Five Cool Auto Features for Moms and Kids

Automobile recommendations usually focus on price and gas mileage, but they oh so rarely factor in the cool auto features that moms and kids enjoy. Who says that we want to trade in creature comforts and gadgetry for the sake of price and safety? What are five awesome car features that you won't want to do without - once you learn that they exist?

1. Rear seatbelt indicators (2010 Cadillac SRX)

Consumer Reports points out that mom's 2010 Cadillac SRX dashboard suddenly shows a row of belted seat occupants, some of them green. What does it all mean? This cool auto feature alerts mom to less than model seatbelt use by junior and his friends. Knowing that everyone is safely buckled adds just a bit of peace of mind when leaving the driveway; it also cuts down on the confusion that a car full of kids inevitably causes.

2. Illuminated cup holders (2011 Toyota Venza)

Smart cup holders are so yesterday. Sure, they beat the pants off the one-size-fits-all models that squeeze the Big Gulp and propel the fast food drink to the floor. Really cool car features, which mom and kids are certain to appreciate during that long cross-country trip to grandma's, are the illuminated cup holders that make that after-midnight drink just a bit easier to find and reach.

3. Remote start system (Ford Taurus)

Gone are the days when you needed to have a line of sight to open up the car doors remotely. Instead, Ford now offers the optional Remote Start System accessory, which lets mom start the car engine from within a 1,000 feet radius. Sound and sight confirmation lets mom know that the engine is on and the car is running. What could be better on a sub-freezing day when the kids nevertheless still have to go to school?

4. My Key system (2010 Ford Focus and later models)

Granted, Ford's brilliant My Key design may not be a crowd-pleaser among the teen driver crowd, but it goes a long way to giving mom some serenity when junior takes the wheel. Mom controls the maximum speed of the car and also the loudness of the tunes the stereo plays. While she may not be sitting in the passenger seat, she sure controls the goings on -- to a point.

5. Chill Zone (Dodge Sebring)

Okay, so you could pack a bulky cooler and mess around with ice cubes and cooling packs, but why would you? Dodge has designed its Chill Zone, which comes standard on various Caliber models. The beverage storage compartment holds about four cans that will remain nicely chilled for the duration of the trip. Kids appreciate the ice-cold soda on the way home from school on a hot summer day.

Sources

Consumer Reports: "Cadillac SRX: There are little green people back there!"

Toyota: "2011 Venza"

Ford: "2011 Ford Taurus Accessories"

Ford: "Ford's Innovative MyKey System Helps Teens Drive Safer, Conserve Fuel"

Dodge: "Compare Vehicle and Model Specifications"