For parents, a car isn’t just transportation, it’s basically a mobile command center for their family. Between school drop-offs, soccer practice, road trips and grocery runs, a vehicle has to handle chaos with grace and ease. Luckily, modern cars come packed with features designed specifically for parents.
For OEMs looking to capture the lucrative market of drivers who are parents — estimated to be between 60-70% of drivers — these are the features that will win them over and drive business.
What are the best car features for parents?
Here’s 10 of the best car features for parents we’ve seen from brands around the globe, complete with real-life examples, that make daily life smoother, safer, and (hopefully) a little more peaceful.
1. Advanced safety systems
Safety tech has come a long way, which for parents is a must. Features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and AI-based behavior prediction can prevent accidents before they happen.
Example: Volvo’s Lane Departure Warning monitors the driver (head and body posture, eye movement and focus) and sounds an alert when crossing lane markings unintentionally.
2. Rear-seat reminders
Have you ever seen those news stories where a parent has unwittingly left a child or pet in the backseat of the car without realizing? We’ve all had those “Did I leave something in the back?” moments. Rear-seat reminder systems help prevent these accidents by alerting the driver to any motion in the backseat — or if a door was left open before setting off.
Example: With Volvo’s radar-based occupant detection, if the driver tries to lock the vehicle while a child (or pet) is detected inside, the lock function is disabled and an alert is displayed on the center console.
3. Digital continuity
Between phones, tablets, earphones and gaming devices, modern families need serious charging (and streaming) power. End “who gets the charger?” fights with multiple USB/C and wireless charging points, as well as WiFi hotspots, that keep everyone's devices fully charged and online for the journey.
Example: The Chevrolet Traverse has up to six USB ports, so everyone can plug in, and Rivian Connect+ provides in-vehicle WiFi hotspots to keep the family connected on the go.
4. Adaptive lighting and comfort shading
Kids love road trips. That’s until the sun hits them in the face for three straight hours. Built-in sunshades help keep little ones cool and protected and ambient lighting improves comfort.
Example: The BMW Panoramic Sky Lounge protects from the sun but also creates a calm atmosphere for relaxation and better sleep.
5. Hands-free power liftgates
Ever tried juggling a toddler, a diaper bag and a week’s worth of groceries while trying to open or close the trunk? It’s not fun. Parents want convenience so a hands-free liftgate is a sanity-saver. A very simple car feature but one that parents will appreciate.
Example: The Ford Explorer lets you open the trunk with a simple kick under the bumper while Tesla’s trunk will open automatically when standing near it. No need to drop anything (or anyone!)
6. Rear-seat infotainment systems
A few years ago, rear-seat infotainment was the pinnacle of luxury. Now it’s far more attainable but still every bit as desirable. Keep the peace on long drives with individual backseat screens, tablet mounts and content control through parental profiles. A quiet car is a happy car.
Example: The Chrysler Pacifica Uconnect system comes with dual HD touchscreens that can stream movies, play games and download content from streaming services.
7. Flexible, spacious seating
Families come in all shapes and sizes — often carrying car seats, strollers and more — so it’s important for OEMs to cater to this. Flexible, customizable seating lets you adapt quickly and allocates space wherever its needed most.
Example: The KIA EV9 swivel seats fold down easily, slide on rails and rotate up to 180°, making it simple to access the third row, separate squabbling siblings or turn the back of the car into social spaces for playing games.
8. Tri-zone climate control
Say goodbye to “It’s too hot!” or “It’s too cold!” arguments. Multi-zone climate control (separately-controlled vents in the front and the rear) lets everyone pick their comfort level.
Example: The Honda Pilot LX offers tri-zone climate control so parents can stay cool up front while the kids stay cozy in back.
9. Family friendly materials
This car feature might sound obvious but it’s a life saver for parents. Spilled juice, food crumbs, muddy boots from soccer practice — cars can get very messy very quickly. But the right family friendly materials make cleanup much easier. Bonus: appeal to Gen Z kids with sustainable materials.
Example: The Honda CR-V offers leatherette upholstery (and all-weather mats) that wipe clean in seconds, which is extremely beneficial for families with toddlers in particular. And Volvo uses natural and recycled materials in their EX range of vehicles.
10. Surround-view
Backing out of your driveway or trying to parallel park shouldn’t be a guessing game. With young kids in the back it can be hard to receive the advice you need to pull out safely. But these cameras help you see everything behind (and around) your car.
Example: The Nissan Pathfinder’s Around View Monitor provides a 360° bird’s eye view of the vehicle, making parking lots and driveways much easier and safer.
Future car features for parents
As well as all of the amazing car features for parents above, below are a few other features for OEMs to consider that make parent’s driving lives a little easier that are predicted — or already emerging — in the next 10 years.
- AI systems: AI is already in the automotive world but its in-vehicle potential has barely scratched the surface. Imagine a fully autonomous AI that drives while the parent takes care of an infant on the back. Or even the reverse — an AI assistant that comforts a child while the parent drives. “Hey Nomi, calm the kids down.” And soon we’ll have behavioral AI systems that will be able to remember individual preferences (routes, temperatures, seat positions) meaning everyone in the family is kept happy the moment they get in the car.
- Built-in vacuum cleaners: Not as exciting as, say, AI assistants, but this is the kind of small feature that makes a car go from good to great in the eyes of parents. No more hassle having to tidy up crumbs and dirt when it can be hoovered up automatically.
- Transforming cabins: While we already have flexible seating in vehicles, soon that could be taken a step further with fully flat beds. Parents can enjoy long drives knowing the kids are fast asleep in the back.
Win over every driver, not just parents
The right car features can make being a parent smoother, safer and more enjoyable. Whether loading up for a family vacation or just surviving another school run, these thoughtful innovations make life in the vehicle less of a chore and more of a pleasure.
But parents are merely one measure in the world of drivers that OEMs need to cater to if they want continued success. What do other demographics want from their vehicles? And how do driver preferences differ in different global markets?
Find out what today's consumers want from car manufacturers and the industry trends to know for 2026 and beyond in our global automotive industry outlook 2026.
