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CompleteCar.ie have come up with a list of ten family-friendly motors that can still put a smile on your face. Some car lovers might think that when a family comes along so then must a more practical (read: boring) car. As you see here, that isn’t necessarily always the case.
1 - Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Pricing: from €36,810 to €41,760
- Engine: 2.0 petrol
- Power output: 220- to 230hp
- Fuel consumption: 6.0- to 6.4 litres/100km
- Road tax: Band B2 to C (€280 to €390)
- Safety: five stars from EuroNCAP: http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/vw/golf/10955
The Golf GTI has been with us for decades now and in its current seventh generation remains the benchmark for performance hatches. Available in both three- and five-door body styles it lacks none of the practicality of the standard Golf and delivers a level of real-world performance that will satisfy most needs. For those parents keen to beat their personal best times on the school run it’s worth getting the Performance Pack, which adds a nifty electronically controlled front differential and an extra 10hp to the engine’s output.
2 - Citroen C4 Cactus
- Pricing: from €17,795 to €23,945
- Engines: 1.2 petrol and 1.6 diesel
- Power output: 75- to 110hp
- Fuel consumption: 4.0- to 5.9 litres/100km
- Road tax: Band A2 to A3 (€180 to €190)
- Safety: four stars from EuroNCAP: http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/citro%C3%ABn/c4-cactus/7863
The C4 Cactus is more car than crossover, especially in terms of how it drives and this is no bad thing. It is based on a car platform and thanks to its low weight it is surprisingly good fun to drive, especially with the latest 1.2-litre PureTech petrol engine. The looks may be a bit Marmite but those ‘Airbump’ panels on the side can be a worth their weight in, eh rubber, when it comes to other people banging their car doors into your pride and joy in the car park.
3 - Ford S-Max
- Pricing: from €20,695 to €31,595
- Engines: 1.5, 2.0 petrol and 2.0 diesel
- Power output: 120- to 240hp
- Fuel consumption: 4.0- to 5.9 litres/100km
- Road tax: Band B1 to E (€270 to €750)
- Safety: five stars from EuroNCAP: http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/ford/s-max/21198
There isn’t a seven-seat people carrier on the market today that looks as sporty as the current Ford S-Max. Just recently introduced in its second generation it looks even sharper and wears the same Aston Martin-like trapezoidal grille that is also found on the Focus and Mondeo. On the road it handles quite well for a car of its type and although the lure of the 240hp 2.0-litre petrol engine might be strong, the TDCi diesels make far more sense.
4 - Audi SQ5
- Pricing: from €75,970
- Engine: 3.0 V6 diesel
- Power output: 313hp
- Fuel consumption: 7.2 litres/100km
- Road tax: Band E (€750)
- Safety: five stars from EuroNCAP: http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/audi/q5/11032
As diesel SUVs go, few are faster than the Audi SQ5. It's the first diesel-powered ’S’ car from Audi and is served by a 313hp 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine. Inside you get the same well-finished interior you would expect to find in a regular Audi Q5 (with a few enhancements) and despite the hike in performance there is little impact on the comfort of the ride. With 650Nm of torque on tap from just 1,450rpm there is no lack of low-down grunt from the engine meaning it will happily cruise around town with just the smallest of throttle inputs. Aside from the ‘SQ5’ branding on the larger brake callipers and the quad exhaust tips at the rear there is little else to differentiate this from other S line Audi Q5s.
5 - Ferrari FF
- Pricing: from €600,000
- Engine: 6.3 petrol
- Power output: 660hp
- Fuel consumption: 15.4 litres/100km
- Road tax: Band G (€2,350)
- Safety: Ferrari doesn't have its cars tested by EuroNCAP
Hear us out on this. The Ferrari FF might be more expensive than your house but it does meet lots of family car criteria. Granted it might only be a three-door hatch, but you can fit two child seats in the rear. It’s also got all-wheel drive so you won’t get caught out on those school runs in the winter months. Boot space comes in at a respectable 450 litres and it can be expanded up to 800 litres. Performance comes from a 6.3-litre V12 engine up front producing 660hp, which is capable of propelling you and your family to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds if you're late for GAA practice. There’s just the small matter of the €600,000 price tag.
6 - BMW X5 (2000-2006)
- Pricing: from €5,750 to €12,950
- Engines: 3.0, 4.4, 4.6 and 4.8 petrol and 3.0 diesel
- Power output: 181- to 350hp
- Fuel consumption: 8.7- to 13.5 litres/100km
- Road tax: €1,494 to €1,809
- Safety: five stars from EuroNCAP: http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/bmw/x5/15601
In a world now saturated with crossovers of every shape and size the first generation BMW X5 stands a real chance of becoming a future cult classic. When it was first released there were literally people queuing up to buy them with waiting lists that stretched to almost a year. In comparison to the now third-generation X5 this first 'E53' model isn’t the most dynamic to drive but with prices having bottomed out this is now a lot of metal for relatively little money.
7 - Alfa Romeo 156 GTA
- Pricing: from €4,000
- Engines: 3.2 petrol
- Power output: 250hp
- Fuel consumption: 8.3 litres/100km
- Road tax: €1,809
- Safety: pre-dated widespread EuroNCAP testing
Die-hard petrolheads say you haven’t lived until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo. The 156 GTA was a looker and a clean one today still looks good in comparison to some of its peers from the same era. The GTA saw Alfa fit its 3.2-litre V6 under the bonnet turning it into a serious Autostrada weapon. Its handling wasn’t the sharpest in the world but it would certainly put a grin on your face. It also came in Sportwagon (estate) form although those are pretty rare these days.
8 - Volvo 850 T5
- Pricing: €2,500 to €5,000
- Engine: 2.3 petrol
- Power output: 225hp
- Fuel consumption: 9.7 litres/100km
- Road tax: €1,034
- Safety: pre-dated widespread EuroNCAP testing
Who can forget that famous image of the Volvo 850 T5 estate flying over the kerbs back in the heyday of the BTCC. On the road, T5s were often the pursuit car of choice for many police forces and for good reason. Aside from being well able to shift, thanks to its 2.3-litre 225hp engine, it was a Volvo and therefore about as safe as you could get in a car of that era. Now highly sought after by fans of real Q-cars, if you find a proper T5 don’t let it pass you by.
9 - Jeep Wrangler
- Pricing: from €3,000
- Engine: 2.5 petrol
- Power output: 122hp
- Fuel consumption: n/a
- Road tax: €1,294
- Safety: has not been tested by EuroNCAP
The Wrangler was an icon long before Derek Zoolander got one. Its heritage goes back decades and although we usually think of the Land Rover Defender as a real off-road machine, the Jeep has long been a very capable car when taken off the beaten track. There is a vast array of modifications and accessories available for these too, which gives owners huge scope to turn their Wrangler into a real beast.
10 - Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Estate
- Pricing: from €16,000
- Engine: 5.5 petrol
- Power output: 525hp
- Fuel consumption: 10.1 litres/100km
- Road tax: €1,809
- Safety: five stars from EuroNCAP: http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/ford/s-max/21198
As fast estate cars go, few deliver the kind of performance offered by the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG. Powered by a 5.5-litre turbocharged V8 the E 63 is a real wolf in sheep’s clothing thanks to its relatively discreet appearance. A huge cargo area means family road trips won’t be an issue when it comes to space but that V8 engine is pretty thirsty, returning a combined 10.1 litres/100km, and you’ll soon see that figure rise as quickly as the speedometer readout. There was also a Performance Package that added even more power, though we would find little to complain about with the standard car’s 700Nm of torque.
