These Family Cars Are Making Driving So Much More Fun
What is a family car? Is it just a workhorse that you use to drop the kids off at school and run errands? Is it a minivan, an SUV, a station wagon? The answer is: yes to everything, but they can also be so much more.
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The VW Golf is one of the most popular cars on the planet, an entry-level vehicle that you can get a ton of mileage from. It offers a fantastic balance of comfort, practicality, and just enough sportiness to give you some much-needed zip while you drive. It may not be big on space, but it is big on character.
Ford Focus ST
Like the Golf, the Focus is probably a fairly common sight for you, a sporty hatchback with sharp steering and a snappy throttle that makes it feel like you’re driving a caffeinated hamster. Granted, fuel costs will be higher if you plan to take full advantage of the ST’s performance capabilities, but it still offers enough space for a small family.
Honda Civic Type-R
Crossing off yet another fairly ubiquitous vehicle, the Civic may not look like much on the outside, but there’s a reason why so many people have one. It’s an affordable vehicle that handles like an expensive one, though you will have to contend with higher insurance fees.
Mini Cooper S
The Mini Cooper S may not seem like the most obvious of family vehicles, but you’d be surprised by its versatility. It’s a very driver-focused car that emphasizes fun dynamics and zippy handling - it’s perfect for families who spend most of their time in the city, where the Cooper S really shines.
Mazda3
The Mazda3 is one of Mazda’s most popular vehicles, mostly due to its reasonable asking price and the sheer amount of value it offers. It’s a refined vehicle for refined tastes, and while it’s not as “aggressive” as other hot-hatches, it makes up for this with ample cargo space and unbeatable reliability.
Mazda CX-5
If, on the other hand, you’d prefer a more traditional family vehicle, Mazda still has you covered with the CX-5, a sporty SUV that handles itself surprisingly well given its size. Then again, Mazda has often been praised for its refined driving dynamics - this vehicle just has more space than others!
Porsche Macan
Don’t be fooled by the Macan’s size - this is a Porsche vehicle through and through. It’s a performance SUV that handles pretty much exactly like a sports car. That does mean that it comes at a high cost, however, which may be overkill if all you need is a ride to work and back.
BMW 3 Series Touring
At this point in time, you should know what you’re getting into when you buy a BMW already - expect refined driving dynamics and totally luxurious comfort in a sophisticated package. The 3 Series Touring retains all the handling and performance capabilities of the original trim, with the added practicality of a wagon.
Volvo V90
It may be a wagon, but the V90 may as well be a hotel room on wheels. It’s almost unbeatable in terms of comfort, with solid engines and a generous amount of cargo space that makes it a perfect choice for longer journeys. Just don’t even try to fit into tight parking spaces.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio
The Stelvio is what you buy when you really want a luxury car, but remember that you have kids at the last second. It’s an SUV, sure, but it retains all the characteristics of other Alfa Romeo vehicles - including those unmistakable, untameable driving dynamics that make it feel like you’re bull-wrangling (in the best way possible).
BMW X3
The X3 is a bit on the larger side when compared to some of our previous entries, but that hasn’t diminished its performance potential in the slightest. At worst, it’s a little less nimble when it comes to tight urban spaces, but it otherwise strikes a perfect balance between fun and practicality.
Range Rover Sport
Far from the rugged beasts of Range Rover’s past, the Sport is a highly refined, lean, mean machine with a sleek appearance that belies its genuine off-road prowess. Granted, it’s a bit of a fuel-guzzler, but when it comes to mid-size SUVs, you’re unlikely to find one more powerful than this.
Volvo XC90
The XC90 is one of Volvo’s largest vehicles, a plug-in hybrid whose extra weight you can really feel when you drive. Fortunately, it’s also got a suitably powerful drivetrain to match, meaning you aren’t really sacrificing anything in terms of performance.
Tesla Model Y
If you’re prepared to commit to a full-on EV, the Tesla Model Y is a great option for you and your family. It’s a large SUV with tons of space, instant torque, and a buttery-smooth ride. It may be less engaging for those who prefer the feel of a manual gearbox, but for everyone else, the EV benefits are hard to beat.
Kia EV9
If the Model Y’s price tag was enough to put you off, the EV9 from Kia offers a more affordable alternative. It’s a roomy 7-seater with great driving dynamics (especially when considering its size) and enough modern tech for the kids to “ooh” and “ahh” at.
Toyota Highlander
The Highlander is a huge hybrid that makes its presence known wherever it goes. It’s a reliable vehicle with enough sustained power that makes it perfect for cross-country trips, even if its handling is less sporty than some of the other rides on this list.
Toyota Sienna
If your ambitions are quite literally bigger than an SUV, the Toyota Sienna may be the ride for you. It’s a huge minivan with enough space to transport an elephant, but that doesn’t detract from its fantastic handling and decent performance that stand in contrast to its gargantuan proportions.
Kia Carnival
The Carnival is one of the most aptly-named vehicles on this list - you could easily fit an entire circus in this thing! Needless to say, it’s got enough space for the kids and the groceries and has some pretty strong engine options, even if it’s not as agile as some other vehicles.
BMW M3 Touring
The M3 Touring is a high-performing 4-door that handles more like a sports car than a regular sedan. Corners? No biggie. Rain? Don’t make us laugh. Highways? You mean race-tracks. Granted, it’s not exactly cheap, either to buy or to maintain, but you’re unlikely to find another vehicle like it… If it weren’t for this list, at least.
Audi RS6 Avant
Take everything we said about the M3 Touring and slap it right here, but throw in Audi’s supreme sense of style and some added space for groceries. Sure, it’s overkill for school and grocery runs, but everyone on the playground is going to be jealous of your kid when you come to pick them up.
Mercedes‑Benz AMG E‑Class
By this point, we probably don’t even need to explain what you’re getting with a Mercedes. It’s refined, it’s timeless, it’s totally frickin’ cool and super fun to drive. Like our previous two entries, it’s probably not going to be your first family car based on its price alone, but when it comes to vehicles with both class and space, how can you go wrong with the AMG E-Class?
Tesla Model 3 Performance
It doesn’t have “performance” in the name for nothing. The Model 3 Performance is probably Tesla’s most powerful vehicle currently available, with absolutely blistering acceleration and fantastic range while still offering enough room for groceries and the kids.
Polestar 2
As far as EVs go, there probably isn’t one more “solid” than the Polestar 2. It strikes a perfect balance between reliability, performance, comfort, and space, making it a pretty versatile vehicle, all things considered.
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
It may bear the Mustang name, but the Mach-E GT isn’t the muscular beast you think it is. It’s a bulky, roomy crossover that handles itself well in the city and out in the sticks, with modern design sensibilities that keep it looking fresh.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Ioniq is a fairly inconspicuous vehicle on the surface, not ugly by any means, but far from the most stylish options on this list. It is, however, solidly reliable, roomy, and offers enough agility that you can have a good time while driving it.
Porsche Cayenne
Even when they’re making bigger vehicles, Porsche can’t help but be Porsche, and the Cayenne features all the engaging driving dynamics you’ve come to expect from the brand.
Jaguar F-Pace
Like Porsche, we shouldn’t expect Jaguar to be anything other than Jaguar. The F-Pace is technically an SUV, but it’s really just another Jag in a much larger body, with a supreme sense of style and excellent driving dynamics.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Was it made with families in mind? Probably not. Can you fit a family of five inside it? You sure can! The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is probably the most exotic model on this list, but that also makes it one of the most fun to drive as well.
Audi RS Q8
Featuring enough stomping power to dominate the highways, the Audi RS Q8 is a high-performance SUV crossover with plenty of usable space for the family - even if it is a little heavier than some other vehicles on this list.
Mercedes‑Benz GLE
A luxury crossover with off-road potential to boot, the Mercedes‑Benz GLE features a huge cabin and plenty of road presence as well, though it’s a lot less nimble than most of the other vehicles on this list.
Mazda MX-30
If you’re looking for quality and a comfortable driving experience but don’t want to auction off several limbs to afford it, the Mazda MX-30 is the vehicle for you. It’s luxury without the price tag, and is incredibly fun to drive in the city.
Subaru Forester
In contrast to some of the other off-roaders on this list, the Forester is all practicality and very little luxury. It’s comfortable, sure, but it’s hardly the best-looking vehicle on this list. Fortunately, it doesn’t need to be with its versatile capabilities and excellent performance.
Volkswagen Tiguan R
The Tiguan R is part of the “hot SUV” trend, a sporty and compact SUV with sharp handling and excellent mechanics, even if it is lower on space than some other SUVs.
Skoda Octavia Estate
Probably the least well-known vehicle on this list, don’t mistake the Skoda Octavia Estate’s lack of global presence for a lack of quality. It’s got loads of space and its performance variants are genuinely exciting to drive.
Audi A4
The A4 may not be the shiniest gem in Audi’s crown, but it’s still a refined vehicle with more practicality than some of their other models - even if it is nearly as expensive as them.
