I’m often asked, “What is your favourite car?” That’s a tough one because car purchases often rely so much on not only practical considerations but emotional ones as well. So when someone asks me what my favourite car is, it would be easy to say some Ferrari or Lamborghini. But really, isn’t that everyone’s favourite?

What I usually do is choose to answer what car I would buy right now if I had to. And since I have two children under the age of 12 I lean heavily towards cars that can accomodate baby seats, all the stuff we have to take when we go anywhere over night and of course, plenty of cup holders.

I have two kids, if there were a third, it would be no contest; the Honda Odyssey is by far the best minivan on the road today. I’m not suggesting there aren’t other models for a lot less money, but it’s my favourite with no other contenders by a long shot.

However, here are the three cars (in order) I would buy today if I had to:

1. Honda Element

This is as close to an SUV without going over as you can get. The four-cylinder engine puts out 166 horsepower but feels like a lot more thanks to the 161 lbs-ft. of torque you get at a relatively low 4,500 RPM. But more important than the engine are the unique rear suicide doors that allow insanely easy access to the rear seats. Plus, putting the kids back there does’nt require you contort your body. There’s plenty of storage in the back and for the times you don’t have a family loaded in the rear. The seats fold up/down, flip up for those times you have to make an IKEA run or are doing some home renos. The seating position up front is spiffy and it’s a comfortable ride even on long trips.

2. Audi A6 Avant

If the Mazda6 wagon was still being produced it would be sitting at number two, but instead, the Audi A6 Avant is. This wagon is everything an Audi should be, slick, tight and hella fun to drive. Plus the space in the boot is way more than I can ever seem to fit in some SUVs I drive. It’s a little bit tight in the back so Jr.’s feet might ma

sh the back of your seat once and a while when he’s in his baby seat but I didn’t find it that much of a problem when I’ve driven it. This thing drives like the two-door sports coupe you had five years ago but now you can fit the fam and your stoller and your beach gear and your baby bag and your …

3. Mazda5

This little number is often referred to as the mini minivan thanks to its unique dual sliding rear doors. The difference is it’s a lot smaller than a minivan and its four-cylinder engine isn’t as powerful as I’d like it to be but man does it handle a family well. Putting the kids in the back is the absolute easiest of my top three. You literally just have to extend your arms at normal standing height without bending over or leaning in to get your kids out of their baby or booster seats. The Mazda5 also comes with lots of great options for one price.