Random Best Road Trip Cars (16 items)

• 

  (#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. 
• 

  (#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. 
• 

  (#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. 
• 

  (#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. 
• 

  (#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. 
• 

  (#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. 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking