{"id":1615,"date":"2026-04-20T13:43:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/?p=1615"},"modified":"2026-04-20T13:43:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T18:43:13","slug":"5-suvs-that-actually-earn-their-spot-on-a-summer-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/5-suvs-that-actually-earn-their-spot-on-a-summer-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"5 SUVs That Actually Earn Their Spot on a Summer Road Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Jump to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#outback\">\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f For National Parks: Subaru Outback<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#grand-highlander\">\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\udc67\u200d\ud83d\udc66 For the Family Beach Run: Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#4runner\">\ud83c\udfd5\ufe0f For Off-the-Grid Adventures: Toyota 4Runner<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#cr-v\">\u26fd For Fuel Efficiency: Honda CR-V Hybrid<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#telluride\">\ud83d\udecb\ufe0f For Affordable Luxury: Kia Telluride<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ready\">\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Is Your SUV Ready for the Trip?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">\u2753 Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Summer has a way of turning a regular weekend into a road trip. The playlist&#8217;s queued, the cooler&#8217;s packed, and suddenly you&#8217;re wondering whether your SUV is actually the right companion for the 600 miles ahead. Comfort, cargo room, fuel economy, and how well the thing holds up on hour seven all start mattering a lot more than they did on the morning school run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We sorted through reliability data, fuel economy ratings, and Consumer Reports&#8217; 2026 picks to land on five SUVs that genuinely shine on long summer drives<sup><a href=\"#source-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. Each one is matched to the kind of trip it handles best \u2014 so you can find the one that fits your summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"outback\">\ud83c\udfde\ufe0f For National Parks &amp; Scenic Drives: Subaru Outback<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Generated-Image-April-20-2026-2_12PM-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1618\" style=\"width:350px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Generated-Image-April-20-2026-2_12PM-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Generated-Image-April-20-2026-2_12PM-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Generated-Image-April-20-2026-2_12PM-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Generated-Image-April-20-2026-2_12PM-1-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If your summer map is dotted with trailheads and scenic overlooks, the Outback was practically designed for you. Standard all-wheel drive, useful ground clearance, and factory roof rails mean you can load up kayaks, bikes, or a rooftop tent without a trip to the aftermarket parts counter. It isn&#8217;t built to rock-crawl like a dedicated off-roader, but it handles well-maintained forest roads and rutted campground approaches with no drama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Outback also earns high marks for long-haul comfort \u2014 supportive seats, a quiet cabin, and predictable steering on twisty routes. Subaru redesigned the Outback for 2026 with a more SUV-shaped body, and Consumer Reports continues to flag Subaru as a standout brand for ride quality and outward visibility<sup><a href=\"#source-1\">1<\/a><\/sup>. On the used market, the previous-generation Outback (2020\u20132025) is the sweet spot for value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"grand-highlander\">\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\udc67\u200d\ud83d\udc66 For the Family Beach Run: Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Three rows, 35 mpg combined, and enough cargo space behind the third row to actually fit suitcases \u2014 not just reusable shopping bags. For anyone moving five to seven people plus a week of beach gear, the Grand Highlander Hybrid is a hard pairing to beat. It was named Consumer Reports&#8217; 2026 Top Pick for midsized three-row SUVs, edging out its smaller sibling thanks to more usable space and an impressively frugal hybrid powertrain<sup><a href=\"#source-2\">2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Real-world advantage on a road trip: filling up less often. A hybrid three-row at 35 combined can stretch a tank past 500 highway miles, which means fewer stops with restless passengers and more time on the road. The infotainment system is serviceable rather than slick, but for a family hauler most drivers will take the range over the touchscreen polish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4runner\">\ud83c\udfd5\ufe0f For Off-the-Grid Adventures: Toyota 4Runner<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 4Runner is the SUV people actually keep. iSeeCars&#8217; 2025 Longest-Lasting Cars Study shows Toyota SUVs routinely leading the pack on likelihood of reaching 250,000 miles, and the 4Runner has been a fixture on that list for years<sup><a href=\"#source-3\">3<\/a><\/sup>. It&#8217;s body-on-frame, simple where it counts, and built for the kind of trip where cell service disappears a few miles before the trailhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Toyota redesigned the 4Runner for 2025 with a more modern powertrain, but for used shoppers the fifth-generation 4Runner (2010\u20132024) is the classic choice \u2014 long production run, huge parts availability, and a reputation that translates directly into strong resale value. If your idea of a road trip involves forest service roads, a week off-grid, or a roof tent and a fishing rod, this is the pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cr-v\">\u26fd For Stretching Every Gallon: Honda CR-V Hybrid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gas prices still swing with the season, and over a 2,000-mile trip those extra miles per gallon add up fast. The CR-V Hybrid delivers around 37 mpg combined and pairs that with the kind of easygoing, comfortable ride that makes long highway stretches feel short<sup><a href=\"#source-4\">4<\/a><\/sup>. The cabin is roomy for a compact, and the rear seat has real adult legroom \u2014 not the &#8220;technically it fits&#8221; kind you find in the segment below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CR-V&#8217;s other superpower is what happens after the trip ends. Honda&#8217;s compact SUV has some of the strongest resale value in the class, so the fuel savings on the road don&#8217;t get erased by steep depreciation in the driveway. For anyone logging a lot of miles in a normal year, not just in July, this is a quietly smart choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"telluride\">\ud83d\udecb\ufe0f For Affordable Road Trip Luxury: Kia Telluride<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Telluride has been quietly rewriting what &#8220;affordable&#8221; is supposed to feel like. The cabin genuinely looks and feels like it belongs in a luxury segment, the ride is composed, and the three-row layout has real usable space in all three rows \u2014 not just the first two. On a long trip, the seat quality is what passengers actually notice, and the Telluride&#8217;s are among the better ones in any price bracket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also holds up on the ownership side. Kia&#8217;s long powertrain warranty carries real weight on the used market, and the Telluride&#8217;s reliability track record has held steady since its 2020 launch. If the crew is big, the budget isn&#8217;t endless, and you still want a cabin that feels like a treat, this is the one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ready\">\ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f Is Your Current SUV Ready for the Trip?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s the honest question worth asking before you leave: is your current SUV actually the right match for the trip you&#8217;re planning? A compact crossover is a hero in the suburbs and a little cramped on day three of a family road trip. A thirsty V8 SUV is magic on a towing run and punishing on a coast-to-coast drive. And if your current ride is nearing six figures on the odometer, a long trip is the moment every small issue tends to surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u2753 Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What makes an SUV good for a road trip?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The big four: highway comfort (supportive seats, a quiet cabin, steady ride), fuel range (how far you can go between fill-ups), cargo space (what fits behind the last row of passengers), and reliability (one fewer thing to worry about 400 miles from home). Everything else \u2014 infotainment, towing, off-road gear \u2014 is bonus depending on the kind of trip you&#8217;re taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is a hybrid SUV really better for long-distance driving?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For highway road trips, modern hybrids consistently deliver meaningfully better fuel economy than their gas-only counterparts \u2014 often 7 to 12 more miles per gallon combined. On a 2,000-mile trip, that can mean hundreds of dollars in fuel savings and two or three fewer stops. Hybrids also tend to be quieter at low speeds, which passengers notice on long days behind the wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do three-row SUVs get worse gas mileage on the highway?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally yes \u2014 more size and weight means more fuel. But the gap has narrowed significantly thanks to hybrid powertrains. The Grand Highlander Hybrid, for example, gets 35 mpg combined, which beats plenty of smaller non-hybrid SUVs. If fuel economy matters and you need three rows, the hybrid versions are where to look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I rent an SUV for a road trip or use my own car?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It depends on two things: how often you take long trips, and whether your current vehicle actually fits the trip. If you&#8217;re putting serious miles on an older or unreliable car once or twice a year, a rental can make sense. But if road trips are a regular part of your life and your current SUV isn&#8217;t cutting it, it may be worth looking at what your vehicle is worth and shopping for something that genuinely fits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sources\"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Consumer Reports, <em>2026 Annual 10 Top Picks in New Cars, Trucks, and SUVs<\/em>, February 2026.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consumer Reports, <em>Most Reliable SUVs for 2026<\/em>, 2026 edition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>iSeeCars, <em>2025 Longest-Lasting Cars Study<\/em>, analysis of approximately 400 million vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), fueleconomy.gov, 2026 model year CR-V Hybrid combined rating.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Not every SUV is built for the same kind of summer trip. Whether you&#8217;re chasing national parks, hauling the whole crew to the beach, or just trying to stretch every gallon, these five SUVs earn their spots on the open road \u2014 and each one is a match for a different kind of getaway.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1619,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.0 (Yoast SEO v23.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>5 SUVs That Actually Earn Their Spot on a Summer Road Trip - We Buy Any Car\u00ae<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Explore the best 5 summer road trip SUV options designed for comfort and fuel efficiency on long drives.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/5-suvs-that-actually-earn-their-spot-on-a-summer-road-trip\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 SUVs That Actually Earn Their Spot on a Summer Road Trip\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Explore the best 5 summer road trip SUV options designed for comfort and fuel efficiency on long drives.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/5-suvs-that-actually-earn-their-spot-on-a-summer-road-trip\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"We Buy Any Car\u00ae\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-20T18:43:09+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-20T18:43:13+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SUV-Road-Trip-Feature.jpg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1376\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kevin Juliff\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kevin Juliff\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"5 SUVs That Actually Earn Their Spot on a Summer Road Trip - 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Kevin values customer service and brand reputation and is a voice for the customer. Outside of work, Kevin is a motorsport enthusiast, with a focus on oval racing. You can often find him at the local dirt track when not home with his wife, son, and three dogs.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com"],"url":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/author\/kevinjuliff\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1615"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1615"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1615\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1620,"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1615\/revisions\/1620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1619"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.webuyanycarusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}