Father's Day is here again. It's that special day of the year for all of our dads who've earned the right to drive a car that shows how awesome they are. These top five picks offer a combination of butt kicking performance, versatility, and the peace of mind of being a 2012 IIHS Top Safety Pick.
2012 BMW X3
Manufactured in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the 2012 X3 builds on the first generation but offers more space and better performance. Two engines are available, but we know dad will want the xDrive35i's 3.0-liter inline-6 rated at 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque thanks to twin turbos and direct-injection technology. Both are mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
Cargo room w/ rear seats up: 19.4 cubic feet; Cargo room w/ rear seats down: 56.5 cubic feet
2012 Buick Regal GS
Each time we think of Buick's all-new performance sedan, we can't help but smile. General Motors did so much right by offering the GS, and with the power-dense 2.0-liter featuring turbocharging and direct-injection technology to pump out 270 horsepower, dad will be smiling too. Best of all, it comes with a sweet six-speed manual or automatic.
Cargo room w/ rear seats up: 14.25 cubic feet
2012 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
The CTS Wagon is a brilliant blend of versatility and style, and when Cadillac decided to insert the V-series 6.2-liter V8, the Impala SS wagon of the 90s regained its pride in GM. Producing 556 horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque, the V wagon is the best offering in today's market to combine performance and carrying capacity.
Cargo room w/ rear seats up: 25.4 cubic feet; Cargo room w/ rear seats down: 58 cubic feet
2012 Chevrolet Volt
If dad wants to experience the future, then the Volt is his car. The Chevrolet Volt offers more than 35 miles of plug-in range, and then automatically turns on the 1.6-liter gasoline generator to produce over 300 more miles of driving range. After that? It can be refueled just like any other car to continue utilizing the gasoline engine to produce electricity for the motor that produces the power to move the Volt.
The 2012 Volt also has a very well designed structure, making it one of the safest vehicles available today. Cargo room w/ rear seats up: 10.6 cubic feet
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
The Grand Cherokee is synonymous with masculinity, terrain climbing, and adventure seeking. For 2012, Jeep is offering the street version of the popular SUV with a 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. Built in Detroit, it offers the versatility of an SUV, track-ready performance, and the latest safety equipment.
Cargo room w/ rear seats up: 35.1 cubic feet; Cargo room w/ rear seats down: 68.7 cubic feet
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