10 Best Road Trip SUVs

2017 Mercedes AMG GLE43 hero ・ Photo by Mercedes-Benz

With Summer in full swing, you may have the perfect dream road trip in mind. Whether you're hitting the road with your family, friends, or just by yourself, we've got the perfect SUV out there for your road trip.

The SUVs on our list are not just large seven passenger family haulers - we looked at comfort, space, features, gas mileage, and much more to make this the ultimate guide. As you take a trip down our list, you’ll meet compact crossovers, seven-passenger crossovers, and large SUVs. Let's get started with the 10 Best Road Trip SUVs list and discover which one is your tribe's best ride.

2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is one of the best-selling crossovers in the United States and one the best hybrid crossovers on the market. Besides the fact that you'll enjoy great fuel economy, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers a perfect balance of passengers and cargo volume.

When it comes to fuel-economy, the 2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers an EPA-estimated 30 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Photo by Toyota

2017 Lexus RX

One of the few luxury models on our list, the Lexus RX is definitely a vehicle you should consider for your summer road trip. The Lexus RX has long been one of America’s favorite family crossovers and the 2017 Lexus RX offers some of the best legroom in its class.

Of course, going on a long road trip with your family and friends requires some entertainment. If you opt for the rear-seat entertainment package, the Lexus RX offers dual-screens with a DVD player, audio/video inputs, wireless headphones, and more.

Photo by Lexus

2017 Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V has always been one of the most reliable compact crossovers on the market. The new 2017 Honda CR-V has been freshly redesigned and packs a lot of passenger in cargo space. If you opt for the mid-level Honda CR-V EX you will get a long list of standard features including heated front seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a multi-angle rearview camera, second row USB charging ports, blind spot monitoring, and cross traffic monitoring.

Maximum second-row legroom of over 40 inches while maximum cargo volume nearly 76 ft. Combine that with an incredibly comfortable ride and a highway fuel economy of 32 mpg; the Honda CR-V is one of the best road trip vehicles.

Photo by Honda

2017 GMC Acadia

The GMC Acadia is another American family favorite. Recently redesigned for the 2017 model year, the new GMC Acadia is stylish, practical, and perfect for a road trip. The 2017 GMC Acadia is known for offering an ample amount of legroom for its passengers.

The 2017 GMC Acadia is available with the GMC IntelliLink infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. Couple that with the OnStar 4G LTE WiFi connection, your passengers can enjoy their smart devices without using up their data. You can take entertainment a step further with the rear-seat entertainment system.

Photo by GMC

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Do you plan on doing some off-roading on your road trip this summer? Well, you may want to consider the extremely capable Jeep Grand Cherokee. The optional Selec-Terrain Traction Control System allows you to tackle any tough conditions ranging from Snow, Sand, Mud or Rock. You can further increase the off-roading performance with the Quadra-Trac II or Quadra-Drive II 4x4 systems and adjust the ride height with five height setting with the Quadra-Lift Air Suspension.

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee also offers some of the best legroom in the segment.

Photo by Jeep

2017 Chevrolet Tahoe

If you're going on a road trip with the whole family and need to accommodate seven passengers, the Chevrolet Tahoe is your best option. The Chevrolet Tahoe has been continuously named America’s best-selling full-size SUV year after year and is also one of the most dependable large suvs on the market.

The Chevrolet Tahoe offers an optional power release second-row seats and power fold-flat third row seats. The optional rear seat entertainment package and the OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi is sure to keep your family entertained during your long road trip.

Photo by Chevrolet

2017 Nissan Pathfinder

One of our favorite three-row crossovers available on the market today is the Nissan Pathfinder. Recently redesigned and updated for the 2017 model year, the Nissan Pathfinder is perfect for a long family road trip.

One of the most convenient features on the 2017 Nissan Pathfinder is the EZ Flex Seating System which allows the second row to move forward or backward up to 5.3 inches for easier access to the second row. The 2017 Nissan Pathfinder also offers an outstanding amount of legroom for all passengers and there is even some extra storage hidden under the cargo floor.

Photo by Nissan

2017 Mazda CX-5

Besides the Honda CR-V, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is another compact crossover that makes our list of the 10 Best Road Trip SUVs. Why? Besides being a sleek and spacious compact crossover, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 is one of the most comfortable vehicles in its segment. The 2017 Mazda CX-5 takes legroom very seriously - front row passengers get 41 inches of legroom while rear passengers get 39.6 inches. An EPA-estimated 31 MPG highway, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 makes for one efficient road trip vehicle for a couple or an individual.

Photo by Mazda

2017 Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade is the big-daddy of large luxury suvs. One of the most prestigious and most comfortable vehicles on our list, the Cadillac Escalade is the road trip vehicle for those that want to travel in the lap of luxury. There is an outstanding amount of legroom for all passengers and cargo capacity seems unlimited. Cadillac's rear seat entertainment package featuring tri-zone climate control and wireless smartphone charging sweetens up the road trip. The Cadillac Escalade is basically packed with all the comforts you want for your long road trip.

Photo by Cadillac

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

When it comes to comfort and luxury, Mercedes-Benz is the manufacturer that ticks all the boxes. The Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV is our pick for the best road trip vehicle if you’re focused on comfort and luxury. Rear legroom is ample while front row legroom is comparable to other same-sized competitors in the segment. 

Photo by Mercedes-Benz