When you’re planning a road trip, especially one where you’re renting a car, there will come a moment when you have to choose the best vehicle for your adventure. This guide is meant to help you decide what’s the best rental car to suit your needs. KAYAK offers a wide selection of categories to choose from, such as standard or premium sedans, SUVs, passenger vans, convertibles, and station wagons. We even offer alternatives to renting – like car sharing from Turo (it’s like renting your neighbor’s car for the week).
Plus, what could be a great car for getting around a city may not be the best choice for exploring the Grand Canyon or going skiing in the Rocky Mountains. Learn below about the different types of car rentals and what their features and characteristics are best for. There are various factors to consider, including the terrain, the number of people joining you on the road trip, and whether you’re going to be traveling light or needing extra cargo space for sports equipment.
Gasoline, Diesel, Electric or Hybrid?
One of the first questions you may ask yourself is what type of fuel is best. If you’re going on a road trip, you’ll be spending many hours behind the wheel and fuel efficiency will most likely influence your choice of vehicle. The number of times you will have to refuel during your road trip is an important factor that will impact the final cost of your travels and car rental.
Gasoline vs. Diesel
You’ll mainly encounter diesel options when road tripping through Europe since it’s not commonly used in the United States. This type of fuel is known to have better fuel efficiency, or mileage, than gasoline, along with better torque. This characteristic comes in handy if you’re traveling with a lot of baggage or intend to climb steep hills and mountains during your road trip.
Something to keep in mind when refueling is that you can’t put gasoline in a diesel vehicle or vice versa. Make sure you know beforehand the type of fuel your car rental needs in order to choose the correct option when refilling. Car gas caps generally have a sticker indicating the exact type of gas to use. It may also be indicated on your car rental key or in the glove compartment with the vehicle information.
Electric vs. Hybrid
Lately, opting for electric or hybrid vehicles has become quite popular. These two types of cars offer a more eco-friendly solution while also helping you to save money on gas. The difference is that they refuel at charging stations as opposed to normal gas stations. This requires you to plan a little bit to locate charging stations along your route. The main perk is that electricity is generally significantly more affordable than fuel.
Nonetheless, if you’d rather not have to worry about finding charging stations, hybrid vehicles, while still an eco-friendly solution, can also be refueled at any normal gas station.
Best road trip cars for hiking and exploring national parks
For avid hikers and those who enjoy the outdoors, a road trip will likely be mountain- and national-park-oriented. In this case, you’ll want to pick a rental car with plenty of space for your equipment, as well as with the right features to get around safely and comfortably in all terrains and weather conditions.
The best car choices for a road trip to national parks like Yellowstone or the North Cascade Mountains are SUVs or crossovers.
These car categories are generally a good size to accommodate extra passengers and equipment and have off-roading capabilities to make sure you can explore as much as you want with high ground clearance. If you’re not used to driving such large cars, you may want to choose a crossover, also referred to as a mini or compact SUV. These have the same all-terrain characteristics but are smaller and may be a more comfortable size for you. They are generally also more fuel-efficient than large SUVs.
Best road trip cars for the beach
If your next road trip destination is a sunny coast or beach, you’ll want to find a car rental that allows you to feel the sun on your face. Your best option is absolutely the shiny convertible you’ve been eyeing.
Make sure your convertible rental has enough trunk space for the luggage you’re traveling with, as well as decent mileage. There are different cars with an optional convertible top, allowing you to cover it if you wish to do so. Just remember that some materials attract heat, such as dark leather, so you may want to find a car rental with light-colored seats.
If your idea of a beach road trip includes surfboards, coolers, and umbrellas, a car with enough cargo space will be your priority.
Best road trip cars for a ski getaway
The main features you’ll want your road trip car to have when going on a ski trip are that it should be good for icy and snowy terrains, have enough room for any snow equipment, skis, or snowboards you’ll be carrying, and of course include warm interiors for after a long day on the slopes. One car category that checks off all these needs is an SUV.
Whether you live near a ski resort or are planning a long road trip to the mountains, find an SUV car rental with a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. This will help you safely navigate the icy or snowy roads as you make the climb up the mountain range. Confirm beforehand with your car rental agency that your vehicle has snow tires in addition to snow chains available in the trunk just in case.
SUVs also have good ground clearance. The extra height between the underbelly of the car and the ground will come in handy to avoid getting stuck in any high piles of snow. Convenient special features to quickly warm up after a day in the snow are heated seats and steering wheels. You’ll appreciate it as you feel the warmth creeping back into your hands and body.
Look for a car with enough trunk space for all the skis, boots, gloves, and jackets you’ll be hauling around for a day on the slopes. Some SUVs may come with racks on the roof or back of the car for you to conveniently attach snowboards or skis.
Best road trip cars for traveling with the whole family
A road trip can be a great way to spend time with your family and explore places you’ve never been. The main characteristic you’ll want to keep in mind is the car’s size. Pick a car with enough seating for the number of family members joining you on the road trip, but don’t forget about the luggage you’ll be bringing with you as well.
Full-size SUVs and minivans comfortably fit seven to eight passengers and should have enough cargo space to suit your needs. SUVs tend to be a better option for long-distance trips and are suitable for all terrains.
For those traveling with young children, you’ll likely need a car seat. It’s always possible to bring your own car seat if you’re renting a car, although you can add one as an extra to your rental if you wish to do so. Bringing your own child seat allows your child maximum safety and comfort during the road trip. Along with this, you will be more comfortable already knowing the installation process, as well as avoiding the additional rental fees.
Nonetheless, adding a child seat to your car rental booking is typically possible. You can consider this when choosing the size and category of your road trip car rental.
So what’s the bottom line?
Before going on your road trip, you should do plenty of research to be able to pick the best road trip car for you and your travel companions. You’re looking at a lot of hours in the car, so you want to be sure it will be exactly what you need to feel confident and safe. Happy travels!
