Best Cars For Road Trips
Posted in Bigbox Best Buys
Best Cars For Road Trips
Summer is here! The perfect time to pack the car and hit the road for an exciting road trip with your friends, family or hubby. Whether it's winding up along the coast with the wind in your hair or cruising out among the rolling hills and open plains of the west, there's nothing quite like a scenic, memorable road trip. However, it's like they say, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey". And nothing spoils the journey more than being stuck in a vehicle that's uncomfortable or unreliable or something that doesn't suit your needs. Whether you're a family, couple or a lone wolf, a road trip can always be fun but that all depends on what type of vehicle you require.
Here at Bigboxcars we've come up with what we believe are the best vehicles in their class for taking out on a road trip.
1. The Family SUV
Maybe you're a big family or maybe you require a lot of room for storage. Either way, the 7 seat Mitsubishi Outlander 4x4 or Mitsubishi Pajero Sport are the right cars for the job! They're spacious for all 7 passengers, they've got Apple CarPlay & Android Auto to make navigating and DJ'ing a breeze, dual zone climate control, rear air vents and even a 4x4 mode selector for more difficult terrain.
2. The Off-Roader 4WD
If you're into camping, fishing and four wheel driving, you are going to need a fair amount of room to carry all the gear that comes with it and enough torque to potentially carry or tow a sizeable load.
The Ford Ranger is one of the most popular Four Wheel Drive utes on the market today and for good reason. It's got enough room for five adults, almost a one tonne payload, the ability to tow 3.5 tonnes and is a highly capable off-roader.
Another fantastic option is the Toyota Landcruiser Sahara. Being the top of the range model and also nicknamed the "King of the Road", the cabin is well beyond comfortable. The entire car is EXTREMELY luxurious down to the very last detail and yet it's got plenty of grunt with its powerful V8 engine. So powerful that it is capable of towing a caravan. No matter how rough or long the journey may be, you'll feel comfortable with features such as Sat-Nav, a DVD player connected to two screens in the rear, heated 1st and 2nd row leather seats, a sunroof, a cooled center console box, woodgrain inserts, 7 seats and much more!
3. The Fuel Efficient Small Car
For those whose budget is smaller or who are simply after a small fuel economical car, you don't have to compromise on comfort and space. A road trip in a small hatch can still be comfortable, fun and better yet, inexpensive. Whilst already saving money on fuel, you will also find having a smaller car means be able to park in those tighter spaces down at the beach to be no trouble.
The Kia Cerato is our top pick for this class. With enough room to comfortably fit three friends in the back, a reverse camera, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, lane keeping assist, forward collision alert, cruise control, a driving mode selector and a fuel efficient 4 cylinder 2.0L engine.
The Toyota Corolla is another a very serious contender for this category. Toyota is well renowned for their reliability and build quality which means you can take long road trips with peace of mind. Not to mention, they are have been around for a very long time now so Toyota has had more than enough time to mould it into the ideal small car that their consumers are asking for. When buying a Corolla you are getting 5 star safety, a spacious and comfortable interior, a smooth and pleasant ride and the option of sporty, stylish looks in the new Sport and Hybrid models. All of which is ideal when taking a road trip.
4. The VAN Life (Tiny House)
Popular among young travelers, couples and surfers, road tripping and camping out of your van has been a common trend for almost 7 decades now and it isn't going away anytime soon.
The Volkswagen Type 2 (Kombi) is the obvious choice here. Their look alone will unlock the opportunity to skyrocket your Instagram feed and make you feel like a travel influencer. However, that aside, the Kombi is an iconic road trip vehicle that will immerse you in that free spirit mind-set and take you back in time through the 70 years of its history on the road. It's practical to live out of and easy to find parts to modify to your specific needs, making it perfect for comfort, practicality, creating the road trip feeling and looking good too.
If a Kombi's not your thing, then another popular option is a Toyota Hiace. The Hiace is the one of the other classic vans that you find get converted to campers. When someone says ‘camper van’ and you imagine one in your head, there’s a good chance that you’re imagining a Hiace. You can find plenty of used Hiace vans in Australia, often at a cheap price. They are generally very reliable and easy to convert to a camper. A long wheel based (LWB) version is recommended as it allows for extra room to build a bed in the back with storage underneath and a small kitchen towards the front. Being a Toyota, it is a more reliable make but if you do run into any trouble and need to replace parts, it is generally inexpensive and easy to get new parts.
5. The Roof Down Convertible
If you prefer life in the fast lane and the wind in your hair then the Ford Mustang GT and the Mazda MX-5 are perfect options for you.
The Mustang is another iconic car that looks incredible, drives and sounds amazing and has bonus of modern day technology. Add the fact that it's available as a convertible and now you've got yourself a dream road trip experience.
The MX-5 may only be a two seater but due to its light weight build, this little gem really can go "zoom zoom" on the roads. The new 2.0L engine can produce 135kW of power at 7000rpm and 205Nm of torque at 4000rpm. This is a well balanced, fun sports car, perfect for those who are simply after a fun driving experience and not in need of plenty of storage space.
6. The Mini Bus
When you need to take a large group of people long distances or you're looking to build a home on wheels, you should look no further than the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Toyota Hiace Commuter.
With up to 12 seats available and two options of roof height, the Sprinter is ideal for people movers or nomads looking to convert it into a camper. Why it makes the list in its class is due to the comfort and safety features it has on offer. Features such as blind spot assist, a 360 degree reverse camera with parking assist, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, premium bench seats with ergonomic back and head rest and the ability to tow a trailer filled with luggage, tools or supplies.
The Hiace Commuter is capable of seating 14 passengers including the driver. The rear seats are able to be removed or folded down to create extra room for luggage, however even with them in use there is still enough room for a few suitcases. You also have the ability tow a trailer for hauling luggage, tools or supplies. Though its features may not be as luxurious as the Sprinter's, you still get the essentials - a reverse camera, Bluetooth, cruise control and front and rear air conditioning. Not to mention the price difference is highly significant.
7. The Fast & Furious
If you're more of a thrill seeker with a need for speed when it comes to road trips, there are plenty of options available to you from the BMW M4 to the Subaru WRX to a Toyota 86. However, as mentioned before, road trips are all about being comfortable along the journey and sharing the experience with others. Which is why we have picked the Porsche Cayenne and the HSV Clubsport R8 for this job.
I know what you're thinking. Why pick an SUV for a sports/performance class? Well when it comes to the Porsche Cayenne, it's spacious, has incredible straight line performance and sounds utterly phenomenal. Not to mention, the new hybrid drivetrain mated with the twin turbo charged V8 engine can get you from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. Now you've got speed, grunt and extra room for passengers and luggage.
However we do understand if you aren't that SUV look. That's why we also picked the Clubsport R8 which is available as a sedan and a family wagon. With a supercharged V8 6.2 litre engine, this beast only knows one speed - FAST. It pumps out a massive amount of power, 410kW, without diluting its pragmatic approach. There's plenty of room for five occupants and enough boot space for their gear. Ultimately it has enough power and speed to pin all occupants back in their seats, enough room for comfort and storage and top modern features to keep everyone happy. Not to mention it looks and sounds absolutely incredible.
8. The Luxury Experience
Perhaps you're looking to go fast. Perhaps you're after savoring the journey and soaking it up in absolute blissful comfort. If this is the case, then you should consider the Lexus RC F Sport Carbon or Mercedes-Benz C-Class C43 AMG. Obviously the first thing you'd think of when you think of luxury cars is a Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Why then didn't we pick them for this category? For the same reason we didn't pick a Ferrari or Lamborghini for "The Fast & Furious' category. This list isn't about millionaire cars, it's about cars most people could afford.
The RC F Sport Carbon is not only a masterpiece to look at but it's just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. The matte paint mixed with the carbon roof and retractable spoiler is a marvelous combination. The interior's stitching is available in various mixtures depending on the year model such as blue/white, black on black, white/black or red/black. It boasts a 17 speaker surround sound stereo system, heated and cooled 1st row seats, top modern safety features, a heated steering wheel and a powerful V8 5.0L engine with 351kW of power at 7100rpm.
The C-Class C43 AMG on the other hand offers a panoramic glass roof and a reverse camera with aerial perspective imaging (360 degree view). Its exterior is also magnificent with that sporty coupe styling. The interior is plush with leather and offers the driver and front passenger incredibly sporty and comfortable heated leather sports seats. It boasts a 13 speaker surround sound stereo system, lane keeping assist, park assist, blind spot monitoring, autonomous brake intervention, heads up display and a performance enhanced engine.
If you're on the search for a new set of wheels and planning on taking them on numerous road trips, come see one of our friendly team members at Bigboxcars. With over 200 vehicles under the one roof, we can help you find what caters to you needs and wants. All our vehicles come with 12 months of roadside assist, a full tank of fuel, an independent car history report and a 48 hour money back guarantee at a 'no haggle' fixed price.
Choose.Buy.Enjoy
A better way to buy and sell used cars.