The best cars for a road trip

Considering exploring the open road this summer? Jack Evans rounds up some of the best cars for the job – whatever your budget.

With lockdown measures beginning to ease, it’s fair to say lots of us are thinking of exploring further afield over the next few months. And with restrictions on foreign holidays set to be in place for some time now, it’ll likely be a summer of exploring closer to home – with road trips being a top choice for many. For that, you’ll need the right car for the job. We’ve picked out some of the very best road trip cars on sale today, for a variety of different budgets…

Under £40,000 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA

An Alfa Romeo will make any road trip exciting, and the Giulia is one of the firm’s latest cars to do just that. Though our budget won’t quite stretch to the full-fat Quadrifoglio, £40,000 is more than enough to secure the regular Sprint model – while the more performance-orientated Veloce specification chimes in just £195 over budget. It’s a truly exhilarating car to drive, with neat handling and pinsharp steering combining to create a car that’ll be great fun to pilot down twisty roads.

Under £60,000 JAGUAR F-TYPE

If your budget comes close to the £60,000 mark, then Jaguar’s F-Type could be the ideal road trip car for you. It’s comfortable, quick and great to look at, while recent improvements have made the cabin considerably better. Coupe versions start from £54,510, though if you want that wind-in-your-hair experience, it’ll cost £59,990 to get the convertible variant.

Under £15,000 DACIA DUSTER

We reckon £15,000 is a good budget to start with for new cars, and one of the best financefriendly models out there is the Dacia Duster. With its chunky looks and raised ride height, it’s geared up for adventure and will happily trawl up and down the motorway, too. You can get a new Duster for just under £12,000, in fact, so if you’re wanting to make your money go further, there’s an option to do so.

Under £70,000 AUDI RS4 AVANT

Audi’s RS4 Avant is arguably one of the best all-rounder cars out there. It’s got the performance box ticked, with a turbocharged 2.9-litre V6 engine kicking out a healthy 444bhp to all four wheels. But because it’s an estate, it’s got more than enough boot space for most occasions, while the cabin is wellmade and spacious too.

Under £90,000 PORSCHE 911

It’s hard to go wrong with a Porsche 911. The latest 992-generation car is superbly well-rounded, with excellent handling and a punchy turbocharged petrol engine which practically sings as you use the throttle. It’s composed over longer distances too, and though it might not be the largest car on the road, has a decent enough amount of luggage space.

Under £50,000 ALPINE A110

We’ve yet to include a sports car on this list, but the Alpine A110 represents a great way to kick things off. It’s surprisingly wellsuited to longer journeys; despite its low ride height, its relatively pliable suspension means that it’s not backbreakingly firm over longer distances. Plus, the 1.8-litre turbocharged engine is reasonably economical on a cruise, so there will be no need to pepper your journey with too many fuel stops.

Under £80,000 RANGE ROVER SPORT Under £25,000 SKODA OCTAVIA ESTATE

Skoda has been knocking it out of the park with its new cars recently, and the new Octavia is a prime example. It’s wonderfully comfortable, stylish and wellfinished inside. A range of efficient engines only adds to the appeal. We’d argue the Estate version is the one to go for if you’re looking for the ideal road trip companion, as it brings just a little extra space over the standard hatch. Prices for it start from £22,210, as well.

A Range Rover is often seen as the ideal long-distance option and the Sport version brings an added level of driver involvement. It’s a great place to be, too, with superb materials finishing what is a very refined and comfortable cabin. Though a new plug-in hybrid variant has recently been added, we’d argue that the conventional diesel version might be better-suited to longer journeys.

Under £100,000 MERCEDES-AMG E63S

If you’re looking at a dream budget of £100,000, then there are quite a few options available to you. We’d opt for the Mercedes-AMG E63S, a car that delivers almost muscle car-like thrills but will happily settle down to a comfortable cruise when subjected to longer motorway jaunts. With a 4.0-litre biturbo engine, it’s certainly no slouch, but thanks to all-wheel-drive capability it’s got more than enough traction for most occasions.