Sporty Family Cars: Topless With Toddlers
Minivan got you down? Here's an antidote: A second (or third) family car with zip, pizazz–and enough room in the back for two car seats. Sure, most families with kids need a heavy-duty hauler, and there are more offerings than ever combining the functionality of minivans with the style of SUVs and crossovers. But automakers have also been turning out some sweet little runabouts, including several convertibles, that can fit four–great for letting loose on weekends, yet still capable of carrying a modest-size family in a pinch.
The Volkswagen GTI, for instance, is one of the most lively rides under $30,000. It's also got a serviceable back seat and a convenient hatchback trunk big enough for a weekend's worth of baseball and soccer gear. Popular models like the Ford Mustang and the lavish new Infiniti G35 coupe work just fine for getting tots to school or day care, as long as they can clamber in and out of the back seat themselves. And there are nearly a dozen convertibles that also have a reasonably sized back seat. Bonus: Kids love an open-air ride.
To assess the best sports cars for families, U.S. News started with data from IntelliChoice, a car-shopping website. IntelliChoice identified about 35 cars that meet two basic criteria: They offer sporty performance and seat at least four.
Since families need space, we ranked each model according to rear-seat shoulder room–a proxy for being able to fit two car seats in the back–along with cargo space in the trunk, necessary for stashing a stroller. We also included IntelliChoice's "value" ranking, a measure of ownership costs. (View our complete methodology.)
The final list represents sporty cars with the best blend of fun, value, and space. Here are the top five:
| Rank | Brand | Model name | Trim name | Body style | List price | Value rating |
Rear shoulder room (inches)
|
Cargo space (cubic feet)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Volkswagen | GTI | 2.0T (Manual) | Hatchback |
$22,100
|
Excellent |
54.6
|
14.2
|
| 2 | BMW | 328 | i | Coupe |
35,300
|
Better than average |
55.1
|
14.7
|
| 3 | Infiniti | G35 | (Auto) | Coupe |
33,450
|
Better than average |
52.7
|
12
|
| 4 | Ford | Mustang | Deluxe | Coupe |
19,250
|
Average |
53.4
|
12.4
|
| 5 | Saturn | Ion | Red Line Quad Coupe | Coupe |
19,900
|
Average |
51
|
12.9
|
Sources: IntelliChoice, manufacturers
More on family cars:
• Best Family Sports Cars
• How the Sporty Family Cars Were Ranked
• Photo Gallery: Family Sports Cars
More related news:
• Muscle Per Gallon Index (Apr. 20)
• Family Haulers That Aren't Minivans (March 9)
• Video: Money & Business
• More from Cars
• More from Money & Business
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