Five family cars perfect for the weekend sports runaround

It's one thing to get the kids into the car with all their required gear and equipment for weekend sport, it's another to get to and from all of the ovals, pitches, courts and halls with ease. Finding a good park, easy loading of gear and kids in and out and the occasional pitstop to Macca's or to pick up some additional rising stars is a tall order in the space of a Saturday morning.

Here are five cars that will truly be your MVP and star player for the weekend sports runaround.

In recent years, the Hyundai Santa Fe has shown that it has many talents and is a true family weekend hauler. It even took out Highly Commended in the 2018 carsales Car of the Year awards to critical claim "A well-balanced seven-seat wagon for the modern family, the Hyundai Santa Fe came so close [to winning]".

Hyundai has packed all the modern-day family essentials into this massive SUV from USB ports and air vents all around, sat-nav and smartphone mirroring, seven seats and in some instances a passenger detect warning so you don't forget about one of the kids sitting in the third row.

The Ford Territory became an overnight fan favourite with weekend sporting families across the country, with its space, versatility and driving abilities. Why compromise on performance and comfort for the sake of getting your kids and their sports gear to the oval?

The Territory's ground clearance and AWD mean that if you do need to mount a gutter and park in the mud or grassy carpark overflow area, there won't be too much drama getting it back on the road.

Kids of the '90s will be very familiar with the Toyota Tarago and its participation in weekend sports activities. The people mover with its sliding doors and plethora of seats was the ultimate family van that did and still does, lug kids from sporting commitment, to sporting commitment.

While not in production these days, this simple and no-fuss people mover can still be found taking families to and from the sporting fields, courts and halls around Australia.

If you're thinking a people mover van situation is the way to go to navigate the sports-filled weekend but want a bit of a Japanese twist, the Nissan Elgrand fits the bill. The Elgrands you find in Australia are grey imports, meaning that they've lived a life already in Japan but have been exported used to Australia - but still meet the required standards.

The Elgrand has become a family favourite thanks to its seven seats (captain's chairs in the centre row), high riding view and some added luxuries like a sunroof and leather seats. You'll also stand out in the carpark with its futuristic design.

If you want something with a little more luxury but still with room for kids and sporting equipment, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class wagon could be for you. The neat trick with some E-Class wagons is the optional third-row seating which faces rearward.

This means that you don't have to be committed to having seven seats full-time and can easily switch back to your five-seat performance wagon easily. If you do need to be a good team player and take a few extra up-and-coming sports stars along with you, the option is here if you need.

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