Used Car Buyer’s Guide: Fast Family Cars

Most people when looking for a family car will have a pretty standard list of things to consider, such as the amount of space in the boot, the fuel economy figures or the Euro NCAP rating.

How quick you can get from 0-62mph and top speed probably aren’t key considerations, but the fact you’ve started a family and need something more ‘sensible’ doesn’t mean you can’t also look for something that offers a that extra level of performance.

Here we explore a selection of cars that are more than capable of dealing with family life, but which also offer a little bit more than other models in their respective ranges…

BMW M3

First up, one of THE best performance saloons that is currently available on the market, albeit one that does come with a premium price tag – even when purchased used.

The M3 was launched as the high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series in the mid-1980s with the current model launched in 2020. Not only does it provide more power than ever before, it’s also the first M3 to be available as an estate and the first to be offered with all-wheel drive.

Whilst it offers all the space and practicality of the standard 3 Series, the M3 adds in blistering levels of performance and astonishing handling that make it a completely different animal.

If the purchase and running costs are within budget, there are few fast family cars to match it.

Ford Focus ST

There have been countless ‘Fast Fords’ through the years, with the Focus ST following on from the likes of the Escort XR3 and the Escort RS Cosworth – with the Focus having been launched as replacement for the Escort in the early 2000s.

A number of ‘hot’ versions of the popular family hatchback, with the fourth-generation Focus ST being a step up on the model it replaced. Offered with both a 2.0 litre diesel and a 2.3 litre petrol engine, it provided plenty of power under the bonnet with revisions to the handling improving what was already a very strong chassis.

The Focus has always been a very good family car, and the ST variant adds a little extra sparkle and a load more equipment to the package.

Jaguar i-Pace

Whilst a lot of focus has been on the future of Jaguar and what comes next for the famous name, there are plenty of options on the used market – and you can get a lot of performance for your money.

The i-Pace might not strike you as the most sporty model that has ever come out of the Jaguar factory but the all-electric SUV produces impressive levels of performance when you consider that it’s far from being a compact machine.

Twin electric motors provide 400bhp and make the i-Pace much quicker than you would expect, whilst it remains one of the most attractive SUVs of recent years thanks to its muscular stance.

As an SUV, you have plenty of space for the family, including a large boot and an additional ‘frunk’ under the hood.

Skoda Octavia vRS

The Skoda Octavia is one of the top family cars on both the new and used car markets, and the vRS version is arguably the best of the bunch if you want performance as well as practicality.

The vRS has everything that makes the Octavia so attractive – think plenty of space, impressive handling and value for money – but has a two-litre turbo-charged engine under the bonnet that will take you from 0-62 in little more than six seconds.

In a similar vein to the Jaguar, the Octavia vRS may not be what many would class as a ‘performance car’, but as an option for the everyman at an affordable budget, the Skoda is a fantastic option for a fast family.

Volkswagen Golf R

For more than 50 years, the Volkswagen Golf has been a top selling family cars around the world, taking on the mantle of being the ‘People’s Car’ from the Beetle that it initially replaced.

With plenty of space on the inside, a strong list of equipment and five-star rating for safety from Euro NCAP, the Golf continues to be the car of choice for millions of families – and one variant in particular is perfect for those who want extra performance thrown into the mix.

Although the Golf GTI has long been regarded as one of the best hatches on the market, the Golf R takes things to a fresh level. It has everything that makes the Golf great but is savagely quick for a family hatchback, hitting 62mph in under five seconds and being limited to 155mph.