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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.