Some cars are simply much better suited to different environments than others. There’s nothing, exactly, to stop you from having a Range Rover in the city but you won’t be taking advantage of many of the features that you’re paying for, and you might well have trouble finding parking space. Size, terrain suitability, and the different fuel efficiencies of a car, based on whether you’re driving in the city or on the motorway, should factor into what environment a car is best suited to.

Does it fit your family?

If you have a family, then this should be one of the very first things that you think of. Family-friendly cars tend to be all about how much space they can afford, both in the seating options they come with as well as the boot space they have for storage. You may want to make sure that the whole family can fit safely and comfortably into your car, and that it has space for any baby seats, schoolbags, instrument cases, or whatever else you might have to bring around when you’re running your family.

Its reliability and safety

Although it’s up to you how much of a priority it should be, reliability should at least be something that you think about. Cars that are renowned for being well-engineered and with high reliability, such as a Volkswagen, are a lot more likely to last you longer, give you less trouble on the road, and better maintain their value as a result. You should consider what safety features the vehicle has, as well, as good reliability can be undermined if the car gets into a collision.

How it factors into your budget

• Even if you’re able to take the initial buying price of the car with no issue, that’s not the only way that your choice of car can affect your budget. For one, deciding whether to buy a new car or a used car can affect its affordability greatly. Different cars have different insurance costs, for one, and you have to consider their fuel efficiency, as well, which again factors into the question of where and how you drive it. Try to get an idea of the running costs of a car before you make your final decision.

The elements of a car that factor most in your decision are likely to change from person to person, but it’s important to at least think about those above so that you’re able to consider a car in its totality before making a decision.

*Disclosure* This is a collaborative post.