I need something small, stylish and roomy enough for three kids! Which car should I buy? – Jalopnik

Michael lives in New Jersey and really likes his small cars. However, he finds it a challenge to fit three children and belongings into his Fiat 500. He wants something bigger, but not huge, that can also give him some extra traction in bad weather. What car should he buy with a budget of up to $50,000?

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Here’s the scenario.

I like small cars. I’ve owned several Minis, a Mazda 2, and I currently have a Fiat 500c Abarth. With two kids getting older and taking them to soccer and cheer, it’s hard to fit them, their teammates, and bags in my car.

I also have trouble with the snowy winters and climbing up steep driveways. It’s pretty embarrassing to ask a teenager to walk into the driveway because your car won’t make it.

Combine that with the random bits of upholstery falling off and it’s not a confidence-boosting car, even if it’s a blast to drive alone.

I want something that’s reasonably sized, and somewhat stylish, and good for winter. The budget is approximately $50,000

Fast Facts:

Budget: up to $50,000

Location: New Jersey

Daily driver: Yes

Want to: Compact but enough room for four, AWD/4WD, stylish

Don’t want: A little too big

Growing up means realizing that “fun” cars sometimes stop being fun when they make other tasks more difficult. Sometimes you need to take an honest look at your use case and choose a more suitable tool for the job. That’s not to say you should jump from a Fiat to a Pilot, but a more “mature” vehicle is probably in order.

Something about the car’s body style that limits your choices will keep things somewhat compact while adding a little more practicality. My recommendation is the Audi A4 Allroad. The A4 falls into the ‘compact’ luxury category, and while it will feel like a jump in size over the 500, it’s still manageable. You’ll have room to accommodate up to four additional passengers in reasonable comfort, and the rear cargo hold should have plenty of room for items. Naturally, the A4 has Audi’s quattro AWD system that provides the necessary traction in bad weather. Under the hood lies a spicy four-cylinder turbo that delivers 270 hp and can be easily adjusted for more performance. Considering your budget, you can choose from low-mileage units like this blue Premium Plus trim for under $44,000.

That said, let’s also resist the urge to get too big too fast. Yes, you could buy that A4 Allroad that Tom recommended, but it will feel huge compared to your little Fiat, and it’s not entirely clear whether you really need all that space. I also expect that many people will suggest a WRX instead, but I think we can go even smaller. What you really need is a GR Corolla, ideally with a manual gearbox and some good tires.

Compared to your Fiat, the GR Corolla has rear doors, which should make it easier to transport the teenagers around, but it’s still a hatchback, so there should be plenty of room for bags, balls, orange slices and whatever else they need for exercise. But unlike your Fiat, it’s a Toyota, so you don’t have to worry about the cabin falling apart after a few years. And while tires are probably more important here, it does have all-wheel drive which should help with winter driving. If it’s too small for you, there’s no way around it, but it’s worth checking out anyway.

The Civic Type R has all the driving excitement you’ve come to expect from your small cars, but in a package that can actually fit a few kids and all their sports equipment. Steering feel? Bill. Lively chassis? Bill. Manual transmission? Not just a check, but one of the best in the industry. It’s even a hatchback, so those big sports bags are easy to get in and out of.

I found you a Civic Type R in my beloved Boost Blue in Bridgewaterbut you can really choose any CTR you want. Your budget covers their suggested retail price, so you can find the specs and dealer you want and work from there. Buy a shiny new Type R and enjoy every ride, even with your kids in the back. Maybe you can also get a set of winter tires for good measure.