7 Features That Will Spoil Your Kids

Grown-ups aren't the only ones that enjoy having fun on car trips – the under-21 crowd can also appreciate being shuttled in a car that has more than just passing scenery for entertainment. And though many of the accouterments added to new cars focus on the driver, there are still plenty of extras that can pamper your progeny.

From entertainment options that transform the rear seating into a movie theater on wheels, to add-ons that make the back seat more accessible to little legs, automakers are designing cars with kids' comfort in mind. As a bonus, many of these upgrades can help transform your next family road trip from something to be endured to an experience the entire family can enjoy. Check out our list of seven brag-worthy features that are sure to spoil your kids.

Built-in Wi-Fi Hot Spot

When taking a road trip with his two children, John McFarland, General Motors' director of global marketing and innovation, said a Wi-Fi hot spot is absolutely his favorite feature. "My five year old is hooked on it," he says. A Wi-Fi hot spot in your vehicle acts just like having Wi-Fi in your house: log in with your password, and you can tap into the car's 4G LTE connection. The signal is boosted by an antenna on top of the car and is fast enough to stream movies in many areas. This lets your little ones watch their favorite cartoons all the way to grandma's house.

"What it does is it enables the kids to always have their content with them," McFarland says. "One of the things as a parent that we always try to do is to make traveling as fun as possible for our children. Having that built-in Wi-Fi hot spot in the car seems like something relatively simple, but what we find is it enables us to make travel so much easier." GM includes a Wi-Fi hot spot across its entire lineup, including the 2015 Chevrolet Impala (winner of the 2015 Best Large Car for Families award).

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Wireless Charging for Your Devices

Most households don't yet have a wireless charging station, so having one built into your car is sure to grant your kids extra cool points from their friends. Wireless charging (also called inductive charging) recharges your phone batteries without using a plug. Simply place your Qi-compatible phone on the tray and turn on the switch. If your phone isn't set up for wireless charging (like most iPhones), a number of aftermarket products are available to take advantage of this tech. 

One of the advantages of wireless charging is you'll have fewer cords to hassle with. "A kid can come in with a phone, throw their phone down and it charges automatically," says GM's John McFarland. "They don't have to plug it in, they don't have wires. It's really convenient for passengers. Especially for kids, [wireless charging is] a bit of a wow factor … something that makes the cars really unique and come across as very technologically advanced."

Toyota was one of the first carmakers to bring this technology to market a few years ago. On the 2016 Toyota Camry Special Edition, the charging station is mounted in the center console, within easy reach of the driver or front passenger. 

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Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

For parents, the best thing about having a car with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is that it gives kids a way to easily share their own media. "Passengers are always looking to be active or to participate or to do something while they're on the way," says McFarland. A system like CarPlay encourages your kids to unplug their headphones and connect with the rest of the passengers, while letting them still enjoy their music.  "If you're a kid in the back seat and you want to play your music instead of dad's music, or you want to share the stuff you have on your phone, you can come in with your phone and plug it right in and your phone is automatically integrated with the vehicle," McFarland explains. Because phones connect to the system via a cord, you can seamlessly switch between everyone's devices. Parents can even use voice commands to control playback. At the moment, only a handful of vehicles offer this option, including the 2016 Honda Accord and 2016 Chevrolet Colorado.

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On-Board Screens with Blu-ray

If your media library includes a selection of Blu-ray movies, your kids can be entertained by their favorite Blu-ray flick in the 2015 Toyota Sienna SE or XLE. These ultra-plush editions have a 16.4-inch flip-down screen that can display one movie or show two separate shows side by side. In addition to the built-in Blu-ray player, additional ports let you plug in a DVD player or video game console. When different shows are playing, kids can pick which one they want to listen to with two-channel headphones (which also protect parents from the potentially distracting noises of sing-a-longs and video games). The headphones connect to the system wirelessly, with extra headphone jacks in the third row. As a bonus, if you struggle to be heard by the back-seat passengers, the 2016 Sienna has a built-in microphone that can project the driver’s voice into the rear of the vehicle, which means no more straining your voice to get rowdy little passengers to settle down.

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Folding Running Board

Kids are often faced with trying to fit into an adult-sized world: bathroom sinks that are out of reach, juice on the refrigerator's top shelf just beyond their grasp. Big vehicles can be daunting for a pint-sized person. But a few SUVs adapt to kids, giving them a leg up. If you have a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ, you can forgo hoisting your kid up or watching them struggle to reach the seat. This SUV's optional side step automatically extends when the door is opened, and then tucks neatly out of the way after the door closes. It's even illuminated to show your tike right where to step when it's dark.

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Rear Heated Seats

Front passengers have had the pleasure of warming their tushes on frosty winter days for a few years now, but the absence of this feature in the rear left back-seat passengers in the cold. Until now. With heated seats standard in both the front and the rear, the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Limited will be warmly received by your crew. Plus, critics say the back seat is roomy and comfortable, and the 2015 Sonata was named the Best Midsize Car for Families.

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All of the Above

Why spoil your kids with just one add-on when you can get them a fully-loaded coach worthy of Cinderella or Prince Charming? "I think the features by themselves are great, but when you put them all together, the experience for our passengers really becomes quite outstanding. I think where the magic happens is when they all get integrated together," says McFarland. "It's magic to watch my 5-year-old son walk up to the car, grab the door handle [and the door automatically unlocks using a keyless entry system.] He hops in his car seat, grabs his tablet, opens it up, and the Wi-Fi hot spot is already going." By combining kid-friendly comfort features while adding optional tech that supports tablets and smartphones, you can turn any car trip into a treat for your children.

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