What is the Best Car for a Road Trip?

There are few things more quintessentially American and the beloved road trip. The automobile has been the centerpiece of most Americans' possessions for nearly a century now. The seemingly infinite miles of highways, byways, interstates and country roads that extend throughout this nation seem to call upon the vast majority of us, in an almost primal manner, to get out there and see the world. Sure, a plane can be a faster way to get to where one wants to go. But as the old saying goes, sometimes the journey is more important than the destination.

Road trips can vary largely depending on the age of the people undertaking it, their personal preferences, the length of their trip and their ultimate destination. Consequently, the best car for a road trip can vary greatly as well. But for the sake of this article, we shall focus on a trip involving 4 people, in their 20's, a bit strapped for cash and embarking on a journey of a considerable distance of 1000 miles or more. So what is the best car for a road trip?

The Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon

When in comes to practicality, a good old American SUV is a hard vehicle to beat. While SUV's have fallen out of favor in recent years due to escalating fuel costs and the wrath of tree hugging environmentalists everywhere, it is impossible to deny their appropriateness for a long haul road trip. And while fuel consumption may seem like a significant drawback, one must realize that these vehicles can easily average 18mpg on the open road, and, when one is considering that fuel costs are being split four ways, the cost differential between a Suburban or Yukon and a much smaller, more economical vehicle is really not that significant. At 18mpg, the vehicle can be expected to consume 56 gallons of fuel over 1000 miles. Split four ways, this equates to just 14 gallons per person. At current pump prices, the total gas bill for each person really won't amount to much more than a person's meals for a single day.

A Suburban or Yukon (or nearly any other large SUV) can be rented from nearly any major rental car company. They are rock-solid reliable, have ample power for navigating roads of varying elevations, and, perhaps most importantly, provide more than enough space for four occupants, their luggage and room for anything they might "acquire" along the way. After all, what would a road trip be if one didn't bring back a few mementos from the places one has been and seen? The three rows of seats provide occupants with more than enough rooms to stretch out and relax. Most of these vehicles are equipped with dual zone climate control systems which even further enhance the comfort of the occupants. They are all-wheel drive vehicles providing added stability in inclement weather, and can even offer the possibility of mild off-road enjoyment should the opportunity present itself.

The only downside to an SUV of this kind is the lack of originality and style that comes with it. Indeed, it is entirely possible that during a quick stop at a fast food joint, the road trippers might very well find themselves parking next to a nearly identical car, only that car will be filled with a soccer mom and a half dozen little leaguers trying to beat you to the door to get their post game Happy Meals. At times like these, one might wish they had a sports car or convertible. However, if one has ever tried to squeeze four occupants and their luggage into most convertibles...well...let's just say there will be a lot of paper-rock-scissors games being played to determine who is going to get stuck in the back seat for each grueling leg of the journey. No, the SUV is the king. For better or for worse, the SUV is a quintessentially American vehicle and it serves no better purpose than the ultimate road trip car of choice.