This Is The Best Car For Your Next Road Trip

For Leslie Saul, there's no better car for a road trip than a Tesla Model 3. This summer, she plans to drive from Boston to Williamstown in the northwest corner of Massachusetts.

"We'll golf in the morning, go to a museum in the afternoon, and eat at one of several good restaurants in the area," says Saul, an architect who lives in Cambridge. "We'll even squeeze in a hike or two and a visit to MassMOCA in North Adams."

What makes the Tesla EV so ideal for the summer road trip?

Saul says she likes the car's comfortable seats, safety features, and large navigation screen. "The car easily fit two sets of clubs, two duffel bags, another bag for our hiking gear, a cooler — and us," she adds.

How to find the best car for a road trip

In survey after survey, Americans say they plan to take more road trips this summer. If popular tourist destinations like Europe remain closed to U.S. visitors, that's likely to continue. This is how to plan the best summer road trip. But one question that hasn't been asked a lot is: What's the best car for your road trip? 

You can start by eliminating the most unreliable vehicles (yes, there's a list). Cost is also important, particularly if you intend to make the car your primary one. Technology, comfort, space and fun factor into the buying decision, too.

What's the most reliable car for a summer road trip?

You can start the discussion with reliability. Click4Reg, a supplier of custom license plates, studied vehicle breakdowns by internet searches in the U.S. In the last year, here are the worst performers: 

1. BMW (372,610 searches)
2. Honda (238,850  searches)
3. Toyota (220,900 searches)
4. Mercedes-Benz (220,380 searches)
5. Ford (205,300 searches)

Acura, Chevrolet and Buick had the lowest number of breakdowns in America, according to the data analyzed by Click4Reg.

"If you’re in the market for the perfect summer road trip car, safety and reliability should be at the top of your checklist," says Megan Shepherd, an auto analyst at Finder.

What to consider before you buy a new car for a road trip

Be practical, advises Carl Anthony. He's the managing editor at Gearhead Media, which publishes Automoblog and AutoVision News. And while he says there are several promising road trip cars, you have to make sure it's the perfect car for more than just a summer road trip.

"It's important to determine if your summer road trip car will also be your daily driver or if it will be a separate purchase entirely," he says. "If you are only driving the car during the summer months and not year-round, it's essential to consider things like the cost of insurance, maintenance, and possible storage for the winter if you don't have garage space at home.

Anthony says having a "fun car" will always result in some extra expenditures, so you should try to anticipate what those might be ahead of time. 

Speaking of fun cars, Anthony says the new Mazda Miata and Subaru BRZ fit the bill — just in case you're looking.

Technology is important, too

Technology is more important than ever. I know because I've been driving one of the most technologically sophisticated cars available, the Volvo XC-90. This car has cameras everywhere, which help you park and avoid potential collisions.

That's particularly important in a place like Sedona, Ariz., where I've been living during the lockdown. The drive to nearby Flagstaff is a winding road — one of the most beautiful drives in America, but dangerous — still I feel safe that if a boulder rolls out on the road, the car will help me avoid a collision.

But my favorite feature is the Park Assist Pilot. It automatically searches for a parking space and helps you maneuver into the spot. My kids used to criticize me all the time for pulling into parking spaces at an awkward angle — they called it the "dad parking job." With Park Assist, the joke's on them.

Are you comfortable in your new ride?

Kathy Franz is planning several big road trips this summer, including a camping trip to Arizona, a trip to San Diego and a drive up the Pacific Coast. With that much time spent in a car, she says comfort is a significant factor.

Franz, a retired teacher, tested several SUVs, paying close attention to seat comfort and space. Her candidates: the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Subaru Outback. 

"We chose the CR-V  for its comfortableness when taking our many road trips," she says.

I can second that. The Honda CR-V is a comfortable car for long-distance drives. And I know because I owned one until I left for Europe last year. We trekked across the American West and practically lived in it. You can sit in it for hours without getting sore, which is probably the most important thing for summer road-trippers.

Give me a little space!

For a summer road trip, space is one of the most important qualities. People cram luggage, tents, beach balls and other stuff into the trunk or cargo area. So when Jacklyn Krol wanted to find a perfect car for a summer road trip, she paid close attention to space. 

Her choice? A 2021 Ford Explorer, which has 18 cubic feet of cargo volume.

"The cargo compartment is perfect for road trip essentials and the spacious back seat has room enough for two full-size Labrador retrievers to lay down — I know from experience," says Krol, a photographer from Chicago. 

Krol plans to drive her Explorer to Orlando this summer. In addition to space, she likes the car's multiple driving modes that adapt to various terrain. And, like me, she appreciates the technology in the car. 

"It hosts both Apple and Android media devices for all of your phone calls, music, and podcast needs," she says. "I really can't think of a feature that was left out."

How fun is your road trip car?

Finally, there's fun. Let's not kid ourselves; that may be the most important criterion in selecting a car for a road trip. I interviewed several drivers for this story who said they would sacrifice space, fuel efficiency, or technology and pay extra if they just could have fun. They admitted privately that they were driving older, impractical cars simply because they made them feel happy.

I think we're all entitled to a little fun after 2020.

If you're indecisive, you might try renting first. 

"Renting a car for a road trip can give you access to newer vehicles that are equipped with the latest safety and technology features," says Laura Smith, executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer experience at Hertz. "It can provide peace of mind and spare you from putting excess miles and wear and tear on your own vehicle."

I'm still thinking of that hour-long drive from Sedona to Flagstaff, and those hairpin turns on 89A that my XC-90 navigated flawlessly. I’m taking my Volvo back East in a few weeks.

Amid all the pandemic uncertainty, I'm certain of one thing: The drive will be fun.