Random Best Road Trip Cars (16 items)

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  (#1) Dodge Charger

  • Dodge

  It's the fastest sedan in the world - did you really think Dodge's Charger wouldn't be on the list? Granted, you might not opt for the 207-mph Hellcat version, nor go cruising around at those velocities. But the fact that the Charger chassis can safely run that fast at all says loads about its high-speed stability and cruising manners. True, the "Vanishing Point" Challenger might be the more legendary road tripper, but Chargers have four doors, a decent back seat, plenty of storage space, and are rated at 31 mpg on the highway in base form. Kowalski you might not be happy, but you will be. 
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  (#2) Chevrolet Corvette

  • General Motors, Chevrolet

  If you're the lone gunslinger type, it's hard to beat Chevy's Corvette as a road trip car. True, you could take a second passenger, and the Vette's cavernous hatch is big enough to swallow all the luggage two people need. But realistically, nobody likes sitting in the passenger seat of a Corvette for long, and quarters are tight enough to make any passenger bigger than a Shih Tzu one serious personal space invader. Corvettes can get shockingly good highway fuel economy if you can keep your foot out of it. Which you won't. But 40 mpg isn't impossible with smart driving. 
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  (#3) Audi A8

  • Audi

  Audis are to long-distance road trips what a good suit is to male fashion: timeless, versatile, and perfect for every occasion. Granted, Audis might be a little understated for some, but that's exactly the point. The last thing you want to do while hammering along at Autobahn speeds is to attract attention from the local PD. And even if you do, they'll probably leave you alone because you'll seems like either a diplomat or an international crime lord. They come with everything from a fuel-sipping diesel to a 512-horsepower W12 engine. 
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  (#4) Mazda Miata

  Say what you will about the old Miata, but this new car is decidedly more butch than most cars on the road today. It may not be in the Honda S2000's league, but it's not far off either. Unlike the S2000 though, the Miata isn't just a go-kart that will hammer your soul to jelly after more than 100 miles of driving. This new Miata pulls off the neat trick of being small, incredibly fun to drive, fairly fuel efficient, and surprisingly freeway-friendly. If you're rolling solo and looking for fun, this Miata is a toy you'll never want to put down. 
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  (#5) Tesla Model S

  • Tesla Motors, Tesla

  Possibly one of the greatest cars ever built, the Tesla Model S adds to its cred by being an almost ideal road tripper. It's big, somewhat heavy and has a long wheelbase. That makes for a smooth ride and high-speed cruising. It's got up to 650 horsepower, 80 miles to the gallon fuel efficiency, all-wheel drive, massive storage space, and easy seating for five. Of course, it's electric, so you'll have to stop and recharge - but Tesla's Supercharger stations are everywhere now, so range almost isn't a factor. 
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  (#6) BMW 5-Series Sportwagon

  Bavaria's take on the station wagon is practically a Lear Jet on wheels. It's engineered to cover vast stretches of Europe at triple-digit speeds, so interstate capability is a given. It's a 5-Series, so of course it's got every luxury amenity available that you've ever heard of. The diesel version even gets upward of 40 mpg, so the 5-Series is pretty frugal in terms of fuel economy. Granted, that's the only frugal thing about it, since you can easily option one into the six figures. Still, if you've got the money, there are few better choices out there. 
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  (#7) Infiniti Q50

  Of all the good things the Q50 has going for it, the best has to be its name. No, not "Q50," which sounds like a component in an industrial blender. I'm talking about its Japanese name: "Skyline." That's right, we really do have the Skyline in the United States, selling under the Infiniti banner. In effect, the Q50/Skyline is a Nissan 370Z with four doors, a twin-turbo V-6, and (of course) all-wheel drive. Everything good that can be said about the Lexus IS can be said about its arch rival from Infiniti - but the Infiniti is faster, better performing, and more fun in every way. Plus, you can order factory Skyline badges right from Nissan, and bolt them on in place of your Infiniti badges. Game, set, and match. Bye, Toyota. 
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  (#8) Cadillac CTS

  • General Motors, Cadillac

  Short of the psychotic CTS-V model, the 420 horsepower, 3.6-liter turbocharged CTS may be one of the best American sedans on the market today. Car and Driver said, "[The CTS] is the only car in this group that didn't just put up with hard driving, it indeed goaded its driver to go faster." Of course, it's a modern Cadillac, so luxury options abound, and interior and storage space are impressive. Fuel economy is in the mid-30s, and the CTS's excellent chassis can make detours down mountain switchbacks a tempting proposition.
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  (#9) Lexus IS Series

  The new Lexus IS is leagues better than the old car, and Toyota's luxury division is getting closer and closer every year to challenging the BMW 3-Series for mid-sized supremacy. The new IS still doesn't quite match the 3-Series in performance; it's still a little vanilla, a little too soft-edged for that. But this arguably makes the IS a better companion for long-distance cruising. Reasonably quick and fairly efficient depending on trim, the IS is an almost perfect traveling companion: It can crack a joke from time to time, but mostly this Lexus is happy to just sit there, shut up, and not change your radio stations. 
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  (#10) Dodge Magnum SRT-8

  Of all the modern American station wagons that ever came close to being cool, Dodge's now-extinct Magnum sits at the top of the list. All right, it's also the only car on that list. But it's still at the top. It's essentially a wagon version of a Chrysler 300C, and the SRT-8 is reasonably comfortable. With 425 horsepower worth of Hemi, don't expect better than 20 miles to the gallon. But otherwise, this Mopar seems almost custom-built for cross-country, high-speed cruises. 
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  (#11) Lincoln MKZ

  • Lincoln

  With 300 horsepower from its top V-6 engine, the MKZ isn't exactly a Hot Rod Lincoln. But its power is more than adequate, and this LS sedan replacement is one of Lincoln's best selling vehicles. No, it's not a sports car or a canyon carver, but the MKZ is one of those cars that just runs like a train once you set the cruise control at freeway speeds. Four-cylinder versions are good for 33 mpg, and V-7 models for 26 mpg. That's nothing to write home about, but the Lincoln's huge interior space, luxury amenities, storage space, and highway manners more than make up for it. 
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  (#12) Acura MDX

  • Acura

  In most ways, the Acura MDX crossover is pretty much everything you could want in a long-distance cruising companion. While just a bit short on rear cargo space compared to others like it, the MDX offers plenty of passenger space. Honda offers it with every luxury amenity in the catalog, and its comparatively excellent acceleration and handling encourage drivers to feats of fun that passengers might not be too thrilled about. That handling is thanks to Honda's SH-AWD, which is objectively one of the greatest all-wheel-drive systems ever created. It's even pretty decent on gas at 28 mpg. 
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  (#13) Chrysler 200 Convertible

  The 200 was Chrysler's replacement for the old Sebring - that means it's not a particularly exceptional car in its own right. But it is the only four-seater convertible you're ever likely to see on rental lots in the United States. The 200 isn't a good or bad car; it's not fast or slow, cheap or luxurious, efficient or gas-guzzling, ugly or pretty. It's just a car. But it's got room for four, and could be one of the best cars ever built for trouble-free summer road trips. 
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  (#14) Volkswagen Jetta

  • Volkswagen

  Volkswagen owns both Audi and Bentley, so you know they knows a thing or two about building long-distance cruisers. The Jetta is VW's basic three-box sedan - essentially a Golf hatchback with a trunk. These cars are easy and cheap to come by, and are rated at 40 mpg highway in TDI form. But that's deceptive, because VW diesels are known to top 70 mpg with good driving technique. And on top of all that, the Jetta benefits from the same chassis engineering that makes Audis such epic cruisers. Best of all, they're commonly available as rentals, so you don't have to actually own a Jetta to enjoy one on your road trip. 
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  (#15) Honda Insight

  • Honda

  Well, it's a mid-sized hatchback hybrid that isn't a Prius. That's the Insight's primary attribute: it isn't a Prius. Other than the not-Yoyota-ness of its being, the Insight offers great fuel economy, low cost of purchase, low insurance costs, availability at rental lots, and massive interior volume for your stuff and your front-seat passengers. The back seat is on the smallish side though, and while it is pretty good on the highway, the Insight's really best if your road trip consists of hopping from city to city. 
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  (#16) Honda Fit

  • Honda

  Subcompacts are generally the worst of all possible places to be for extended periods of time. But the Fit's a bit of an exception, owing largely to the fact that its interior volume compares pretty well to a lot of full-sized sedans. It will easily fit four adults, with plenty of space left for luggage and junk that accumulates along the way. Fuel economy isn't as great as you'd expect - a Corvette will do better on the highway if driven properly. But the ride is surprisingly good for such a short wheelbase, and the Fit is happy and sprightly in cities and on twisty roads. 

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