Just because you have a family to haul about doesn't mean you can't have fun.
There's a surprisingly broad choice of fast family cars on sale, including subtle estates, brutish SUVs and some lightning quick electric cars. All these models have space for your loved ones and their clobber.
Many of these spacious, sporty cars are available as great-value nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.
BMW X3 M50
The BMW X3 has, in many ways, become the definitive sporty family car. It has the poise and handling you'd expect from a car wearing the blue-and-white roundel on its bonnet, along with a properly spacious cabin with lots of room for a family of four. This most recent version adds ultra-modern styling outside and in – particularly the dramatic ambient lighting panels that now dominate the dashboard. What's not changed is the mighty turbocharged 3.0-litre engine in the M50 version with nearly 400hp and a 4.6-second 0-62mph time.
Shop used BMW X3 cars or read our BMW X3 review
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Most versions of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are reasonably nippy thanks to their electric motors that deliver snappy off-the-line acceleration. However, upgrading to the Ioniq 5 N turns the whole experience up to 11 with an astonishing 641hp between its two electric motors. This isn't just an EV that can deliver rapid straight-line runs either, with playful handling, a 'drift' mode, and even simulated engine noises and gear changes for the full performance car experience. All that's before you consider its spacious and tastefully trimmed cabin.
See used Hyundai Ioniq 5 cars or read our Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
Cupra Formentor
The Formentor was the first standalone model for the sporty Cupra brand, and it basically knocked it out the park on the first try. Its swoopy, squat bodywork looks great on the road but doesn't compromise cabin space, unlike to many other coupe-like SUVs. Handling is well-judged too, with plenty of agility plus a sense of stability that gives you the confidence to drive it surprisingly hard. Lesser engine options make the Formentor comparatively affordable, but it's the 310hp turbo petrol engine that gives it the most hair-raising performance.
Browse used Cupra Formentor cars or read our Cupra Formentor review
Mercedes GLB 35 AMG
You can always rely on Mercedes' tuning arm AMG to give a car 'too much' power, and it's done just that with the GLB. This is a relatively compact seven-seat SUV, with lots of space in the front two rows and a tight third row that's best saved for occasional short trips. Fold these mostly vestigial seats away and there's a big, square cargo area left for easy pushchair storage. The 2.0-litre engine under the bonnet is turbocharged within an inch of its life, making 306hp and propelling the GLB from 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds.
Search used Mercedes GLB cars or read our Mercedes GLB review
Ford Focus ST Estate
There are more than a few pricey options on this list. If you're after something a little more affordable, check out the Ford Focus ST Estate. This takes the very sensible Focus Estate as its base – a car with lots of cabin space, a bit boot and an easy-to-use dashboard – and fits the running gear from the Focus ST hot hatch. That means a 2.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 280hp, clawing at the road surface via a six-speed manual or a seven-speed auto gearbox. You also get a mean body kit and grippy sports seats to fully set the scene.
Shop used Ford Focus cars or read our Ford Focus review
Porsche Macan
It's no big surprise that Porsche makes great fast cars, but its range also includes plenty of family-friendly cars too. You'll find no shortage of space in the Cayenne SUV or the Panamera saloon, but both of those options get alarmingly pricey rather quickly. As a result, we reckon the Macan is the sweet spot in the Porsche lineup – you still get lots of room for the family and their cargo, without the six-figure cost of the larger models. All versions are fun but the Macan GTS has the horsepower to match its sweet handling. There's also an electric version, with zippy acceleration and a long driving range.
Audi S5 Avant
Taking the place of the old S4 Avant is the new Audi S5 Avant, with the whole A4 line being absorbed into the new A5 range. Despite the name change, the format is mostly the same – it's a five-seat, five-door estate, with swoopy bodywork and a muscular turbocharged engine firing through a grippy four-wheel-drive system. There's a simply massive dual-screen infotainment setup featuring Audi's latest software and lots of cargo space behind the rear seats, but it's the sonorous, 367hp turbo V6 that dominates the experience.
View used Audi A5 cars or read our Audi A5 review
Honda Civic Type R
The standard Honda Civic is already a surprisingly quick car with its punchy 2.0-litre full-hybrid engine, but the full-fat Civic Type R is on a whole new level. As you'd expect, there are massive alloys, blistered wheelarches and an aggressive body kit to set the scene, but it's the driving experience that truly unforgettable. It's a more raw and visceral experience than some more civilised hot hatches, which makes the Type R feel like a proper race car on the road. Limpet-like grip and its manic 329hp engine make the Type R extremely fast in the real world.
Shop used Honda Civic cars or read our Honda Civic review
Volvo EX40 Twin Motor
No one looks at the Volvo EX40 – the electric version of the XC40 – and expects it to be particularly fast. Surely this is a sensible, understated small Swedish family SUV – presumably outfitted with some economy-focused powertrain? Not so in the case of twin-motor EX40, which makes a total of 408hp – yes, four hundred and eight horsepower. That's enough to catapult this compact family car from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds, which is faster than some serious sports cars, without significantly impacting its over-300-mile range.
Browse used Volvo XC40 and EX40 cars or read our Volvo XC40 review
BYD Sealion 7 AWD
BYD might not be a household name in the UK yet, but models like the Sealion 7 offer so much bang for your buck that it's hard to ignore. This is a large electric family SUV aimed at the likes of the Tesla Model Y, showcasing some of BYD's fanciest tech. The cabin is spacious and trimmed in plush materials, feeling a cut above its American competitor. However, more important is the dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup that puts more than 500hp to the pavement. That means this luxurious family wagon will launch to 62mph in just 4.5 seconds.
Search used BYD cars or read our BYD reviews
Find the perfect fun, fast family car
Shop a massive range of nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint. If you don't need quite that much space, check out our picks for the best sports cars on sale.
