Best Road Trip Cars

Gas prices are high and environmental awareness is growing, yet the call of the open road in 2007 is as alluring as it was 50 years ago. Compare that siren song to the torture chambers that many of today's airliners have become, add the proliferation of comfort and convenience technologies like the rear-seat DVD entertainment system and satellite radio, and hitting the American road in a contemporary automobile has never been more attractive.

In putting together our annual list of top 10 "Best Road Trip Cars" for 2007, the editors of kbb.com wanted to include a vehicle for every journey-from weekend jaunts of one or two people to week-long escapades that involve one or two entire families and maybe a dog and a boat. Our selection criteria included all the tangible and intangible need-to-have attributes: driving enjoyment, passenger comfort, fuel economy and cargo space. The fact that entire vehicle segments are filling top to bottom with desirable models made compiling this year's list more challenging than ever.

After we finally narrowed the field to 10 vehicles, we took our list online and surveyed our kbb.com visitors, asking them to pick their top choice from the list. The rankings are listed below from most popular to least popular among the top 10, based on their responses. But there are no losers on this list; each vehicle named has a road trip for which it's unbeatable.

Jaguar XKR Convertible

When your itinerary includes a stop at the kind of ritzy resort in which a highly desirable Jaguar XK Convertible merely blends into the scenery, you can one-up the other guests by opting for the sportier and more exclusive XKR Convertible. The same sexy sheetmetal found on the XK is adorned with sportier accoutrements that reflect the 420-horsepower supercharged V8 and livelier suspension underneath.

BMW 3-Series Convertible

With a retractable hardtop and available twin-turbo engine-two big firsts in the celebrated history of the 3 Series-BMW's newest drop top is better suited than ever for the varying demands of a long journey. The turbo engine generates 300 horsepower, the roof retracts in 22 seconds and the whole thing screams "long weekend."

Chevrolet Suburban

For really big road trips, the strapping Suburban is the hauler of choice. Load it up with nine people, and Chevy's family-style workhorse still has room for 45.8 cubic feet of gear. Combine that kind of space with a maximum towing capacity of 9,700 pounds and you've got a vehicle that can do the work of three.

Dodge Charger SRT8

An eye-catching 425-horsepower muscle car that's also a comfortable long-haul sedan, the Dodge Charger SRT8 is a road trip car that everyone can agree on. The kicker is the available rear-seat DVD entertainment system-an invaluable companion on family road trips and a feature not offered on most sedans.

Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC®

How do you top a German touring sedan for traveling long distances in style and comfort? The answer: a German touring sedan that returns 35 mpg, that's how. The E320 Bluetec is powered by a state-of-the-art clean diesel powerplant that produces prodigious amounts of torque without the shake, rattle, emissions and smell that characterized last century's diesels.

GMC Acadia

A three-row troop transport that's more stylish than a minivan and more efficient than a full-size SUV, the GMC Acadia is attractive and comfortable inside and has excellent road manners to boot. Along with its cousins-the Saturn Outlook, forthcoming Buick Enclave and a yet unnamed Chevrolet version-we expect the Acadia to become a common sight on road trips around the country.

Land Rover LR3

The stylish and capable Land Rover LR3 is equally appropriate for a night on the town or a week in the desert. For a road trip that promises to involve aspects of both, Land Rover's middle child is uniquely qualified, thanks to a list of features that range from the sophisticated dial-a-surface Terrain Response system to three sunroofs.

Ford Edge

Ford's all-new crossover SUV delivers sedan-like quiet and comfort but with a roomier backseat and a more versatile cargo area. Attractive exterior styling provides parking-lot panache, while an available panoramic sunroof lets even backseat passengers while away the miles finding faces in the clouds.

MINI Cooper

Even though the redesigned 2007 MINI Cooper is both larger and more powerful than its predecessor, highway fuel economy has actually increased from 35 to 40 mpg. Combined with a newly improved highway ride, the latest MINI Cooper makes a pleasant companion on straight stretches, in twisty canyons and at thieving gas pumps.

Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible Hardtop

The newest MX-5 takes the classic roadster formula and, at the push of a button, adds the comfort and security of a coupe. Compared with the MX-5's traditional cloth top, the new-for-2007 power retractable hardtop adds fewer than 100 pounds and folds away with no impact on trunk space. Highway fuel economy of 30 mpg only adds to the appeal.

More Car Buying Advice from Kelley Blue Book