Going on a road trip with your family is the ultimate all-American vacation. The freedom of the open road, showing the kids this beautiful country, and making memories at every random roadside stop will stick with you for the rest of your life.
Of course, if you go on a road trip with the wrong vehicle, the memories you make may be all the wrong ones. Choosing the right family-friendly road trip vehicle will help you avoid memories of roadside breakdowns and backseat fights.
If you know you like to go on longer trips with your car, your selection criteria will be different when buying a car than if you’re just buying a car for daily transport. Here are a few things that matter most when looking for a road trip vehicle that will fit the entire family.
Safety Ratings
The most important factor when looking for a road trip vehicle is safety. You don’t want to drive your family in a car that is unsafe, especially if you’re going to be stranded far from home on remote roads.
Before buying a car, there are a few different ways that you can check a model’s safety ratings. The NHTSA issues safety ratings for different models, incorporating different factors such as frontal crash test safety, side crash test safety, and rollover resistance. The site also lists different safety technologies that a model has, and warns consumers about any recalls.
Different review sites also have safety ratings for older and newer models of vehicles. Read different reviews and compare them to get the most accurate information about a vehicle’s safety.
Important features to look out for when shopping for a road trip-friendly car include 4WD or AWD for better traction and rollover resistance, both of which make driving on poorly maintained mountainous roads easier.
If you’re looking at newer models, prioritize those with safety features such as lane-keeping assistance. This technology can help prevent accidents as you lose focus after a long day on the road.
Plenty of Space
If you’re going on a road trip with the entire family, prioritize space. A good cabin layout is important for whoever will be driving. You want to be able to drive without feeling cramped. If you’re switching off with another adult, make sure the passenger seat has enough space for the other driver to rest in between shifts so they can feel refreshed for taking over the next time.
If you’re traveling with the whole family, enough space in the backseat is crucial for keeping the peace on long drives. Look into three-row family SUVs, which provide extra room for families without the bulkiness of a minivan. The extra row means that you can fit several car seats in the car comfortably and put up barriers between feuding siblings.
Even if you don’t have a large family, you still want enough space on road trips for everyone to get comfortable. Long hours of driving are uncomfortable enough without feeling as if you’re cramped together.
Enough cabin space is also important for taking all of your stuff. You want to have a spacious trunk to fit your luggage, but you also need to have some stuff with you in the cabin, such as emergency equipment, snacks, and entertainment for the kids. When looking at new cars, don’t just look at the empty cabin. Imagine how it will look when full of your stuff, and if you will feel comfortable then.
Gas Mileage
The fuel efficiency of your car may not matter that much if you’re just using it to drive to work and back. However, if you’re covering several hundred miles a day on a road trip and having to stop for gas several times a day, the delays add up—and so does the cost of fueling up.
One important statistic to look at when buying cars is the miles per gallon (MPG) rating. The MPG calculates how far you can drive after filling up your tank without stopping again for gas. A good MPG can save you hundreds of dollars on a long road trip.
Some people look for modern cars with fuel-saving technologies such as cruise control to lower the expenses of going on a long road trip.
Others look for fuel-saving cars that use hybrid or entirely electric power to fuel their tanks. While electric cars can save you money on gas, this may not be the best option if you’re going on a road trip through remote locations. If electric refueling stations are few and far between along your road trip route, you could wind up stranded.
Vehicle Reliability
You don’t want to spend your road trip exploring the quality of mechanics in different states or testing your ability to perform roadside mechanics. Accidents can happen, which is why it’s important to have a roadside assistance kit, but you don’t want a vehicle that is prone to leaving its drivers stranded by the side of the road.
If you’re buying a new car, look for reliability ratings for that brand and model. Publications put together extensive reviews highlighting common flaws with a vehicle and how often a driver is likely to run into problems. Look for SUVs from brands that have a reputation for durability and low maintenance demands, rather than flashy style.
Buying a pre-owned vehicle gets a little complicated. A brand can be reliable, but if the previous owner didn’t take good care of the car, it could break down easily. Guides such as the Kelley Blue Book make it easier to check the reliability of older models. Carefully check over used cars, preferably with a friend who knows about cars or a professional mechanic, to spot signs of previous accidents or potential damage.
Choosing the Right Road Trip Vehicle for Your Family
If you’ve always dreamed of going on road trips with your family, choosing the right car can make that dream a reality. When buying a new family car, think about how it will perform on the road after a long trip. Look for cars with plenty of cabin space, good gas mileage, and high ratings on safety and reliability.
