When it comes to family, a performance car is not the most practical choice. You often see memes online stating how car enthusiasts have to sell their performance car and buy a minivan or SUV instead when they start a family. A performance car simply does not work in the family world... or does it?
There are quite a few performance cars nowadays, that is actually pretty good for the family man. They're fast, comfortable, reasonably priced and most of all, practical. Here are the ten best performance cars for the family man.
10 BMW M5 Competition
The BMW M5 Competition is arguably the best performance sedan out there. It features supercar performance in a sedan body. It's a very spacious car with seats for 5 and a big trunk. A new M5 from the factory is a waste of money, but one on the used market is well worth it.
The M5 Competition features a 4.4 V8 with around 617hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. That means it hits 0-60 in around 3.3 seconds and flat out it will probably do 200 mph unrestricted. It's a stupidly fast car that can easily carry a family of five.
9 Porsche Macan GTS
The Porsche Macan GTS is a great little SUV that will carry the family and the dogs with ease. The GTS is the best Macan model for drivers, and that's due to it being so responsive to drive. Under the hood is a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. It hits 60 in just 4.7 seconds with the Sports-Chrono pack, and flat out it will do 162 mph.
The Macan is a really sporty SUV, but you have to get one with the PASM air suspension option, otherwise the car won't feel as sporty or nice to drive. These cars are very reliable, very spacious and great value for money.
8 Cupra Ateca
If you need a performance family car, but you don't have Macan GTS or BMW M5 money, don't worry. The Cupra Ateca is a reasonably priced performance family car with the same 296hp turbo 4-cylinder as the VW Golf R under the hood. It hits 60 in just 5.4 seconds and flat out it will do 152 mph.
This is a very practical car with seating for five people and a big trunk. It's a very spacious car and the ride is excellent. The car it's based on, the Seat Ateca, is already an industry leader in family SUVs. Therefore, the hot Cupra model is one of the best family performance cars you can buy.
7 Audi RS6
The Audi RS6 is the world's fastest wagon, and it has been for years. One thing which many owners love about the RS6 is its practicality. Being a big wagon, it offers plenty of space in the back. Perfect for say a dog, something which many families tend to have. Interior space is pretty good with seating for five.
Now onto the more serious stuff. Under the hood, is a 4.0 twin-turbo V8 with 591hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. This same V8 is used in the Lamborghini Urus and Bentley Bentayga. It hits 60 in just 3.7 seconds and flat out a top speed of 189 mph with the dynamic package.
6 Subaru WRX STI
The Subaru WRX STI has been around now for a few years, and it is a very fun car to drive. It handles very well, it accelerates like a rocket, and it can comfortably carry a family of five. The WRX STI features a 2.5 turbo boxer-4 with 300hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. This is a family car for proper driving enthusiasts, as it's only available as a 6-speed manual. Furthermore, the AWD system makes you feel as if you are driving a rally car.
You will become a wannabe Colin McRae in this thing, especially as it hits 60 in just under 5 seconds. The exterior is pretty wild with a huge spoiler, big alloys, a hood scoop, and a large rear diffuser.
5 Ford Focus ST Wagon
The Ford Focus ST wagon is a very sensible performance car. You can even get one in diesel form if you want. It seats five people comfortably, has a good safety record, a large trunk, and it is pretty economical. The subtle body kit and large alloys also make it a cooler-looking car.
Under the hood though, is where all the magic happens. If you opt for a gasoline model, you get a 2.3-liter Ecoboost 4-cylinder engine with 276hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. This is basically the same engine as the Ecoboost Mustang. You get an electronically Limited Slip Differential (eLSD) as standard too, which improves handling and makes the car so much more fun.
4 Dodge Durango Hellcat
The Dodge Durango Hellcat is a three-row SUV with more power than an original Lamborghini Aventador. How on earth does that make any sense? The Durango Hellcat ticks all the family boxes, except economy, where it averages around 17 mpg. The same as a Lamborghini Aventador. Nevertheless, it is spacious, it seats seven and the 0-60 is only 3.4 seconds.
All 2000 Durango Hellcat models have been sold, but you can get one on the used market for just over $100,000. A lot of money, but what other three-row SUVs can do what this car can do for the same money? None at all.
3 Mercedes E63 S Estate
The Mercedes E63 AMG S Estate is a major rival for the Audi RS6. It has more power than the RS6, being 612hp and 627 lb-ft of torque from a 4.0 Biturbo V8. It hits 60 in 3.4 seconds and flat out does 186 mph with the optional AMG driver's pack. The E63 S Estate is a big car. It features a huge trunk and plenty of space in the cabin.
The engine sounds incredible, and it is the same one used in the less powerful Mercedes-AMG GTR. It has properly fast supercar acceleration and handling, as well as a family SUV or minivan practicality. The RS6 then has some fierce competition from Mercedes.
2 BMW X3 M Competition
The BMW M3 is a practical family sedan, but the X3 M Competition offers the same engine in an even more practical package. The X3 M Competition features the same 3.0 twin-turbo inline-6 with just over 500hp. It hits 60 in around 4 seconds, which is absolutely insane for a car of this size. The X3 M is very spacious inside with enough room for all of the family.
Is the X3 M Competition as good as its rivals? Well, it has more power than any Porsche Macan model and some tests by some mainstream car journalists have shown that the X3 M and its coupe version, the X4 M, can do a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds. A seriously quick car then by any standards. Supercar speed with plenty of space.
1 Tesla Model Y Performance
The Tesla Model Y Performance offers you supercar speed, seven seats, and electric power for just over $61,000. That is pretty good value in the grand scheme of things, especially when this car will beat most of the other cars on this list in a drag race. It hits 60 in 3.5 seconds, which is insane. There is no performance lag at all, you press on the gas pedal, and it's literally zero to one hundred in a few seconds.
Being a Tesla, owning a Model Y Performance will make you seem really trendy, even if you are say a stamp collector. It also has two trunks, which makes it one of the most practical cars out there. Furthermore, the range is pretty high and these things take only 45 minutes or so to charge on a fast charger from 10% to 80% capacity.