14 Fast Family Cars

“Honey, the stick has a line on it!” is a phrase the implications of which every auto enthusiast parent recognizes. Yes, it means your beloved sports car, which was good enough when it was just the two of you, probably isn’t going to cut it anymore. You’re about to need a more spacious set of wheels. Now, let’s say you genuinely love to drive and the specter of conscription to the land of dual sliding doors and fold-flat seats has robbed your special moment of some its joy. With this list of fourteen fast family cars we’re here to tell you—cheer up! There are other ways.

A 420-horsepower turbocharged V8 capable of launching an all-wheel drive four-door luxury sedan to 60 from zero in 4.5 seconds and still returns 20 miles per gallon combined? Yes, this is the heart and soul of the Audi S6. Further, it gets top safety scores from both the IIHS and NHTSA. Additionally, it’s absolutely brimming with cutting-edge technology and is so classy-looking you’ll absolutely be taken for the respectable parent you’ve just become. (If they only knew…) Audi S6 pricing starts at $75,500.

This is just the sort of thing the BMW M5 was created to do. Sports car performance wrapped in a package readily capable of carrying a family of four in complete comfort, the BMW M5 is an enthusiast parent’s dreams come true. Power comes from a turbocharged V8 capable of up to 600 horsepower as well as launching the sedan to 60 from rest in 4.1 seconds. Further, the M5 possesses an understated luxury, and a strong suite of safety features; providing everything you need from a car of this caliber while not attracting undue attention. BMW M5 pricing starts at $93,600.

No car company is more synonymous with family transportation than Chevrolet, so of course the brand that gave us the Corvette also boasts one of America’s seriously fast family cars. Yes, we know Chevrolet SS is really the Australian Holden Commodore, but so what? We’re still chanting U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! Why? Hey, a golden bowtie is a golden bowtie, and this one is mounted on a spacious four-door sedan with a 415-horsepower V8 and a supporting cast of hardware easily the match any other sports sedan—for thousands less than any comparable Euro model. Chevrolet SS pricing starts at $45,745.

Yes, the 707-horsepower Hellcat engine is the headliner here, but Charger would be on this list even without Satan’s feline namesake’s engine under the hood. The contemporary Dodge Charger has always been one of the best handling full-size American sedans. Additionally, a long list of technologically advanced comfort and convenience features further burnish the Dodge’s credentials. Its look has been freshened up for 2015 too, so Charger is more handsome too Plus, there’s the 485-horsepower Scat Pack and SRT 392 Chargers—as well as the 370-horsepower Charger R/T. Charger SRT Hellcat pricing starts at $63,995.

Let’s say you’re looking for as much performance car as you can get. Your budget won’t let you go for one of the more expensive models here, but you’d also enjoy a measure of exclusivity. Three words—OK two words and an acronym—Ford. Taurus. SHO. And right about now you’re probably asking; “What’s so exclusive about a Taurus SHO?” Well, when is the last time you saw one on the street? They’re rare, an absolute joy to drive, and boast a 20.1 cubic foot trunk—along with a 365-horsepower turbocharged V6 and a starting price of $40,220.

If you consider a fast car one capable of going through a 40 mph curve at 60 mph, but flat-out horsepower isn’t as much of a requirement for you as outstanding fuel efficiency, the Honda Civic Si Sedan is the car you’re seeking. Plenty spacious enough for a young family of four, the Honda also boasts a reasonably sized trunk and one of the zingiest engines you’ll ever wind to redline. Yes, the Honda Civic Si definitely deserves a place on this list of fast family cars. Its 205-horsepower four-cylinder engine returns 25-mpg combined. Pricing starts at $23,090.

Completely redesigned for 2015, Hyundai’s Genesis is now a luxury sport sedan of the first order. Go for the 5.0-liter V8 option and you’ll savor the pleasures of a 420-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8; along with the rest of the of the goodness of Hyundai’s newest sedan. The Genesis 5.0 Ultimate package adds a driver-adjustable suspension system so you can go from plush-ing it to crushing it at the touch of a button. Further, your family will be coddled in luxury while protected by one of the highest rated cars for safety in its class. Hyundai Genesis 5.0pricing starts at $51,500.

For some, only a SUV will count as a family car. And yes, we have you covered too. The Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup is crowned by one of the fastest SUVs ever offered. While the 707-horsepower Hellcat engine has yet to fid its way into a Grand Cherokee engine bay, there is still the formidable 475-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 to consider. With a zero to 60 of 4.8 seconds, a wealth of luxurious features, and a towing capacity of 7200 pounds, GCSRT may well be one of the most well rounded models on this list. Grand Cherokee SRT pricing starts at $64,595.

These days, station wagons enjoy about as much popularity among the young and hip as a pair of orthopedic lace-ups. However, consider for a moment if you would, the look of embarrassment you’d leave on the face of the driver of pretty much any performance-oriented machine if you ordered your E63 AMG S 4MATIC Wagon with the badge-delete option, so they wouldn’t get a hint—until you unleashed upon them the full fury of that 577-horsepower turbocharged V8. For even more fun, fit it with a vanity plate reading, “Served”. (As in; “You just got…”) Pricing starts at $103,200.

Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution has been called the best handling sedan in its price range. As its name suggests, the model evolved from Mitsubishi’s Lancer. However, the “Evo” (as it is affectionately known) takes everything mechanical about the Lancer and dials it up to 11. Brembo brakes, a performance-oriented all-wheel drive system, and a twin-clutch automated manual transmission are among the upgrades offered with the Lancer Evolution. A 291-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 300 ft-lbs of torque supplies power. Zero to 60 is quoted at just under five seconds. Pricing starts at $34,495.

When Porsche announced plans for a sport utility vehicle, cries of heresy reverberated worldwide. Once naysayers got a look at what the Cayenne could do, they promptly shut up though. Cayenne Turbo S is the ultimate iteration of that now revered member of the Porsche lineup. Its 570 horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 is capable of producing some 590 ft-lbs of torque. With a zero to 60 of 3.8 seconds, you’ll get the kids to soccer practice in nothing flat. Pricing starts at $157,300; if that’s a bit much, any of the other Cayenne models will do too.

There’s a video going around of people experiencing the acceleration of the Tesla Model S P85D in what the company has gleefully dubbed the “Insane” mode. While it’s difficult to describe, consider this. In a recent drag race the all-wheel drive 691-horsepower Tesla P85D ran an 11-second quarter-mile at 114.6 miles per hour and zero to 60 in 3.1 seconds. Plus, with the new Autopilot, the Tesla parks itself, pretty much drives itself, and can come out of your garage to meet you when it’s time to take the kids to school. Tesla Model S P85D costs $105,670.

Though credited with inventing the “hot hatch”, other manufacturers had done high-performance hatchbacks before the 1976 Volkswagen GTI ever saw the light of day. However, the GTI was the one that put the concept on the map. While still hewing closely to its mission of providing outstanding performance potential in a family hatchback, the 2015 GTI is the most sophisticated version Volkswagen has ever offered. With premium levels of fit, finish, and materials—in addition to a highly enjoyable driving experience—the Mk VII GTI is a very pleasant way to go. Pricing starts at $24,785.

Everything about the lovely Volvo V60 T6 R-Design wagon says it was built with performance in mind. The fluidly undulating styling, the large wheels, aggressive looking low-profile tires, and the tastefully subtle aerodynamic tweaks all add up to a promise of exhilaration. And yes, the V60 T6 R-Design Polestar lives up to its promise. Power comes from a 325-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with 354 ft-lbs of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission routes the engine’s output to all four wheels. Volvo quotes a zero to 60 of 5.4 seconds. Pricing starts at $45,400.