The Best Cars For Road Trips in 2023
Published March 24th, 2023
All photographs via Jay Kana & Steph Wallcraft unless otherwise noted.
Whether you’re travelling across town or across the country, road trips can be fun, exciting and adventurous.
What’s the best car for a road trip? Well, that depends on where you’re going and who you’re with.
As travel continues to return, so does the popularity and freedom of the road trip. It can be well-planned or spontaneous; by yourself or with others; overnight or over a month.
There are dozens of vehicle options in 2023 that can be your chariot for adventure, each with something that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Our best cars for road trips reference guide is in two main categories; people-based and vehicle-based.
From there, we’ve listed one mainstream brand and one luxury brand.
Let us know which vehicle you’re taking on road trips and where you’re going in the comments!
PEOPLE-BASED
Solo
The Mazda MX-5 hardtop convertible does it all for the solo road tripper. It has a tiny trunk but ample room in the passenger seat for your stuff and things. It’s you and the road with the top down, radio up and while some may say it’s not the smoothest ride, opt for the six-speed manual over the automatic for extra fun.
The BMW 230i, for a non-M car, has lots of get up and go, comfy seats and BMW’s impressive driving dynamics. Throw a bunch of your stuff in without worrying about overfilling this quick coupe.
One friend
Ford’s Maverick is cheap, cheerful, compact and drives like a car, despite it being a pickup truck. Plenty of cargo space and available as a hybrid if you like driving past gas stations.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class was redesigned last year, bringing premium features to the entry point of this luxury automaker’s line-up. The MBUX infotainment system lets both you and a friend can both adjust the car’s functions via voice control, and even the base C 300 has plenty of power for your next adventure.
3-4 friends
The Kia Telluride is spacious, comfortable and has a usable third row of seats, meaning someone gets a whole row to themselves. Plus, it has room for all your luggage, gear and food.
On the luxury side, Jeep’s Wagoneer sub-brand offers a range of large three-row SUV options. There’s plenty of value in the entry-level Wagoneer Series I, which includes premium appointments, the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, and more than enough space for you and your crew.
Couples
The redesigned Kia Niro lets you express your personality as a couple right down to how it’s powered: opt for the EV for zero-emissions electric driving if you prefer, but even the hybrid offers the best fuel economy of any vehicle sold in Canada without a plug. And it’s stylish and modern to boot.
The BMW X1 is entry-level luxury but it sure doesn’t feel that way. Adorned with BMW’s new infotainment system, smooth and strong driving dynamics, this cute-ute is tough to beat as a couples-carrier for adventure.
Families of up to 4
The new Mazda CX-50 will likely replace the CX-5 and with good reason. It’s stronger, better in every way, can take you off-road and behaves well in the urban world. Impressive driving impressions, ample space and comfortable rear seating gets and keeps your foursome moving forward comfortably.
The Lexus RX is all-new for 2023 with three engines and boasts the most powerful RX in history via the 500h trim. Options for heated and cooled rear seats and over 800L of cargo space, plus Lexus’ new impressive infotainment and up to seven charging options for devices make it a radiant ride.
Families over 4
When you need space for a crowd and its luggage, there’s no better vehicle than a minivan. For long-distance drives, the Toyota Sienna is the best choice. Its standard hybrid powertrain returns excellent fuel economy, especially over extended highway runs, and available all-wheel drive adds security in tougher conditions.
If you’ve got the budget to move your crew in opulence, check out the Land Rover Range Rover. It’s all new for 2023 and has an updated infotainment system, plush upholstery, and ultra-premium features like heated outboard third-row seats.
Frenemy…because sometimes we’re stuck with someone we’d rather not be.
We’re not saying we don’t like these cars, we’re just saying your travel companions might not. The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 twins are great fun for you as a driver, but your passenger might feel hemmed in, especially if they’re tall and would find it short on headroom.
And while we enjoyed touring Ontario’s Bay of Quinte in a Jaguar F-Type, the rattles in the interior are a distraction. That said, you could pull a passive-aggressive move on your frenemy and show up at their door with your luggage occupying what little cargo space the F-Type offers, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Bonus points to give them full control of the slow, error-prone infotainment screen.
VEHICLE-BASED
Outdoors and off road
The Jeep Wrangler/Ford Bronco Both are off-road geared machines with the Wrangler having longevity and the Bronco being the new kid, both are equally capable of getting you from one muddy situation through rocks and out the other side.
When you need to carve up some trails and be back in time for high tea, nothing fits the bill quite like a Land Rover Defender 110. Its extreme capability and even more impressive customization means you can truly make this off-roader your own: the only limit is your budget.
On-road & Urban
The Honda Accord hybrid its new and smooth, even with the love it or lump it cvt. The gasoline accord isn’t great but the comfortable and responsive hybrid more than makes up for it.
Volvo’s V90, with the best seats in the industry, means you won’t even notice you’re stuck in urban traffic. It’s quick, it’s tameable it’s functional and it’s a damn wagon. It’s also surprisingly easy to park. Long live the long roofs
Hybrid
Kia’s Sportage hybrid proved that after we racked up over 4,000 km in it from Mississauga to Gaspe and back, it’s the one to go for in the hybrid world. Yes, the Tucson is the sister/cousin version of it but after driving both, the Sportage wins.
Lexus’ NX specializes in blending luxury with fuel efficiency, and with the death of its horrible track pad, the NX does everything you want. Driving it in northern Ontario for a few hours solidified that. Plus, there are two electrified versions: the hybrid NX 350h, and the plug-in hybrid NX 450h+.
Driving Experience
For driving engagement on a budget, it’s tough to beat the Hyundai Elantra N. This souped-up version of the Korean brand’s compact sedan is tuned for racing but is comfortable enough on-road to offer compromise. Engage N Grin Shift mode and hit some curves, and you really will be smiling from ear to ear.
The BMW M550i is the one car we would buy in a heartbeat. It’s simply perfect in every way, despite its sleeper status. 553 horsepower and 523 lb-ft. of torque from a 4.4L fire breathing V8 is unmatched. Strong, svelte, stylish and simply stupendous.
Electric Vehicle
Kia’s EV6 offers up to 499 km of range via their rear-wheel drive long-range iteration. The cabin is gorgeous and functional, it’s spacious with 690L of cargo space, and elegantly modern looks.
The BMW i4 won AJAC’s 2023 Car Of The Year and best Premium EV, and offers up to 484 km of range and has an impressive interior. Brisk acceleration, a comfortable technologically advanced cabin and BMW’s renowned driving dynamics contribute to its spot on this list.
Convertible
The aging-like-fine-wine current generation Ford Mustang is a half manual half automatic drop-top. Jay first drove one in Death Valley for nearly 10 hours, and later a road trip to Montreal and has driven about a dozen versions of the current generation. The top-down look is stunning and performance, even with the base engine, is impressive. There’s nothing quite like it.
In what many deem to be the ultimate luxury car, the Lexus LC 500 oozes luxury and power. This bespoke machine looks beautiful with the top up, unmatched with the top down and at its best at cruising speeds.
An honourable mention goes to the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, a timeless status symbol that for many represents the epitome of luxury top-down performance driving.
Manual/Standard Transmission
To get a manual Mazda 3, you need to choose the non-turbocharged powertrain. Never mind its paltry 191 hp and 186 lb-ft. of torque, the smooth shifting machine is a treat to drive with effortless and crisp shifts. Mazda says they’ll likely be the last ones to make a manual, making them the unofficial #savethemanuals flag bearer.
Acura’s Integra is kinda like an overpriced Civic Si but it certainly feels different. Solid shifts from a company that knows how to make great manuals and a lower seating position makes it a memorable and engaging drive.
Towing
If you need to tow a trailer and want a solid balance of space and tow rating in a mid-size SUV, you’re looking for a Nissan Pathfinder. Its 6,000-pound towing capacity is the most you’ll find in this category, giving you a little more weight for your trailer while offering plenty of space in the SUV for packing up your gear.
While Ram is not a luxury brand on its own, some versions of the Ram 1500 come with seriously upscale features and cost more than $100,000 in Canada, so we think it counts as premium. If you’re towing, get the RamBox feature: these bins over the rear wheels can hold extra gear, creating more space inside the cabin.
Jay Kana & Steph Wallcraft are members of the Travel Media Association of Canada and the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada, and the only two journalists to carry both professional designations at the time of publishing.