May 22, 2026
Ten vehicles we would happily point at the horizon, ranked.
Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of road trip season, and the best part of any trip is still what it always was: the open road, good company, and a car that makes the miles feel like the point. AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel this weekend, with the bulk of them on the road. Here are ten vehicles on sale right now that we would gladly load up and drive anywhere, with something here for every kind of trip.
1. Toyota Tundra Hybrid
The truck that can genuinely do it all. The i-FORCE MAX hybrid V6 makes a muscular 437 horsepower, tows up to 11,450 pounds, and the standard 32.2-gallon tank covers 600 highway miles between stops even fully loaded. The real surprise is the ride. The coil-spring rear suspension Toyota introduced in 2022 gives it a smoothness most full-size trucks can only envy. Tow the camper, reach the campsite, arrive comfortable. Our long-term review has the full story, and Tundra sales data shows it has been steadily winning back share.
2. Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
The three-row family SUV at its most complete. There is genuine space in all three rows, including a third row adults will happily sit in, and up to 97.5 cubic feet of cargo room with the seats folded. The hybrid powertrain returns a thrifty 36 mpg and roughly 600 highway miles per tank. Quiet, roomy, and built to shrug off years of family life. Sales tell the same story.
3. Subaru Outback
Redesigned for 2026 with a taller, more confident shape and a beautifully sorted interior, the Outback remains the natural choice for anyone whose road trips end somewhere scenic. Standard all-wheel drive, real ground clearance, and a long flat cargo floor make it equally happy on the interstate or the forest road. Few vehicles wear the word adventure this honestly.
4. Honda CR-V Hybrid
One of the most quietly excellent vehicles you can buy. The hybrid system delivers up to 43 mpg, the cabin stays hushed and comfortable on long drives, and there is a generous 76.5 cubic feet of cargo space. It does all of this for around $35,000, with Honda’s well-earned reputation for lasting. An easy, sensible, genuinely satisfying companion, and the CR-V sales chart reflects how many buyers reach exactly that conclusion.
5. Toyota Sienna
The minivan is the most rational road trip vehicle ever devised, and the Sienna is the best of them. Hybrid-only and rated at 36 mpg, it pairs that efficiency with a flat floor, sliding doors, and more usable space for people and gear than almost anything else here. Families who choose it tend to become loyal very quickly.
6. Chevrolet Suburban
When the trip involves a big group and a lot of stuff, nothing answers quite like the Suburban. It seats up to nine, tows with ease, and the available Duramax diesel returns better than 20 mpg on the highway despite the sheer scale of the thing. Decades of refinement have made it wonderfully comfortable over long distances.
7. Rivian R1S
The electric SUV built for people who genuinely want to go places. The R1S offers up to 410 miles of range, a NACS charging port standard for 2026 that opens up the Tesla Supercharger network, three rows of seating, and real off-road capability. Plan your charging stops and the R1S turns a long drive into a calm, quiet, surprisingly luxurious experience.
8. Genesis G90
Genesis, the Korean luxury marque, built the G90 to take on the flagship sedans from Germany, and it succeeds beautifully, often for tens of thousands of dollars less. It is one of the most serene ways to cover 500 miles of interstate, with massaging seats, a whisper-quiet cabin, and the kind of effortless refinement that leaves you fresh at the far end.
9. Honda Accord Hybrid
Proof that the traditional sedan still makes wonderful sense for a road trip. The Accord Hybrid returns mid-40s mpg with ease, rides comfortably for hours, and offers a spacious back seat and a large trunk. Refined, efficient, and beautifully judged. For two to four people and a long stretch of highway, it is very hard to beat.
10. Nissan Z
A proper sports car belongs on this list, and the Z earns its place. Beneath the retro-modern styling sits a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6, but the Z is happiest as a grand tourer: comfortable over long distances, good for around 28 mpg on the highway, and roomier inside than its shape suggests. Overlooked and underrated, it is the pick for two travelers who believe the drive itself should be a thrill.
The trip is the adventure, not the machine. The best road trip vehicle is simply the one you load up with snacks and good company and point toward the horizon. Whatever is in your driveway this weekend, it is reason enough to go. See you out there.
