Posted on 05/22/2008 2:33:10 PM PDT by Cagey
A family road trip can be a great way to bring everyone together. However, it can also lead to squabbles over seat space, fights over how to drive and the wrong kind of family interactions. But the right vehicle might ease some of those tensions. Gabriel Shenhar, auto program manager for special publications for Consumer Reports gives a sneak peak at Consumer Reports' annual list of the top 10 vehicles for family travel.
Shenhar said he and his colleagues compiled the list based on test scores which identified certain characteristics that would make the perfect family road trip vehicle. A high priority was placed on autos that rated the best in comfort, noise, safety, reliability and fuel economy.
The list is also a mixture of luxury cars and more affordable ones
"We tried not to just (limit) it to high-end cars because clearly, the more comfortable seats and quieter cars are in those kinds of autos," said Shenhar.
Audi A6
The Audi A6 has a roomy trunk and is also available as a wagon.
"It has really comfortable seats and a nice ride, a big trunk and relatively good fuel economy for such a car with all-wheel drive," said Shenhar.
BMW 5 Series
Like the A6, the BMW 5 Series is a luxury car that is also available as a wagon.
"You can drive it all day long and cover one state after another without really feeling any fatigue," said Shenhar. "It's got comfortable seats, high quality interior and an effortless powertrain."
Cadillac STS
The Cadillac STS is a new addition to the list this year, replacing the Cadillac CTS.
"The difference is size, basically, and price," said Shenhar. "But the cars are based on the same chassis and have similar driving characteristics … (The STS) has really comfortable seats and a smooth powertrain and a comfortable, controlled ride. The same things that apply to the Audi and the BMW apply to the STS."
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is Consumer Reports' top-rated family sedan.
"It's roomy, it's comfortable, it has ample storage spaces in the cabin, really easy controls, excellent driving position, the handling is pretty agile and the riding is nice and controlled," said Shenhar. "Also, the fuel economy is pretty good and the crash test results are impressive."
Honda Odyssey
For families with a lot of kids or a lot of luggage, the Honda Odyssey comes highly recommended by Consumer Reports, and not just because of its practicability and roominess.
"As odd as it sounds to say about a minivan, it is a delight to drive, actually," said Shenhar. "It seats eight. It's got all your family entertainment things. Its got a DVD player in the back and you can have the kids listen to a different audio source as well. And it scores points for safety and reliability."
Infiniti M
The Infinity M was Consumer Reports' top pick in '07 for luxury sedans.
"It's a really nice car," said Shenhar. "It has easy controls and it drives comfortably. It handles well. It had a roomy cabin. You kind of sit a little higher and have a good view of the road. It's easy to get in and out of."
Lexus RX
Surprisingly, only one SUV made the list, and that was the Lexus RX.
"It's like a mid-sixed luxury car, only elevated and with more utility," said Shenhar. "But it drives. It's very quiet and it's very refined. It rides comfortably. It has a quiet engine and gets pretty good fuel economy, too."
Lexus LS
The LS, a full-size luxury sedan with a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive, is Lexus' flagship auto.
"The LS is the ultimate in terms of cruising on the highway," said Shenhar. "You feel like you are traveling first class. It has a roomy cabin, quiet interior, and effortless acceleration. You can't go wrong here, but the price is not for everyone."
Toyota Avalon
For those that cannot afford a Lexus LS but are sill looking for a top-rated sedan, the Toyota Avalon could be a great car for a long road trip.
"The Toyota can do a lot like the LS, but for a fraction of the price," said Shenhar. "You get really roomy interior and a quiet, comfortable ride. It's smooth, quick, with a V6 engine, a big trunk, and limo-like rear seats. It's a nice long-distance cruiser."
Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is the second minivan to crack Consumer Reports' top 10. The Sienna can also seat eight people, so it is an ideal choice for large families. Shenhar said it is quieter and rides more comfortably than the Odyssey, but doesn't have the same agile handling.
"It's really a delightful car for long distance, and I can attest to that because it's one of our favorite vacation cars here among our staff, especially those of us with kids," said Shenhar.
Very nice. Will the tranny, engine and all remaining accessories function beyond 100K?
I've tried the “reach back and swipe” move from the driver's seat many times and never once made contact. I should have owned a Mini-Cooper.
Elitist cr*p. Nothing is better than a mini-van with TV’s and a cooler full of sandwiches and drinks.
You sit upright and high, so it is very similar in that respect. However, it drives like a car instead of a truck, so its a bit friendlier on the bones and arms after 1600 miles.
I have an older Suburban (97), but a 05' Sienna, so its not totally fair. The kids have DVD's in the back of our headrests and a better separated climate control than the Suburban had. They certainly have it a hell of a lot better than I did as a kid with six of us packed in a sedan, traversing Nebraska and Colorado without AC in July.
I even stop for bathroom breaks every couple of hundred miles unlike my dad. My kids are spoiled.
LOL!
Last year I had use of a Chrysler 300C (hemi) and I put 1300 road trip miles on it.
Saaaa-weeeet!
Cruised the Ozarks like a Beemer. Handled very well with lots of power. And 25 MPG highway at 65-70 MPH.
No road-trip list is complete without the 300C.
The key is to tap the brake at just the right moment, causing the crumb cruncher to lurch forward, bringing his or her head into the swipe zone.
Timing is everything. It might take a little practice but, once mastered, it's a blast. ;O)
I took my two Labradors on a 2100 mile cross-country trip in a Chevy Avalanche. They had the back seat, but were still within petting or smacking distance. Loads of room in the covered pickup bed for luggage, dog food, guns, ammo, etc, etc. I was comfy in my six-position seat with arm rest. Had a GPS and 6 disc CD changer.
Surprisingly, only one SUV made the list, and that was the Lexus RX.
“It's like a mid-sixed luxury car, only elevated and with more utility,” said Shenhar. “But it drives. It's very quiet and it's very refined. It rides comfortably. It has a quiet engine and gets pretty good fuel economy, too.”
My wife has one of these and last year we went on a roadtrip and it was a pleasure. Except when she wouldn't let us get back in the car with sand on us.
On the way back I definitely did not see how fast it would go on the highway and found it would do over 100 and still not wake her up. No I definitely did NOT do that.
Jaguar XJ8
This will require a vehicle that can kick some ass and to do so read Car & Driver or Road and Track, not a lame publication like Consumer Reports.
Isn't that the lame magazine liberals and soccer moms read?
Hey, I forgot about that one. A no frills vacation carriage.
I couldn’t imagine putting our family of 5 in an extended road trip in any other vehicle than our Expedition EL. I love it! The gas mileage stinks at 19 mpg, but the comfort and drive is absolutely fantastic.
Anything by Tom Petty is a good start.
The same one that rated the '84 vette as unacceptable because it had a small trunk and bad gas mileage.
Useless magazine.
Not as useless as 'Car and Driver' or 'Road & Track' though. They love every car made by one of their advertisers (all of them).
I don't remember that but as I recall it was slower than a Mustang and a lot more money.
If Consumer Reports ever pushed a car to the limit they would probably soil themselves in the process.
Perhaps some mustangs in a straight line. Mustangs corner like Sedan Devilles.
I’ve got the best road trip vehicle. It’s a Chevy Explorer conversion van with a 22-inch flat screen TV, DVD and VHS players, and Playstation hookups. It’s very roomy, comfortable, and its V8 gets 18 mpg on the highway. It can tow up to about 6000 pounds.
Note that the SYNC system isn’t that great at interfacing with iPods (the de facto standard music player) as there have been several consumer complaints AND it’s “Powered By Microsoft.”
Considering how well the *last* Microsoft-powered in car system worked (iDrive v1.0)... or, rather, DIDN’T work, do you REALLY want to have Microsoft in your car?
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