The following is a guest post from UK motoring blogger Victoria Browne. If you’re interested in men’s lifestyle guest posting, check out our guidelines here.
So it’s happened. You’ve grown up, manned up and created your own little bundles of joy. Congratulations you’re now a dad with all the material possessions that come with (and without) it.
We’re not going to assume you had to give up your Porsche 911 in order to fit in the baby seat, that would be stereotypical. But we think it’s probably fair to say that your motoring priorities have changed from those you harboured as an 18 year old, despite the fact that your inner petrol head stills roars for the type of automotive beast that you, and only you, can tame.
It doesn’t matter if you drove a Skoda Fabia before, these are the cars every not-yet-ready-to-wear-corduroy-dad wants on his drive. They’re stylish, they’re fun and best of all, they’ll fit your lady, your brood and a 2 week shop in the back.
BMW 1 series
Nothing says “I want a luxury brand, but can’t face the idea of baby sick on the seats” quite like the BMW 1 series. If the bells and whistles are unsparingly lavished then prices can rise to just over £30,000, but for £17,510 you can still secure a basic model with just over £20,000 nabbing you a sports version. With almost 70 different versions available, it’s worth doing your homework, but for practicality, price and running costs, you just can’t beat Beemers hatchback offering. If like me, you feel the A3 is only salvaged by the Audi badge, then the 1 series is the clear way to go for a small premium performance car.
Ford Focus ST MK 3
Combining the ultimate in family functionality with a healthy dose of sporty sophistication, the mk3 has that purr of the mk2 without trying so hard to be a teenage drifter – a 4 cylinder 2.0 litre engine as opposed to a 5 cylinder 2.5 growler to be precise. Despite the overall understatement of the latest Focus, it still delivers more bhp (247) than the last offering and, as tempting as it is to go for the acid green or the hot orange paintwork, the beauty of the Focus is its ability to combine the school run, work and play and still look subtle.
The reviews are glowing too, with the drive and handling universally hailed as superb. In the US you’ll be paying a princely sum for this privilege however at $30,000, which some would argue is a little too north of reasonable for a hot hatch. Based on the level of love reserved for the FFST however, I’d be inclined to recommend sampling the performance before passing by the ultimate sports-come- family offering.
Nissan Qashqai 2014
The ultimate cross-over, the all new Qashqai has sold a whopping 2 million models, yet it still manages to turn heads despite the fact there’s a good proportion of them on the roads. The 2014 Qashqai embodies those features we all know and love – the looks of a 4×4 with the style and price of a chunky hatchback, AKA the perfect car for the man who expects a motor to be proud of and one the kids can pile in.
Starting at a heart-melting £17, 595 and peaking at £27,845, the Qashqai comes in 4 trims, with even the more basic specifications boasting impressive features. You can also choose from a diesel engine (1.5-1.6 litres) or a 1.2 – 1.6 turbo petrol option, making the Qashqai a universally perfect choice. As well as being stunningly good value, the 2014 model is 40kg lighter than the previous generation despite being 49mm longer.
Alfa-Romero Giulietta
The first thing that draws anybody to the Giulietta is its styling, so if you don’t love it, walk away now, this is really the only thing that distinguishes it from rivals in its class. Starting at just under £18,000 and rising to just over £25,500, engine sizes come in 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0 litre engines, packing a nice little punch for a car that cruises onto the roads primarily for looks alone – according to the critics anyway. Like the BMW 1 series, it’s a great non-sports option for those who still want a family-friendly car with elegance. Maybe not one for the track, but one you can take pride in nevertheless.
Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage comes is another crossover and can still be purchased as a used car in full-blown 4×4 form – if you don’t mind your used cars circa 2005. As a crossover the Sportage does itself proud with chrome trim and robust looks – on first glance it certainly rivals the VW Touareg in the looks department – a considerably more expensive 4×4. Despite the good looks, the Qashqai fares much better in terms of ride and performance and arguably the Sportage is a little too good looking – you can guarantee a few ‘soccer moms’ will have their eyes on one.
So unless you’ve money to burn, the weekend 2 seater roadster might not be practical until your darlings have hauled themselves out of the nest, but please, resist the urge to put all your eggs in the Ford Galaxy basket. There are enough cars on the market to combine sky high safety ratings, a roomy interior and a stunning finish, so don’t lose your inner petrol head to a frumpy offering. C’mon you’re better than that.
Victoria Browne is a motoring blogger for Number 1 Plates, a UK based online provider of custom and replacement number plates.