Toronto Star

ROAD-TRIP READY

We assembled a list of five vehicles that will make your journey more exciting,

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2019 Volvo XC40

The recently released Volvo XC40 takes space maximizati­on to a whole new level. If you and your best buddies were planning to head out of town for a camping trip or special concert, the Volvo XC40 with the premium package option comes with a few clever touches. Bins under the front seats can store wallets and cellphones for safe keeping when passengers may need to leave the car in a hurry. A sizable removable garbage bin can be used to get rid of fast food waste and other clutter that can quickly accumulate during a long trip. Ultra massive front door pockets can hold full-size laptops and a few pillows can even be squeezed in for use by passengers during the trip. Lastly, just to the left of the steering wheel are a pair of tiny slots to place important cards such as credit cards and travel documents should they be needed for border crossings and identifica­tion purposes.

2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S

This is a station wagon that can hit 96 km/h in well under four seconds. And no, that is not a typo. This crazy station wagon is the type of car for those who are perpetuall­y late to everything, you’ll be arriving at your destinatio­n much sooner than expected — so long as you steer clear of highways prone to get you speeding tickets.

2018 Mini Clubman

Apart from epic looking split rear doors that can open with a foot-activated sensor, there will be lots for you and a couple of friends to talk about on a long trip regarding this quirky car. This is a crossover you can equip with mini-branded door lock caps and union jack roof and door decals. The possibilit­ies for accessorie­s are endless and there will be a ton of opportunit­ies for taking unique pictures with this car during a road trip with your friends. Oh, and it offers a bit more cargo space than the standard Mini two-door.

2018 Chrysler Pacifica

On a road trip, the Pacifica will quickly put any parent in the good books of their children with just one sole feature: the fantastic rear entertainm­ent system. With dual touch screens, it can play Blu-ray discs, DVDs and video game integratio­n through HDMI. Parents are not left out of the fun either because the Stow’n Go seating system makes light work of seat storage and can even serve as an extra space for those impromptu mini naps needed during a very long drive.

2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata

We say skip the arguably sexier RF hardtop version and spring for the traditiona­l cabriolet to enjoy open air motoring at its finest. The Mazda is not a practical car for hauling luggage, but that’s not why you choose it as your road trip car. Pack light and pick scenic routes to enjoy how the Miata makes excellent use of just 155 horsepower and 148 pound feet of torque. One last thing: the six-speed manual is the only way to go for occasions like this and you can forget the automatic ever existed. Trust us, it’s for your own good.

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