Whether you want to take a quick weekend trip or travel across the country, you’ll need reliable road trip cars.
Just thinking about going on a road trip is enough to get anyone excited.
However, actually going on one is a lot more fun if you have the best car for traveling.
After all, you deserve a high level of ease, safety, and comfort while on the road.
Since the price of gasoline is always going up, it makes sense to choose a car that uses little petrol.
Usually, cars need a little more maintenance after long trips than after short ones.
We looked for models with a lot of space for people and their things.
Also, we listed tech features that will keep the kids busy on long trips.
We looked at things like petrol mileage, safety ratings, and expected reliability.
Moreover, we checked the most up-to-date safety features of road trip cars so that you can drive without worrying.
Finally, here are 10 cars you can pick as your road-tripping companion in 2023:
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback, long dubbed the “Swiss army knife of vehicles” for its adaptability, is popular among off-road fans.
Thanks to its standard all-wheel drive, the station wagon is an excellent automobile for road trips for parties of five.
The newest Subaru Outback can seat up to five people and has a load capacity of almost 75 cubic feet.
Moreover, it is available with a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine.
Undoubtedly, these features make it one of the most versatile road trip cars on the market.
The standard ground clearance of 9.5 inches provides the Outback the ability to do mild off-roading.
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a fantastic pick for families on long trips.
State-of-the-art hybrid technology allows for a comfortable and economical ride.
The car’s cabin is roomy enough for five adults, and its fuel economy is the best in its class.
In addition, it has a number of safety measures designed to keep drivers relaxed and secure while out on the road.
While earlier iterations of the now-iconic hybrid made no attempt at flair or fun, the current crop at least tries.
Nonetheless, there is a very good reason why it appears on this list: Amazing efficiency on petrol.
At over 60 mpg highway and more than 600 miles of driving range, the base Eco model is the cheapest and greenest Prius available.
When you consider Toyota SUVs for road trips, this Pirus is an all-time pick.
Honda Odyssey
Unsurprisingly, the Honda Odyssey , a top-notch family van, is also one of the ideal road trip cars.
The Odyssey’s second and third-row seats are among the roomiest in the segment, so if your family is on the larger side, you’ll love the Odyssey’s comfortable interior.
Honda’s Magic Slide seating system is adaptable to a wide variety of layouts to best exploit available rooms.
With the segment’s quietest cabin and a respectable selection of in-car entertainment options, the Honda Odyssey is more than capable of providing a pleasurable driving experience for the entire family.
Adaptive cruise control is one of the Odyssey’s numerous safety and driver-assist features, and it does a great job of keeping you comfortable and relaxed throughout lengthy trips.
Lastly, the minivan gets a respectable 19/28 mpg in city/highway driving.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas
The 2023 VW Atlas can accommodate your entire family and all of their belongings.
The third row, if included, is spacious enough for even the tiniest of children or the shortest of adults.
The cargo room is better than average behind the third row.
Standard features include a 6.5-inch touchscreen and the ability to connect to a smartphone.
Even though it has three rows of seats, the Atlas is manageable off the motorway and in the city.
When correctly set up, it can pull up to 5,000 pounds. So, you can bring a small camper or tow some toys on your trip.
2023 Kia Carnival
The 2023 Kia Carnival is, without a doubt, an excellent choice for road trip cars.
Kia’s exciting little MPV also took home the gold for Best Minivan for the Money a year ago.
In addition, the Kia Carnival is competitive since it has a wide cargo area and spacious, modern seats.
The car’s luxurious interior is made from durable materials that are simple to maintain.
Connectivity with mobile devices, an 8-inch display, and several USB ports are just a few of the available technological enhancements.
In addition to these standard functions, you may choose additional advanced safety aids like Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Keep Assist, Brake Assist, and Driver Attention Monitoring.
2023 Lincoln Navigator
The convenience of bringing along all of your home comforts is a major selling point for RV cross-country travel.
Your trusty espresso machine, 24-setting washer, and cozy chair will accompany you wherever you sleep tonight.
The Lincoln Navigator Black Label 44 may not be exactly as luxurious, but it is the closest thing on wheels, making it one of the most comfortable long-distance vehicles money can buy.
The 2023 Lincoln Navigator will get you to your destination in luxury and style no matter the distance.
It has a high-quality cabin and is widely regarded as one of the best large luxury SUVs.
A 13.2-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a mobile hotspot, and five USB ports are all included as standard equipment.
All three rows of seats offer ample comfort, and the optional L variant expands the already capacious trunk even further.
The Navigator is huge for road trip cars.
However, it gets good gas mileage for its category, up to 23 mpg on the interstate.
Common sense safety equipment like lane-keeping aids can also make a difference in this regard.
Ford Bronco Sport
This tiny crossover’s triumphant return to the market is undeniable.
The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport’s remarkable specifications make it an unstoppable force.
Doesn’t matter whether it is navigating a concrete jungle or a vast open highway.
Because of its truck-like design, the Bronco has a spacious cabin and plenty of room for luggage, making it the finest vehicle for long trips.
On country roads, the 2023 Bronco Sport really stands out from competing SUVs.
The standard 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 181 horsepower, whereas the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 245 horsepower.
Thankfully, the basic engine in this legendary SUV gets outstanding fuel efficiency of 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the motorway.
Toyota RAV4
The RAV4 is an excellent choice if you need a practical and spacious vehicle for long-distance travel.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime Plug-in are clear examples of how far electric vehicle technology has come since the original Prius.
A 2.5-liter inline-four and an electric motor work together to provide 219 horsepower in the 2023 RAV4 Hybrid.
Hence, whenever you need it while traveling, the RAV4 can provide instantaneous power.
The 2023 RAV4 is equipped with many advanced safety technologies as standard equipment.
They include lane departure warnings, automated emergency braking, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.
The standard 7.0-inch screen is a little old, but a 9.0-inch device, a JBL sound system, and wireless smartphone charging are all available as add-ons.
The EPA estimates a fuel efficiency of 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, which is excellent.
Definitely, this Toyota classic SUV is one of the best road trip cars.
Land Rover Defender
The original Land Rover Defender is the best option if you’re looking for the iconic badassery of the Land Rover brand without the frills and technology of the latest variants.
More than a century has passed since the first production of what is often considered the best and most off-road competent truck ever made.
The Defender may be taken practically everywhere, including mountainous terrain, African safaris, and chest-high whitewater rapids.
Look no further if your next road trip will include any serious off-roading.
2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
The hybrid version of the 2023 Hyundai Tucson is a top contender in its segment.
It was a nominee for our Best Hybrid SUV for the Money award, and its comprehensive list of features was updated for the 2018 model year.
The normal hybrid is the most fuel-efficient option for long road trips, with an EPA-estimated 38 mpg.
The available plug-in hybrid is at its best around town, where its 33 miles of electric-only range really shines.
There’s plenty of space for adults in both rows of seats, and the trunk is enormous.
A touchscreen display of 8 inches in diagonal size, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, four USB ports, and wireless charging are all standard features.
Time for Road Tripping!
Rest assured, there isn’t a single choice of road trip cars here that wouldn’t be a good one.
Each car on this list is well-suited for long-distance driving, but some are better than others.
Any of these 10 vehicles would make for an enjoyable and memorable long-distance road trip.
However, some would be more suitable than others in terms of comfort and space.
Speaking of road-tripping, if you have kids on board while traveling, these are some essentials you would need in your car.