The Best Cars For Road Trips in 2024
Published January 8th, 2024
All photos by Jay Kana 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 2024 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 categorized by vehicle size/class and then we’ve listed one mainstream brand and one luxury brand.
To help plan your road trips, visit RoadTripper.ca for great ideas and destinations!
Let us know which vehicle you’re taking on road trips and where you’re going in the comments!
Two-Door/Coupe
The famous Nissan Z car has been providing driving joy since 1969 and the 2024 model lets you pick your favourite person to join you on road trip adventures. And yes, there's space for two pieces of carry-on luggage, plus there's a manual option.
BMW's 2-Series comes in a fun 230i option (smaller engine) all the way up to the powerful M2. The sweet spot is the M240i with nearly 400 horsepower, a comfortable ride and both trunk space and two small-ish rear seats that's best used for stuff opposed to people.
Sedan
I own a 2004 Honda Accord and simply put, the Accord has been a solid sedan for decades. The 2024 version looks sleek, has plenty of comfort and a small-but-mighty engine that also comes in a hybrid option. A paltry 5.3 L/100 km should push you toward the hybrid as you can go much further between gas station stops.
Known for its minimalistic design and more recently, its Google Built In technology, the Volvo S60 brings you a serene ride as you traverse the roads ahead. Jump in the S60 Recharge plug-in hybrid version if you want 455 horsepower, 523 lb-ft. of torque and up to 64 km of electric range. Definitely and unfairly underrated.
Hatchback
I owned a 2005 and 2010 Mazda 3. They were great back then and even better now. Mazda is in a premium class all by themselves, which means you get high quality materials, an optional powerful engine with all-wheel drive and the best driving dynamics in a non-luxury vehicle, all for a lower-than-expected price. The sedan is good but the hatchback is superior, with more space for your stuff.
The Acura Integra made a comeback after a lengthy absence and it's won some awards to prove its worth. Premium materials, very comfortable seats, a prime audio system and plenty of standard safety makes this beautiful hatchback my choice in the luxury segment. Bonus points for it coming in a manual transmission!
Subcompact Crossover
All-new for 2024, the Hyundai Kona is a popular option for those who want something higher off the ground but carries a small footprint. With an upscale modern design, an all-wheel drive option and oodles of space, it's the most popular vehicle for the brand.
The BMW X1 blends their legendary driving feel with advanced technology, and has up to 1,550 L of cargo space with the rear seats down and 505 L if you have four passengers. It's one of my favourite vehicles I drove in the past two years. It may be small. but passenger comfort is well covered.
Compact Crossover
Canada's best selling vehicle (excluding pickup trucks) was the Toyota RAV4, so it was an easy choice to make. Using either gasoline, a hybrid engine or a plug-in hybrid technology, the RAV4 is one of the most dependable and reliable vehicles on the market. With over 1,000 L of cargo space, you can fit carry-on luggage for all five occupants and get nearly 1,000 km to a tank of fuel with the hybrid.
The Genesis GV70 has been disrupting the usual leaders in BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi for a few years and doing a damn fine job of it. For significantly less money, you get significantly more features, premium materials, advanced technology, a mile-long list of standard safety features and one of the smoothest rides in the luxury world under $100,000.
Mid-Size SUV
The all-new Mazda CX-90 continues to show that Mazda is a premium brand with their new three-row crossover decked out with high-end materials, dashing good looks and their famous driving impressions. Available as a plug-in hybrid or gas model, there's comfort galore here.
The refreshed Porsche Cayenne graciously moves you with oodles of power (up to 729 horsepower!) and this performance luxury crossover drives like a sports car, regardless of how much stuff is in it. Opt for the coupe body style if you have rear passengers that don’t mind losing a touch of headspace in exchange for sleek looks.
Full-Size SUV
The all-new Toyota Sequoia is their largest offering and can seat 7 or 8 extremely comfortably. There's off-road capability and a standard V6 hybrid engine, so you'll get surprisingly impressive fuel consumption for its size.
Jeep's Grand Wagoneer pushes them into luxury territory and this all-new massive SUV has a plethora of bells, whistles and then some. Tackle nearly any approachable road with their world-famous all-wheel drive system paired to a powerful 6.4L V8 with 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft. of torque. All three rows are luxurious and brimming with comfort so buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Pickup Truck
The RAM 1500 offers up to 12,750 pounds of towing, three engine choices and up to 2,300 pounds of payload, and a tech-savvy, comfortable interior. Whether you’re off to a cabin, cottage, camping or provincial/state/national park, bring it all with you on your road trips.
Chevrolet’s SIlverado offers four engine choices, a payload of up to 2,260 pounds and towing up to 13,300 pounds, hitch your trailer, boat or whatever else you have, pack the truck and go adventuring beyond the open roads.
Hybrid
Going with a trio of small to large here with the Toyota Prius, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sorento.
These three will have you passing gas stations and in motion longer.
Prius: 4.8 L/100 km - 49 MPG
Tucson: 6.4 L/100 km - 36.7 MPG
Sorento: 6.8 L/100 km - 34.6 MPG
Lexus takes a clean sweep here with their NX (subcompact crossover) RX (compact crossover) and TX (three-row SUV) as they’re all available with terrific hybrid powertrains and fuel consumption figures that are astoundingly low.
NX: 6.0 L/100 km - 39.2 MPG
RX: 6.5 L/100 km - 36.2 MPG
TX: 8.6 L/100 km - 27.3 MPG
Plug-In Hybrid
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV brings an impressive up-to 61 km of all-electric range, making it one of the highest in the non-luxury world. A comfortable and spacious interior, paired with good cargo space and a long list of standard features, this small brand is doing big things.
The BMW X5 xDrive50e provides up-to 63 km of all-electric range and while it's not best in class, the rest of it more than compensates from comfort, luxurious finish and superior driving PHEV driving dynamics (the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e has up to 77 km of electric range.)
With its new infotainment system, refined driving dynamics, ample cargo space and solid space for five adults, it arrives in style, wherever your road takes you.
Electric Vehicles
This segment is growing quickly so these figures are reflective as of the time of publishing, showing a selection of the longest-range options. There’ll be a standalone article on how to road trip with an electric vehicle in the coming weeks.
468 km - 291 miles: Volkswagen ID.4
499 km - 301 miles: KIa EV6 Wind
500 km - 301 miles: BMW iX xDrive50 (20" Wheels)
505 km - 314 miles: Cadillac Lyriq
515 km - 320 miles: Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range
515 km - 320 miles: Polestar 2
581 km - 361 miles: Hyundai IONIQ 6
661 km - 411 miles: Rivian RT1
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. Its extreme capability and even more impressive customization means you can truly make this off-roader your own: the only limit is your budget.
Convertible
The iconic Mazda MX-5 (Miata for those who are purists) has sold over one million units and remains an icon in the automotive world. Choose between a soft top or hard top, manual or automatic, find one person to sit shotgun or do a solo trip, and enjoy the open road.
The 2024 BMW 430i Cabriolet looks great, drives wonderfully and is even better with the top down. Powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine putting out 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque though their all-wheel drive system, let all that light and air in this cool, chic coupe.
Minivan
Chrysler’s Pacifica comes in either a gasoline or hybrid version and has cavernous space with seating for seven or eight, go further with more people. Getting in and out is extra easy with the sliding doors and laugh all you want but minivans are far more functional than any SUV.
Manual Transmission
The Mazda 3 has the best shifting manual transmission in the non-luxury market. Period. As one of the last automakers to offer a manual, Mazda does it flawlessly. Row your own gears, find up to three people to join you (nobody needs that middle seat) and appreciate just how good of a car the manual Mazda 3 is.
The Acura Integra Type S is a helluva hot hatch, with 320 horsepower and 310 lb-ft. of torque through a solid six-speed transmission. Four drive modes and crisp, responsive steering, chiseled looks and a sport yet upscale interior, including a 16-speaker ELS audio system, make the Type S ideal for those who want to be connected with their road trip chariot.