So you’ve settled down, got married, and had a couple of kids….but you’re not quite ready to give up on owning a sporty motor and settling for that practical people carrier just yet?
Family cars don’t have to be boring, they can be both practical and fun – in no particular order, here’s our list of the 5 best turbocharged sporty cars with enough space for the whole family.
BMW M3
BMW’s flagship version 3 series might just be the ultimate in performance family cars. The turbocharged 3 litre straight 6 is good for 155mph (restricted), and it will propel you from 0-60 in a blistering 4.1 seconds.
It’s also surprisingly spacious, and with the suspension set to soft, extremely comfortable – so it’s as suited to long trips to see the grandparents as it is being thrashed around winding country roads.
The only downside is the lack of a Touring (estate) model, so there may not be enough room for all your gear, or the family dog!
Mercedes E63 AMG Estate
If you’re looking for a large, practical and luxurious family estate that will knock pretty much everything else off the road when it comes to performance, then the Mercedes E63 AMG is just the ticket.
With a 5.5 litre twin turbo V8 under the bonnet, 0-60 comes in a lightening quick 4.3 seconds, and it will go on to reach 155mph. At close to £76,000, it’s (very!) expensive, but you’ll be getting a fast, high performance estate that’s bags of fun to drive, and luxuriously comfortable for long motorway drives. It’s a real classic.
Porsche Macan V6 Turbo
Live somewhere remote and need 4 wheel drive? The Porsche Macan is a fast, compact 4×4 that combines excellent performance and drivability with comfort, capability and style.
Simply put, there’s no better handling car in its class, and its powerful turbocharged V6 delivers enough grunt for the most committed performance enthusiast – propelling the Macan to 60 in 4.8 seconds.
Whilst it is pricey, and there are roomier 4x4s available – this is the pick of the bunch if you want sports car performance and style.
Skoda Octavia VRS
Genuinely affordable, practical (especially if you go for theestate) and sporty, the Skoda VRS has it all.
Whilst it might not have the same cachet of some of the more premium cars on this list, it’s bags of fun to drive, with firmed up suspension and enough mid-range torque for real drivability. At around £25,000 new, it’s also the cheapest by some margin.
With rock solid reliability, and an extremely spacious, practical cabin, it’s likely to win approval from your other half as well.
SEAT Leon Cupra 280
Ok, so we could have taken the easy option and gone for VW’s excellent Golf GTI, but we reckon the SEAT Leon Cupra 280 provides a better all round package.
It’s faster (0-60 takes 5.7 seconds), cheaper (starting at £28,525 for the DSG version), handles just as well, and packs the perfect balance between power, handling and comfort.
Although it isn’t the largest or most practical car on the list, it’s comfortable and spacious enough for most families, and one of our favourite hot hatchbacks.
How AET can help
Whether you drive a turbocharged 4×4, hot hatch, family saloon or sports estate, AET are here to help if things go wrong. With more than 40 years experience working on turbochargers of all types, we provide a full range of repairs and high quality replacements designed to get you back on the road.
For further information on any of our services, call us today on 01924 894171.
