Despite the fact that a gallon of gas is still 25 cents more than it was a year ago, weekend travelers still drive. That being said, the road test editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com chose 10 current vehicles they thought would be most suited to road trips and then asked car buyers which of these vehicles they would most like to take on the road this summer. The results have been tallied and the chart below displays consumers’ rankings:
Rank |
Choice |
Percentage |
1 |
2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible |
19% |
2 |
2005 Chevrolet Suburban |
17% |
3 |
2006 Chrysler 300 SRT8 |
15% |
4 |
2005 Honda Odyssey |
10% |
5 |
2006 Lexus RX 400h |
9% |
6 |
2005 Land Rover LR3 |
8% |
7 |
2006 BMW 530XIT |
7% |
8 |
2005 Mazda RX-8 |
6% |
9 |
2005 Volkswagen Phaeton |
5% |
10 |
2005 MINI Cooper Convertible |
4% |
This year domestic manufacturers dominate the top spots with three very different models — Chevrolet’s classic sporty Corvette Convertible ranking first, family-hauling and towing favorite Chevrolet Suburban placing second, and Chrysler’s 300 SRT8 performance sedan coming in third. With hefty prices still evident at the gas pump, Lexus’ all-new luxury hybrid RX 400h SUV ranked in the middle of the pack among consumers’ choices for a road trip this summer.
Kbb.com Editors’ Comments on Each Vehicle:
2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible — This isn’t just a bow to the Martin Milner/George Maharis TV series; the current Corvette can shorten distances in ways few can match and is likely the greatest performance-car value on the market.
2005 Chevrolet Suburban — There’s a reason customers buy one Suburban after another — for those with large families and those who tow boats or trailers, this is the vehicle of choice. With capacity for up to nine passengers and plenty of gear, the Suburban is a very comfortable long-range hauler.
2006 Chrysler 300 SRT8 - The big American car lives! In the 300, Chrysler has captured the presence of a big American sedan and bestowed it with not only bold styling but the performance to make a statement.
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