10 Practical Cars That Are Fun to Drive

You don’t have to sacrifice fun for driving enjoyment. We’ve got a list of the best daily drivers for those who love driving.
10 Practical Cars That Are Fun to Drive

No Compromises

Too often we car buyers are forced to set aside our desires for an enjoyable drive in the service of practicality. Cargo space, passenger room, and outward visibility all take precedent over tire chirping, chuckability, and flat out, whiplash-inducing acceleration. But it does not have to be this way my friends. There are, in fact, plenty of practical cars that still fun to drive, and below we list ten of our highest such recommendations.

Mazda CX-5

2023 Mazda CX-5 - news.mazdausa.com
2023 Mazda CX-5 - news.mazdausa.com

The Mazda CX-5 is an oasis of driving excitement in a desert of boring crossovers. With all the practicality of you average compact SUV, the CX-5 can haul the kids, dog, and luggage while also making the weekend drive to grandma’s that much more compelling for you the driver. A top-of-the-class interior and stunning good looks are the perfect complement to the CX-5’s optional turbocharged 2.5L which puts up 225 horsepower and a stout 310 lb-ft of torque. The nimble Mazda CX-5 is the perfect antidote to the crossover doldrums.

Honda Civic Type R

2023 Honda Civic Type R - hondanews.com
2023 Honda Civic Type R - hondanews.com

The soon-to-be-released next-gen Honda Civic Type R might not look as radical as the last gen version, but it’s no less a treat to drive. With over 300 horsepower, six-speed manual, and an instinct for rotation in the corners, the Civic Type R is the ultimate in daily driver turned track day thrill ride. The Civic Type R is still a Civic too, with ample trunk space and improved ride quality for 2023. It’s not going too far to say the Civic Type R is about as good as front-wheel drive cars get.

Hyundai Elantra N

2022 Hyundai Elantra N - hyundaiusa.com
2022 Hyundai Elantra N - hyundaiusa.com

Lately, Hyundai has been hitting doubles and triples with their N and N Line cars, especially the excellent hot hatch Veloster N. But we feel the Elantra N is the real home run car when it comes to balancing performance and practicality. Performance suspension and new brakes and other upgrades help transform the Elantra N from sedan to sports sedan. The Elantra N offer a big trunk, good passenger room, and well-bolstered front seats borrowed from the Veloster N. You’ll even have your choice of a dual-clutch automatic or six-speed manual with rev matching.

Volkswagen GTI

2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI - vw.com
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI - vw.com

The GTI is a classic of Teutonic hot hatch fun. The Volkswagen Golf and GTI have been going plaid long before Telsa made it cool. Sure, straight line isn’t quite Model S caliber, but the GTI will out corner a Tesla every time. In fact, the GTI is exhibit number one when it comes to the old saw about having more fun driving a slow car fast. A spunky 2.0L turbo four-cylinder provides the GTI with a generous 241 horsepower. As always in the GTI, interior quality impresses with goof fit and finish, and of course, optional plaid patterned cloth seats.

Kia Soul

2023 Kia Soul - kiamedia.com
2023 Kia Soul - kiamedia.com

While we’ve thus far focused on driving dynamics, the Kia Soul offers an expanded definition of “fun.” Beat synched ambient lighting in the Soul’s capacious interior makes for good vibes for you and your passengers. Indeed, the Soul has long been a favorite among subcompact crossovers thanks to its unique character and cube car practicality. As far as we’re concerned, when the Mazda Miata isn’t the answer, the answer is probably the Kia Soul. Too tall for other subcompacts? Kia Soul. Need great visibility and a short turning radius? Kia Soul. Looking for class-leading cargo space and a hamster riding shotgun? Kia Soul.

Ford Bronco

2022 Ford Bronco - ford.com
2022 Ford Bronco - ford.com

For the track day not taken, the new Ford Bronco is here for some alternative off-road fun. Forget the Escape in flannel that is the Bronco Sport, it’s the Bronco proper that’s been wowing critics as the new go-to for off-roading, easily unseating the long-time champion Jeep Wrangler. The Bronco offers tons of off-road options like locking differentials, 35-inch tires, electronic disconnecting sway bars, and more. And then there’s the note-perfect retro styling that harkens back to the first-gen Bronco. If that’s not enough fun for you, there’s always the 400+ horsepower Bronco Raptor for peak crazy.

Tesla Model X

Tesla Model X - tesla.com
Tesla Model X - tesla.com

I don’t know if anyone has told you but…electric cars are fast. So Tesla’s larger SUV, the Model X, with its optional seating for seven, rear gull wing doors (“falcon doors” according to Tesla), and the latest and greatest in automotive tech is already impressive before you stomp on the accelerator and jolt from a standstill to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds (in the three-motored Plaid version). Is it expensive? Yes. But that’s the cost of hitting warp speed with the whole family.

Subaru WRX STI

2021 Subaru WRX STI - media.subaru.com
2021 Subaru WRX STI - media.subaru.com

The vape-smoking, face pierced teenaged hoonigan down your block may be on to something when he drifts his way around the cul-de-sac in his ground-effects sporting WRX. The Subaru WRX is an outlier within the brand’s overall appeal to practical, safety conscious car buyers. But Subaru’s signature all-wheel drive is the perfect fit for the highest evolution of the ol’ Impreza. The WRX STI is the perfect practical car for those looking to live out their rally car fantasies on local back roads.

Dodge Charger

2022 Dodge Charger - dodge.com
2022 Dodge Charger - dodge.com

When Dodge brought back the Charger as a sedan, many muscle car diehards lamented the shift toward a more practical body design. But today, with Hellcats and Scat Packs having proven the Charger’s bona fides, there’s no question how fun this car can be. Take your pick between the R/T’s 5.7L V8 and its 370 horsepower or the Scat Pack’s real deal 6.4L V8 with a thundering 485 horsepower. For tire-shredding insanity, it’s hard to beat the muscle car with sedan proportions that is the Dodge Charger.

Honda Accord

2022 Honda Accord - hondanews.com
2022 Honda Accord - hondanews.com

One of the biggest secrets in the automotive industry today is that the Honda Accord just might be the best thing you can do with your car-buying dollar. The Accord offers a stylish, comfortable, high-quality cabin loaded with great, intuitive tech. The car looks great inside and out. And to top it all off, the Accord has been tuned to perform like a proper sports sedan with curve-hugging cornering and a punchy turbocharged 2.0L four banger making 252 horses. Even the base 1.5L and the highly-efficient hybrid option do little to dampen the Accord’s enthusiastic driving dynamics. For the perfect mix of practicality and fun, there’s just no better option than the Honda Accord.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Chris Kaiser

With two decades of writing experience and five years of creating advertising materials for car dealerships across the U.S., Chris Kaiser explores and documents the car world’s latest innovations, unique subcultures, and era-defining classics. Armed with a Master's Degree in English from the University of South Dakota, Chris left an academic career to return to writing full-time. He is passionate about covering all aspects of the continuing evolution of personal transportation, but he specializes in automotive history, industry news, and car buying advice.

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