6 Moms on What Matters Most in a Car

It was a tough decision but Shelley Cadamy knew her "much loved" Mazda Miata just wouldn't hack it when her lifestyle changed.

With three fosters kids, ages 3, 6, and 9, and a growing interest in DIY home improvement projects, Cadamy knew it was time to trade the tiny sports car in for a Nissan Xterra.

"I wanted a safe vehicle with enough room for the kids," said Cadamy. "But I wanted to seriously avoid the `soccer mom' implications, so the Xterra was perfect for me."

Owning a car that offers flexibility for lifestyle changes without looking like a personal school bus are two key factors women car shoppers seek, according to findings of a recent study by car interior design company Johnson Controls, Milwaukee, Wisc. According to its surveys of women throughout the U.S. and Europe, women have very specific car need. Consider some of these car pros and cons before shopping for your next vehicle:

• Women need more storage space. Any woman faced with an armful of groceries, kids "stuff," and a pet or two understands that survey finding. The study by Johnson Controls reported that women prefer to have reconfigurable storage compartments that truly optimize available space. Lou King, an auto dealer in Alexandria, Virginia, can drive just about any car she wants but has chosen the new Ford Flex. Its three rows of seats offer various configurations and there is plentiful storage compartments including a small cooler/freezer. "We took it to Pennsylvania for a Lacrosse tournament this weekend, and it very easily handled me and my husband, my two girls (ages 11 and 14), a 10x10 tent, a large cooler, four suitcases, 2 athletic bags (one big enough for goalie equipment, the team first aid kit and the food we were assigned to bring," she said. "I love the Flex."

• Environmental factors are key. Yet women are also sensitive to their lifestyles and budgets, according to the study. Vanessa Caceres of Woodbridge, Virginia wanted a car that offered plenty of space for her family, which includes kids 4 and 13, but didn't want a gas glutton. The answer for them was a Ford Escape, which gets 21-mpg city and 27-mpg highway. "I like the car a lot," she said. "It has adequate storage and comfort without being too bulky to maneuver...Now, though, I would consider the Escape Hybrid because I like the gas saving angle."

• Safety first. Not only do women want to feel safe in the car when they're with their kids, but they want to feel secure when they're alone, according to the survey. Ashlea Minch of Valley Grove, W.Va., went shopping for an SUV to accommodate her 3 ½ year old stepdaughter. "We absolutely wanted something safer [than a standard car] and by most accounts that meant bigger," said Minch of the decision to buy a Chevrolet Equinox. "We really wanted to SUV for the extra space and safety features. We also wanted a trusted name in safety and made our decision based on those factors." Christy Jones of Dallas doesn't want a car that is too large. "I test the "reach factor from the front passenger seat meaning can I reach my kids in their car seats while remaining belted in and reasonably facing forward myself."

• Bring on the style. Suz Redfearn of Falls Church, Va., will soon trade in her 2003 Land Rover Discovery for a more gas efficient Honda Element or one of its cousins. With a 2 year old daughter, a 100 pound Golden Retriever, and plenty of "stuff," Redfearn knows one thing - - she won't be shopping for a mini van. "I don't want a van because...ick," she said. "No vans. I've got to have something that at least in some small way reflects my personality." The Johnson Controls study stated women long for "fun, non-mom" vehicles. Jones said she's a bit of a stickler for leather seats and other features for just that reason. "I always get a sun roof in my vehicle," she said. "[It's a] small pleasure..."

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