So, you’re planning a road trip and are wondering what is the best car to buy for the job. Well, this is not an easy question to answer as there will inevitably be lots of variables involved. For example, do you want to use this car primarily for road trips, or do you also need it for the school run? Well, fortunately for you, this post will cover some of the top tips needed to help you choose the perfect road trip vehicle that you can also use in everyday life.
Engine Power
One of the first things you should look for is the engine’s power. While you want to avoid overpowered brutes that will get you approximately 15 miles on a tank of gas, you also want to avoid underpowered vehicles that are too anemic. You should consider where and how you will be driving as this can help you balance out how much power you need. For example, if you take a trip across the Appalachians, you will need something with a large amount of torque. An engine’s torque is the force exerted by a rotating shaft on an object in contact with it. It is crucial for the engine to produce enough torque to power the vehicle up steep hills and overtake when safe. However, while you should look for a car with decent torque, it shouldn’t be at the expense of everything else, like fuel economy, which will be discussed later.
Interior Space
The amount of space you have inside your car will dictate how safe the journey is and how comfortable you and your family or friends are. When traveling alone or with a group, you must consider the passenger space and the amount of luggage and supplies you might need to fit inside. Therefore, you should determine how much trunk space you have available and whether you can accommodate everyone’s bags.
Moreover, if you intend to use this vehicle for everyday use (which is likely since a new car isn’t cheap), you should factor in the design. You should also consider cars you might not associate with space like a Mini, which you can get in a spacious Clubman variety (or even drop-top, which is pretty fun for a trip) as recommended by Lauderdale MINI. Furthermore, you can fold down the seats in some vehicles to create more room or add extra seats in some models. This will come in handy if you are the designated little league soccer driver and have a team of kids to ferry around every weekend!
Fuel Economy
Finally, the topic everyone is talking about…fuel economy. While this will affect some people more than others, the fact remains that fuel prices have shot up in the past year and are showing no signs of slowing down. Even if you don’t have to concern yourself with the cost, you should consider how far you can drive on a single tank. If you are going on a road trip, it’s likely that you intend to travel significant distances. If that is the case, you really don’t want to stop too often for gas, as this can quickly become tedious. However, this is where things become slightly more tricky.
As previously mentioned, a car should have sufficient power to power a heavily-laden vehicle up inclines, as well as be more comfortable in general (try driving a highly revving vehicle for any amount of time, and you will understand). But therein lies the dilemma. A more powerful vehicle will use more fuel, and vice versa.
Forutanltey, some modern cars have managed to solve most of these issues, and you can usually find something that provides you with a decent mixture of the two. In most cases, these will be SUV-type vehicles as these can provide the space, comfort, power, and fuel economy required for a long journey. Something like a Kia or a Hyundai will do you right and conveniently include pretty fantastic warranties to boot!
In-Car Entertainment
It is fair to assume that you are embarking on this journey out of a sense of adventure and quest for fun and excitement, right? If not, you should probably avoid the trip altogether; however, if you are a normal person, you will be looking to have fun while on the trip. To that end, your chosen car should be equipped with an in-car entertainment system (ICE) of the highest quality. The instrument panel should be able to connect directly to your Android or iOS device and provide maps, hands-free calling, and, most importantly, the ability to play some banging tunes. Aside from the dash panel, the speakers should be loud enough with as little distortion as possible so you can hear them over the sound of the road. Tire roar can be an exhausting experience, so having audible tunes playing as you drive is not only fun but can keep you sharp.
Safety Ratings
No matter how experienced a driver you are, accidents can happen. They could occur from you having a lapse in concentration or from another driver crashing into you. While this doesn’t bear thinking about too often, you should consider this fact. As a result, when you are on the lookout for a new car, safety should be one of your top priorities regardless of how you will use it. All vehicles will display their NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings, and you should select a model that has no less than four stars, with all five being preferable. This rating system gives you a good indication of how the model will cope during an accident of some kind and how likely you and your passengers are to survive. While no amount of safety can guarantee survivability, it can certainly provide you with peace of mind that you are more likely to walk away with a higher-rated car than a lower-rated one.
Optional Features
This last point is not essential, but it can make the experience more comfortable. For example, if your car enables you to fit roof racks, you could put a storage box on the roof, thus freeing up more space inside. This will allow you to buy a smaller, more affordable vehicle without sacrificing space.
Planning for and embarking on a road trip with your pals is an exciting prospect. However, you need to be sure that you have chosen the right vehicle for the job. By following some of the tips in this post, you should be in a position to make a more informed choice on the matter.
“Author – Allen Brown”
