Chauffeuring kids around amid all the other responsibilities that parents face can be exhausting duty. To ease nerves and boost sales, automakers are offering vehicle-shopping parents an array of conveniences. Sifting through the latest models, Parenting magazine has come up with seven to suit just about everyone's taste — even those underage back-seat drivers.

Two of the seven featured in the magazine are:

Courtesy of GM Company

The Chevrolet Traverse can easily carry half your kid's soccer team.

Chevrolet Traverse
By the numbers: Three rows, up to eight seats, 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway

Carpool 2.0: Sliding second-row seats that children as young as 7 can operate. Play tunes on your smartphone through the sound system using wireless Bluetooth.

Mommy, I can do it: The seat belts are easy for kids to snap themselves into.

No sticky seats: The cup holders can accommodate juice boxes and sippy cups.

Price: From $29,510; chevrolet.com

Courtesy of Toyota Motor Corp.

The Prius V has plenty of room in the back — just don't forget the kids.

Toyota Prius V
By the numbers: Five seats, 67 cubic feet of storage with the rear seatbacks down (that's approximately 98 paper grocery bags), 44 mpg city/40 mpg highway

Appy family: The dashboard doubles as a tablet. Toyota's Entune multimedia system lets you use the in-dash touchscreen to tune in to The Muppets station on Pandora, search Bing for the nearest Pinkberry, or get live traffic reports.

Price: From $26,400; toyota.com

Of course, now you just have to find that middle ground between the wheels you want and the one the kids want.

More from Parenting.com:

10 best cities for families 
Common car seat mistakes you may be making   
17 convertible car seats with extended rear facing

By Kara Reinhardt
Cheapism.com

Conventional wisdom holds that children should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they celebrate their first birthday and weigh at least 20 pounds. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics revised its policy this year to recommend that kids ride facing backward until the age of two, regardless of their weight. A convertible car seat lets children who’ve outgrown an infant seat continue to ride backward until they’re old enough to face forward safely.

Convertible car seats priced at $100 or less mirror more expensive car seats when it comes to basic components. Rather than being secured with a seat belt, most lock into place using the LATCH system of anchors built into most cars made in the past decade. Car seats these days also come with a five-point harness, with straps around the hips in addition to the customary straps over the shoulders and between the legs. However, some harnesses are more adjustable than others. Look for as many strap positions as possible to accommodate a growing child. Higher weight limits also let a child get more use out of a car seat and remain in the safer rear-facing position as long as possible.

Many budget models come with removable, washable seat pads for easy cleaning — keep in mind that a darker color will mask stains. Another thing to take into account is the size and weight of the seat. Features such as activity trays and cup holders add appeal, but can make a car seat too large to move easily from car to car — or too big to fit in some cars at all. You’ll also want to leave space in the back seat for other passengers.

Below are Cheapism’s top picks for convertible car seats. 

• The Evenflo Titan Elite (starting at $100) can carry children up to 35 pounds facing backward and all the way up to 50 pounds facing forward. Its five-point harness can be adjusted to four shoulder heights and two buckle positions. The removable seat cover is machine-washable, and parents find secure installation simple. (Where to buy)
• The Safety 1st OnSide Air (starting at $64) has an impressively high 40-pound weight limit for rear-facing passengers. It also boasts a highly adjustable five-point harness, with four shoulder-strap heights and three buckle positions. Reviews note the comfortable design and easy installation. (Where to buy)
• The Graco ComfortSport (starting at $72) accommodates children up to 30 pounds facing backward and 40 pounds facing forward. It offers three shoulder-strap positions, although the buckle is not adjustable. The removable, machine-washable seat pad provides a comfortable ride. (Where to buy)

Be sure to register any car seat you buy in order to be notified of any recalls. One final safety note: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that only about one out of every four car seats is installed properly. As part of the agency’s upcoming Child Passenger Safety Week, certified technicians will offer free car seat inspections nationwide on Sept. 24. Visit the NHTSA web site to find an inspection station in your area.

More from Cheapism:
Best Car Seats
Baby Monitor Reviews
Best Cheap Diapers
Baby Carrier Reviews