The Top 10 New Vehicles For Time on the Open Road

Even with fuel prices at an all time high, many people are still planning road trip vacations. To help those planning a road trip the editors of Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, a provider of new and used vehicle information, have put together their picks for 2008's Top 10 Best New Road Trip Vehicles.  From the two-person weekend getaway to the full-family excursion, this year’s best new road trip vehicles list is certain to accommodate any road trip.

In choosing this year’s top vehicles, kbb.com editors evaluated all attributes that would enhance any long drive, such as driving enjoyment, passenger comfort, cargo space and of course, fuel economy.  Because not all road trips are the same, Kelley Blue Book’s 2008 Best New Road Trip Vehicles provide a potential perfect ride or two for every type of driver and every type of journey.  Each vehicle offers different perks such as entertainment options, interior accommodations and driving performance to keep road-trippers satisfied.  Depending on the type of trip and the number of companions the right vehicle could be a coupe, sedan, crossover, SUV or minivan.

Vehicles listed in alphabetical order

“The concept of ‘the perfect road trip’ means different things to different people so our 2008 Top 10 Best New Road Trip Vehicles list includes vehicles that can accommodate as many as eight with the requisite level of style, comfort and convenience,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst for kbb.com.  “While the current high fuel prices did influence our list, we also included a couple of cost-no-object choices.”

Editorial Comments: 2008 Best New Road Trip Vehicles

Audi S5
Combining a silky 354-horsepower V8 engine, impeccably tuned suspension and quattro all-wheel drive, the Audi S5 delivers high levels of both performance and comfort, along with the elegance to arrive in grand fashion.

Bugatti Veyron
If the price of fuel has impacted your yacht time more than your driving habits, you might find the $1.5-million, 1,001-horsepower, 16-cylinder, quad-turbo, 250-mph Bugatti Veyron an alternative the next time the jet is in the shop. Keep in mind that at full speed, the Veyron burns through its 26-gallon fuel tank in about 12 minutes.

Chevrolet Malibu
We recently drove six top-selling mid-size sedans in a back-to-back comparison test, and the remarkably quiet and comfortable Chevy Malibu handily outshined the competition on the highway. The first car in the category to combine a flexible six-speed automatic transmission with a gas-sipping four-cylinder engine, the Malibu is capable of an impressive 32 highway miles per gallon.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
While the Tahoe Hybrid's highway fuel economy rating of 22 mpg is only 2 mpg better than that of its gas-only counterpart (the hybrid's bigger advantage is in city driving), it's nevertheless the most fuel-friendly full-size SUV on the road and provides seating for eight, plenty of cargo solutions and the ability to tow your boat to the lake.

Dodge Grand Caravan
They say that getting there is half the fun. In the Dodge Grand Caravan, getting there can easily be all the fun. The Grand Caravan's wide variety of entertainment options includes multiple DVD players, video game inputs, two overhead video screens, SIRIUS Satellite TV and radio as well as rearward-swiveling second row seats, all helping to transform the once humble minivan into a virtual party on wheels.

Ford Flex
Due to hit dealerships this summer, Ford's new full-size, three-row crossover will be turning heads from coast to coast all year, while treating its drivers to cold drinks with its class-exclusive refrigerated console.

Infiniti EX35
In addition to a plush, flexible interior, the EX35 offers a Lane Departure Prevention System that can help keep any driver -- quite literally -- in line. A small camera detects lane markers in front of the vehicle and, when inadvertent lane departure is detected, the system applies a small amount of left or right brake force to nudge the vehicle back on course.

MINI Cooper Clubman
With excellent fuel economy and a fun-loving attitude, the MINI Cooper has earned its way onto our list of top road trip cars for the second year in a row. The new Clubman offers more passenger and luggage space than the standard Cooper, making the largest member of the MINI family an even more ideal long-haul companion.

Toyota Prius
The iconic Toyota Prius doesn't just deliver the best highway mileage of virtually any car, it also features a flexible hatchback design and enough interior volume to qualify as a mid-size vehicle.

Volkswagen Eos
The Volkswagen Eos is a sporty coupe that's also a sexy convertible, thanks to a sleek, sophisticated retractable hardtop. This chameleon also has an exceptionally wide glass sunroof for when you want the open-air experience without getting that wind-swept look.

For more information visit Kelley Blue Book’s 2008 Best New Road Trip Vehicles.

Source: Kelley Blue Book