The harsh, yet worthwhile evaluation process…
In our book, the ULTIMATE road trip vehicle would hands-down be an epic 25-foot RV… But, let’s face it, that’s not entirely realistic (especially for those that are on a budget and live in urban areas). After all, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PARK THAT HUGE ‘SUBMARINE ON WHEELS’?
Keeping that in mind, let’s just say that dwindling down this list to just 3 cars was quite a tricky task. But, after some deep analysis, we ended up with 3 notably exceptional vehicles that managed to reign supreme in our evaluation.
Speaking of evaluation, you may be wondering how this list was formulated…
For your convenience, here are 5 MAIN QUALITIES you should consider before selecting your next road trip vehicle (check out the “QUICK TIPS” checklist below).
“5 QUICK TIPS” CHECKLIST:
(Here’s how to choose the best road-trip car!)
#1. Occupancy & Purpose of Road Trip ✔
This may seem like an obvious one, but it is important to first take into account how many people you plan on bringing along for the ride. Not to mention, you should have a general vision of “the overall purpose” for your trip.
Do you have intentions of going on a “short” 3-hour cruise down the interstate? Or do you have intentions of going on a much longer multi-day cross-country trek?
Moreover, will you be riding solo? Or will you be riding with the whole family?
These are some of the initial questions you should ask yourself. Then, from there, you can confidently select the ideal vehicle for your road trip.
#2. Fuel Efficiency & Range ✔
Despite gas prices being cheaper than usual as of late, a vehicle’s estimated fuel efficiency & range is still an important aspect to consider. This is because fuel costs can quickly sneak up on you!
The difference between filling up a compact car (achieving 30+ mpg) and filling up a full-size SUV (achieving 20 mpg) may not seem like a HUGE deal at first… But once you do all the math, you’ll immediately notice a substantial difference.
If you’re not into crunching numbers, no worries. Just keep one rule of thumb in mind, “the higher the mpg, the less expensive”. That’s it!
#3. Cargo Versatility ✔
This one may also slip your mind at first, but trunk space is extremely important (see image above ↑). This is especially the case if you are planning to go on a long road trip that requires the hauling of lots of luggage. Trust me, you’ll appreciate it.
For in-depth trunk versatility evaluations, be sure to check out DriveAndBeDriven’s segment: “How Much Stuff Can Fit In That Trunk?”, over on YouTube.
#4. Vehicle Safety ✔
This is another EXTREMELY IMPORTANT aspect! After all, you are transporting your loved ones. Therefore, having confidence that you are all riding in a safe vehicle is key.
Above all, I recommend you look at how a vehicle performs in crash tests. Two agencies that do an excellent job at testing vehicles are the IIHS and the NHTSA.
Aside from crash tests, it is also important to look for crash prevention systems. Safety enhancement features such as Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Automatic Emergency Braking are a few of the many safety features that can help prevent auto accidents.
#5. Multi-Media Connectivity / In-Car Entertainment ✔
Multi-media connectivity is another major aspect to consider when selecting a road trip car. Certain multi-media systems can grant you access to hands-free text messaging, real-time traffic, live weather updates, local gas station fuel prices, navigation, and so much more all via the vehicle’s onboard tech.
Oh yes! And let’s not forget how important it is to keep your passengers entertained! Nothing is more annoying than someone dreadfully moaning, “Are we there yet?” from the backseat.
So, how are you supposed to help your passengers pass time?
Turn up the radio, tune it to everyone’s favorite station, and put your speakers to work! Or better yet, tether your phone to the car, and stream your favorite song playlist via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
Say it after me, “ON-BOARD VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE WIN!!!”
Woot! Woot!
Just imagine: Music blasting, heads bobbing, and fingers snapping! Now we’re talking! …or should I say, “driving”! 😉
What do you think about our “5 QUICK TIPS” CHECKLIST?
✎ Comment down below! ✎
♪ MUSICAL BONUS ♪
As promised, here is the first song (out of 5) that you seriously NEED to add to your road trip playlist! Just click the the “LISTEN” button below. Then, press “Sample Song”.
Ideal Road Trip Playlist
(Song #1 out of 5)
Live Your Life ~ T.I. (feat. Rihanna)
Continue reading to discover our other song selections.
41 thoughts on “Top 3 BEST New Road-Trip Cars of 2020 Counted Down!”
I’m really impressed with how well this article is written and how it got me thinking about going on a road trip even though it hasn’t crossed my mind in the past. But I definitely like the hybrid because the less you gotta worry about the car, being the gas or the people in it… the trip becomes 100x more enjoyable
Thanks so much, man! Glad you enjoyed it. I honestly was never really considering road tripping either, but when Dawn presented me with this sweet collab idea, it got me thinking!
Indeed! Hybrids are definitely superior when it comes to maximizing how far you can travel without having to refuel. Which, in turn, surely makes your trip more enjoyable! Thanks for your insight and support. I have some really cool ideas cooking up in the kitchen. So definitely stay tuned! 🙂
Also, keep up your music career, bro. Can’t wait for the next single!!!
Interesting read. Good job.
Thanks for stopping by, Ghady! I’m so happy you enjoyed this write-up. Can’t wait for your next video to drop this Friday!!! Hopefully, we can collab again in the future. That would be super sick! 🙂
Great job a lot of good information on road trip.
Much appreciated. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this article. I tried my best to jam pack it with tons of useful information. More content is on its way!
This was a very helpful and insightful blog. I’ve really wanted to take a road trip for my birthday so this helped a lot.
Jeremiah, I really appreciate your support! Glad you found it to be helpful and insightful. That sounds like so much fun! Birthday road-trip!!! Yayyy!
My dream is to have an RV road trip (with me driving) when I turn 21. That would be so awesome! Can’t wait. Just a couple more years… Haha! Thanks again for your encouragement, man!
Comments are closed.