Top 10 Coolest Vehicles for Soccer Moms (and Dads)

Soccer moms (and dads) know it can be difficult to find vehicles that offer family-friendly amenities while still managing to turn heads in the parking lot. If you're a parent who thinks that family life means your days of driving a genuinely eye-catching vehicle are behind you, think again. There's a good selection of choices out there that allow you to responsibly pilot your brood without losing cool points in the process.

The following models are our picks for the 10 coolest vehicles for soccer moms for 2014. Our choices offer safety and family-friendly functionality (including comfortable seating for at least five passengers). They also boast that certain cool quotient that can help a model stand apart from the pack. Our list includes SUVs , crossovers , sedans and wagons , and our picks run the gamut from affordable to premium . Models are listed in alphabetical order.

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   1. BMW X3

The BMW X3 looks great inside and out, with stylish sheet metal and a high-quality cabin. It offers generous passenger and cargo room, and those in back will appreciate its accommodating rear seat, which ranks among the most comfortable in the segment. Best of all, the X3 is a blast to drive, ensuring fun times behind the wheel. Safety features include optional top-view parking cameras and a lane-departure warning system.

Ford's Flex has an angular allure that easily makes it the most striking seven-passenger crossover/wagon on the market. Its tall greenhouse allows for excellent visibility. Ford makes a full complement of safety amenities available, including optional second-row inflatable seatbelts and Ford's MyKey, a standard feature that can be used to set certain safety parameters when a teen is behind the wheel.

With its sleek lines and elegant front fascia, the Ford Fusion Hybrid exudes high-end glamour. Squint and it could pass for an Aston-Martin. Its hybrid powertrain delivers exceptional fuel economy and there's ample legroom in back. Ford's MyKey is standard, while blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and driver drowsiness detection are optional.

Kia's spunky Soul brims with an aesthetic that's cheerful, sporty and fun. Its boxy design allows for plentiful head- and legroom within its handsome cabin. Cargo capacity is generous and the list of available safety features includes a rearview camera.

Thanks to a 2014 redesign, the Range Rover Sport is now a real contender. The midsize luxury SUV is gorgeous to behold, with polished angles and a jaunty, fastback profile. Handling is superb and its cabin is impeccably crafted. Parking sensors and a rearview camera are standard and optional safety features include a surround-view camera and blind-spot monitoring.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles are known for offering understated opulence and the E-Class wagon is no exception. Long, low and lean, the car cuts a stunning figure on the road. Its roomy cabin is just as spectacular and is perhaps best known for its unique rear-facing third-row seat. The extensive safety features list includes a driver drowsiness monitor and adaptive cruise control.

Thanks to the fun and functional Cayenne, you don't have to hang up your Porsche keys just because you've become a parent. With seating for five, this midsize luxury SUV offers all the style and performance you expect from the Porsche brand, with handling that makes it arguably the best SUV on the market when it comes to driver engagement. Available safety features include a rearview camera and a blind-spot warning system.

Cutting-edge technology has a way of turning heads and the Model S commands attention as one of the small (but growing) cadre of electric cars on the market. Unlike other plug-in models, this Tesla has the sort of range that makes it a practical choice, with batteries that offer up to 265 miles of gas-free cruising. And thanks to sheet metal that's the last word in polished refinement, there's a very pretty face on all that new tech. A rearview camera is standard.

It's hard to argue with the effortless sophistication of the European wagon and Volkswagen's Jetta SportWagen epitomizes this brand of low-key allure. The SportWagen catches the eye without ever seeming like it's trying too hard to impress. Its upscale ride and cabin compare with those of more expensive luxury models, making this car a real bargain. Diesel models boast stellar fuel efficiency and come with a standard rearview camera.

Volvos are perhaps best known for their safety features but the XC60 proves this brand also excels in crafting vehicles that are rich with cool Scandinavian panache. With seating for five, this small luxury crossover offers a comfortable ride and lots of room in the cabin. And of course, there's a mile-long list of safety amenities, including an optional pedestrian detection feature that applies the brakes to help drivers avoid collisions with pedestrians and cyclists.