5 of the Worst Cars to Take on a Road Trip
If you’re planning to go on a road trip, it would be ideal to have a car that’s comfortable, practical, and fuel-efficient. However, not all cars are created equal. And although there are plenty of cars in the market that can cover a great distance without issue, here are five cars that you may want to avoid taking on a long road trip.
1. Chrysler PT Cruiser
Although the Chrysler PT Cruiser has a cult following and is loved by many, we have to say that it’s not the best car to take on a road trip. This little gangster cruiser has plenty of room for five adults, but its seats aren’t very comfortable, and its cabin noise is loud at highway speeds. Fortunately, at 24 highway mpg, it can go pretty far between fill-ups, but you won’t feel that great when you get to the next gas station.
2. Ford GT
The Ford GT is powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that makes 600 hp and scoots the car up to 60 mph in only three seconds. That’s fun for quick jaunts on the highway or for showing off to unsuspecting passengers on a joy ride. But it’s less fun on a long road trip.
Well, it’s not necessarily the power that’s not fun; it’s the Ford GT’s lack of cargo and passenger room . The trunk only fits a grocery bag, and it gets really hot from the engine. Furthermore, the passenger room is limited, so be prepared to rub shoulders with the passenger the whole way.
3. First-generation Nissan Leaf
The first-generation Nissan Leaf was one of the most accessible, comfortable, and futuristic electric vehicles when it debuted in 2011. However, it had a very limited range. The quirky little electric hatchback was fun to drive with its 107-hp motor, and it only took 8 hours to charge on a 220-volt charger, but it could only get up to 80 miles on a single charge. As you can imagine, you won’t get too far down the road with that kind of range.
4. Mitsubishi Lancer EVO
Do you like your kidneys? If so, you might not want to drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution on your next road trip. Its rally-bred suspension is great for tackling tight corners and going over rocky pavement, but it’s not comfortable for long hauls on the highway. Additionally, its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine makes a lot of horsepower, but it also sucks up a lot of fuel. According to the EPA, the Lancer EVO gets up to 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.
5. Jeep Wrangler
We know plenty of Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts will handily disagree with us and say that their car is perfectly fine for a road trip. However, we must remember that every enthusiast will swear by their cars through thick and thin. It’s endearing, really.
But in reality, the Wrangler offers a rocky suspension, a rough interior, and not-so-comfortable seats, which can make any road trip a pain. Additionally, it doesn’t get very good gas mileage.
The worst cars for road trips
While some of the cars on this list might seem controversial to some drivers, we think it’s fairly spot on. A good road trip car would ideally be comfortable, practical, and fuel-efficient, but these cars only have one or none of these attributes. If you really want a good road trip car, check out these fine examples.