A Holiday Extras family in their car.
Credit: Professional Images
Thinking of going on a road trip for your summer holiday? There’s one thing that you will need if you plan on taking a fun road trip this holiday season and that’s a good car.
Not only will you need to be safe in the vehicle you choose to go away in but you will also need to feel comfortable, have lots of storage space, enjoy good miles per gallon and be in a car that you can rely on. Whether you want to go away for a family road trip or a fun holiday with your friends, this article will help you to find a car that will meet all of your needs.
The last thing you need when you take to the open roads on a road trip is to break down. You will need to conduct some research into the history and reputation of the make and model in order to see if the car has a history of breaking down. This will help you to enjoy your time on the road during your holiday, rather than wasting hours not getting anywhere while you wait for the AA to come and help you.
Another important feature to consider is the amount of space that you have and you will need to know how many people will be travelling with you as well as how many bags you need to fit into the boot. You don’t want to be crammed into the car like sardines in a tin, as this will soon feel uncomfortable and tiring. Looking at ratings for other factors such as how many miles per gallon you get for different makes and models is also important in order to ensure you are able to afford to go on a road trip.
Inspired by Motors.co.uk family road cars list, we have conducted extensive research on the topic and here are three of the best cars that we have found to take on a long road trip:
Space: Four tall people will be comfortable in the Volkswagen Golf and a fifth smaller person can sit perfectly fine in the back seat in the centre. The boot will fit a buggy and a suitcase or two and there are additional storage cubby holes in the front of the vehicle.
Lifespan: The excellent visibility from this car will help to ensure it is easy and fun to drive, with a reduced risk of having an accident as it is largely free from blind spots due to the deep windows.
Price: £17,000 new and £8,000 used.
Safety: This car comes with multiple safety aids and scored high for child and adult occupant protection.
Efficiency: The fuel efficiency is 88.3 MPG, which is better than the Ford Focus and the BMW 1-Series.
Space: Lots of room for four large adults, plus additional seat in the centre of the back for a fifth person. There is a large boot area perfect for two large suitcases and the rear seats fold down when extra storage space is needed.
Lifespan: As this car is new to 2015, its lifespan can only be predicted based on its high safety standards and good MPG indicating it will likely offer a good value investment opportunity.
Price: £18,000 new and £10,000 used. This car is more affordable than the BMW X3 but has less space.
Safety: This Nissan model scored five out of five in the Euro NCAP crash test programme and features a stability control system, plus six airbags.
Efficiency: The diesel version is the best in terms of fuel efficiency with an average rating of 74.3 MPG.
Space: This car boasts lots of room for five tall people to sit comfortably, plus it has a boot that is larger than its rival the Range Rover Evoque.
Lifespan: With good fuel economy, high safety standards and precise steering ratings, the new BMW X3 will offer a good value for money investment.
Price: £30,000 new and £20,000 used. The BMW X3 has a similar price tag to the Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5.
Safety: The make and model performed well in all of its safety tests and features side, front and window airbags that ensured it scored five out of five in the Euro NCAP crash test programme.
Efficiency: At an average rate of 60.1 MPG, this car is more efficient to run than other similar sized cars such as the Audi Q5.
These three cars all fared well in recent tests for all of the features that one looks for in a car to take on a long road trip this summer.