How to upgrade car of your mother?

Motherhood is probably the most taxing, engrossing and thankless fulltime job ever. I’ve been told that it is pretty rewarding but I fail to see the charm. But the fact that we exist is thanks to the fact that our moms not only bore us for 280 days in their wombs but then proceeded to give birth to us and raised us into functioning human beings. Anyone stepping out into the world soon realizes what a big part their mother has played into their lives.

Like any important job, cars play an important and unavoidable role here. Ferrying around the unruliest bunch of toddlers or teenagers is not a job that anyone can do. Many of us will start missing our moms under a constant barrage of heartfelt dedications on social media and thoughtful think pieces. Car makers, however, have been thinking of moms for a very long time. Here are some features that make driving easier, simpler, and more enjoyable for moms everywhere.

Practical doors

Sometimes parking spaces become too tight. Sometimes our moms literally have their hands too full of stuff to even open the door. Enter the foot-activated liftgate, an option on cars like the Nissan X-Trail. Just move your foot under the rear bumper and the door will automatically open. No need to drop the groceries on the ground just to open the door. A split gate like the one in a Land Rover doesn’t need to open entirely to be used. The lower door can even be used as a bench to sit and watch your child’s football game. Gull wing doors like the one on the Tesla Model X are probably the best suited for tight parking spots. But we don’t need to go to such extreme lengths. The ability to raise or lower the height of the loading floor like in the New Ford Escape can also make life infinitely easier for overworked moms.

Upholstery

A comfortable and luxurious interior is one of the best things you can reward yourself with. Leather upholstery not only gives a luxurious feel, it is also easier to clean. If only it was sturdier and cheaper. Alcantara suede that is commonly found in supercar interiors like the BAC Mono might be a viable alternative. It can also be made flame retardant. However, it turns out to be even more expensive at present. Hopefully, it will get more affordable with time.

Storage

“You can never have enough storage”, is probably a cardinal truth by now. For moms, this rings especially true. Car makers have come to the rescue yet again. On top of the numerous cubbyholes and cup holders, cars like the Honda Odyssey come with purse hook on the inside of the passenger seat. Mom sized purses were again what was on the mind of Kia when they made that huge storage space in the center console of the Sedona. Cars like the Dodge Caravan come within the floor storage, big enough for storing toys and sports equipment. The Honda Odyssey not just includes all these storage options but also a flip-up trash bag holder that can be fitted with a trash bag and used as a rolling dumpster. No more finding empty wrappers and bottles in gloveboxes and pockets. Speaking of bottles, many cars come with chillers while others like the Mercedes G500 come with heated and cooled cup holders that are color coded for added measure.

Safety

Safety for a mom holds a different kind of meaning. While features like rear cross traffic alert give a sort of passive safety, mothers like to take a more direct approach. They will not be satisfied unless they know what is happening behind their back. Unsurprisingly the Honda Odyssey has this sorted too. Its Cabin Watch feature allows the driver to keep an eye (read camera) on what is happening in the second and third row and displays it on the infotainment screen. Other cars have also used a separate mirror above the rearview mirror that gives a panoramic view of all the mischief happening behind. But driving and monitoring are not always possible or enough. This makes ISOFIX a must to secure baby seats and when they grow older childproof locks become just as essential.

Visibility

Visibility too takes a whole new meaning when it comes to moms and kids. Multi-view cameras just don’t cut it when there could be things waiting under the car. The Honda Pilot comes with under the car viewpoint camera that allows moms to find things left under the car.

Entertainment

The best way to keep kids off your back  on long rides is to keep them engaged. But that is easier said than done when there are too many kids occupying the second row. Fights on what to watch can very easily cause loss of sanity. Split screens entertainment like the one in – you guessed it – Honda Odyssey, do their best to keep everyone satisfied. Range Rover takes it up a notch with a dual view screen that shows different screens to the passenger and the driver on the same screen.

Autonomous tech

The future is now. Cars are almost ready to drive themselves and if anyone can benefit from this, it has to be mothers. Everything from parking assist to self-driving cars can make the lives of mothers much easier and also allow them to spend more time with their kids, or to themselves. Volvo and Tesla are at the forefront of this technology but we can be sure that more companies are going to follow this very soon.

Motherhood comes with a lot of sacrifices. These features try to make the lives of mothers that much simpler and enjoyable. For these unsung superheroes of everyday life, these features make for a well-appointed mode of transportation. What’s more, a car suitable for moms will inevitably be suitable for many other types of customers. Car companies are always looking out for our mom’s unique concerns and priorities. So, keep her in your mind today on Mother’s day.