Finding the best vehicle for your family

If spring weather has you thinking about upgrading your wheels, make sure the car you're looking at meets your needs.

Spring tends to give new life to the auto industry, especially after a long winter. And buying a family car can present different challenges.

Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com managing editor, Matt DeLorenzo, says to start by researching safety ratings, like those from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

For used car shopping, also review recall lists.

Then, when headed to the showroom, Delorenzo says: "Take your child's safety seat with you and test for yourself to see how difficult it is to get that seat in and out - and even booster seats too, because sometimes the belts are hard to work around."

For safety outside of the vehicle, DeLorenzo has another suggestion.

"There are so many systems available with blind-spot detection, and especially with a family, you really want a backup camera or you want sensors around the vehicles that let you know that there is either cross-traffic or pedestrians. Those really in many cases can be life-savers," he says.

Scope out the rear cargo area, an extra row of seating may come at the expense of storage space.

Note the height of the lift gate and whether the hatch can be opened hands-free to help pack items like strollers or groceries.

And finally, look for rear-seat entertainment options to get ready for that summer road trip and the rest of the road ahead.