When it comes to buying a family car, there are a few things to keep in mind. Acquiring a car that suits a whole family’s needs is a different experience from shopping for a car for yourself, which means you have to take different things into consideration. You’re going to want something reliable, affordable and long-lasting, that will remain useful for years after you buy it.

Whether you’re looking for a family car to replace your zippy sports car or just looking to replace your current SUV with something more modern, here are some tips to keep in mind when you hit the dealerships.

How much room do you need?

The first question you have to ask yourself is how much room you will need in your car. After all, a small family may not need anything more than a regular four-door sedan, but a family with multiple kids or a busy lifestyle is going to need the space to carry extra passengers or extra bags. Figure out what you need a car for, how often you need extra space and how often you expect to carry multiple passengers.

If you know you’re likely to carry more things than passengers, for example, you don’t need to look for third-row seating from and can instead consider a car with a larger trunk. On the other hand, if you know your children will have lots of friends around or you just have a large family, you can look for a seven or eight-seater to fit everyone comfortably without needing a second vehicle for group trips.

What safety features matter most?

If you’re shopping for a vehicle for your family, safety is going to be a top priority. After all, you want to make sure that the vehicle you transport your loved ones in will protect them in the event of an accident.

Luckily, safety features are getting more advanced by the year. Along with features like side airbags and child-lock seats, cars are also coming with auto-pilot, driver monitoring software and self-parking features that can reduce the risk of accidents and provide an automated pair of second eyes to make sure that you travel safely.

Before you pick a car, make sure you look at the safety ratings, which include things like how likely the car is to roll over and how sturdy it is in a crash. A larger car may provide more physical protection in an accident, for example, but it may also be at much higher risk of tipping over when taking a sharp curve. Make sure to weigh all the safety features of a car before making a decision.

How functional is the car?

When it comes to picking the right family car with an Infiniti lease, you want to be sure that the vehicle you choose is functional. That means making sure it comes with all the right features that make a car important to you. That can be anything from autopilot to extra cup holders to reversible back seats that allow passengers to face each other during particularly long car rides. Some cars allow AC control for passengers in the backseat, which may be a popular option for parents of older kids who want more control.

Some cars have automatic doors and others don’t. These features are helpful but not critical to a car’s operation. Others come with rear cameras that allow you to reverse easily without accidentally hitting something below your back window.

And finally, you want to consider what features your kids will want to see. An entertainment system that can play videos is a popular option for keeping younger children occupied during particularly long car rides, and as technology in cars becomes more affordable it’s become increasingly common. Picking the right vehicle for your family comes down to figuring out what features are most critical to you and how much you are willing to pay to acquire them. Look for a car with decent mileage, the right amount of seats and the right safety and comfort features for your family’s needs.