. 

2018 BMW 3 Series

This German-manufactured sedan is a five-seater with impressive legroom, as well as head and shoulder room. It might be called a compact car, but there’s nothing really compact about it. It’s big enough to meet your family’s needs. It packs in performance, agility and reliability. This luxury car ticks all of the right boxes on your checklist. It has the same standard of safety features as the above cars, with five airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, integrated turn signal mirrors and lane departure warning. 

Protection on wheels 

All of the above sedans are available in South Africa. 

When you do your research, feel free to consult with friends, family, and experts to help you navigate your search online. The list above will help you get started, but you can browse through the internet to find more family cars for sale that offer space and safety.

(edited by MLM)

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