VAUXHALL REVEALS THE BIGGEST FAMILY ‘CARGUMENTS’

• Vauxhall research finds that being hungry, squabbling with siblings over space, and choosing where to sit are the biggest causes of arguments on long family car journeys*
• Children asking, ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ also cited by 26% of parents as a flashpoint – kids only need to ask this question three times before parents start feeling annoyed
• Almost half of parents believe going on a long drive with children is more stressful than going abroad
• The most important features in a car to make long journeys with children easier include having lots of space in the back, music streaming via Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto™ and large boot space
• New Vauxhall Frontera is designed for families, with a spacious interior, useful interior tech, and up to 1,600 litres of boot space

With two-thirds (64%) of parents preparing to go on a long drive with their children during October half-term, Vauxhall has revealed the biggest family 'carguments'.

Research carried out by Vauxhall* on parents’ experiences of long drives with their children found that being hungry (34%) is the most likely complaint, ahead of the age-old ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ conversation (26%). Although, it was found kids only need to ask this question three times before parents start feeling annoyed.

Meanwhile, 14% said their offspring lose all composure if they go through a zone without a phone signal.

As a result of the issues, 55% of parents admitted they are reluctant to take their family on a road trip, while almost half of parents believe going on a long drive with children is more stressful than going abroad (47%). 

The study also found 52% of parents have threatened to turn the car around because their children weren’t behaving, and 34% have followed up on that threat.

However, more than half (52%) said lots of room in the back of the car would make journeys with children much easier, whereas 45% highlighted music streaming via smartphone mirroring as the real difference maker. The new Vauxhall Frontera is designed with families in mind, featuring a spacious interior with up to 23 litres of storage space, as well as a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™.

Other practical touches include wide-opening doors that make access easy, as well as a centre console with a flexible strap that holds larger devices which would normally not fit into the cabin properly – such as tablets – safely in place.

Parents also highlighted a large boot space (30%) as a feature that can help take the stress out of long journeys with children. Despite the Frontera having a similar footprint to an Astra hatchback, it offers a larger boot capacity with the rear seats folded than an Astra Sports Tourer Electric (1,553 litres) at 1,600 litres. With the rear seats up, the boot capacity is 460 litres.

For 14% of parents, having the option of seven seats is also important on long journeys. The Frontera comes with the option of a third row of seats on GS and Ultimate Hybrid versions, in doing so making it the most compact seven-seater on the market.

Steve Catlin, Vauxhall Managing Director, said: “Road trips are a great opportunity to connect as a family, but when the conditions aren’t perfect, it can cause tensions to boil over. As parents, we all know that making sure you have the right snacks, space, and road trip playlist can go a long way in ensuring a harmonious journey. Equally important is having a car that can help make the journey easier. The new Vauxhall Frontera is designed to be family-friendly, with a spacious interior, the right tech to keep everyone connected, and features such as the Intelli-Seat to help long journeys pass in comfort.”  

Vauxhall’s study also found kids getting bored (50%), sibling arguments (37%), and keeping them entertained (35%) provide the biggest challenges for a long drive.  To combat this, 71% of parents prepare snacks and drinks to prevent the challenges before they kick off, while 22% stick to travelling during nap times.

Meanwhile, the average distance that parents would drive with their children before stopping for a break is 103.5 miles – well within the 253-mile range (WLTP) of the Frontera Electric Extended Range 54kWh.

When looking for a new family car, 74% said comfort is their top priority. To ensure long journeys can be easily completed with no aches and pains, the Frontera is available with Vauxhall’s Intelli-Seat feature for the front seats – a slot in the seat base that relieves the pressure on the tailbone to ensure body weight is evenly distributed. Features such as electronic climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel are also available to enhance comfort on long journeys.

To find out more about the new Vauxhall Frontera, follow this link.

The 10 most common ‘carguments’ between parents and their children

1. Snacks/hunger
2. Arguing with siblings over space
3. Who sits where
4. Choosing what music or radio station to listen to
5. Windows up or down
6. Forgotten items
7. Arguing over where to sit
8. Asking ‘are we nearly there yet?’
9. Arguing over toys
10. Traffic

ENDS

*Survey of 2,000 UK drivers with children aged 17 and under

PRESS CONTACTS

Mason Finney - Public Relations Manager

mason.finney@stellantis.com

+44(0)7788 178394

Matthew Bendall - Head of Public Relations

matthew.bendall@stellantis.com

+44(0)7920 163854

ABOUT VAUXHALL MOTORS

Vauxhall Motors started making cars in the UK in 1903. Today, as the oldest and most familiar of Britain’s automotive manufacturers, its philosophy is to build vehicles that are relevant to all and offer design, high levels of equipment and technology, and electrification at an attainable level. Vauxhall is one of few automotive brands to produce electric vehicles in Britain at its manufacturing plant in Ellesmere Port – the UK’s first electric-only manufacturing plant where the Combo Electric van is made.  Vauxhall’s Electric Streets of Britain campaign raises the profile of the need for more on-street electric vehicle charging so that everyone can benefit from the switch to electric.  Find out more at www.electricstreets.co.uk  

Vauxhall is part of Stellantis NV, a global leader created for the new era of sustainable mobility as a result of the merger between Groupe PSA and FCA Group in January 2021. Vauxhall is a leader in electrification – as of 2021, it was one of the first manufacturers to offer fully electric versions of all its vans. Since the end of 2024, Vauxhall has offered a fully electric version of every model in its car and van line-up. Info: www.vauxhall.co.uk