There are only four minivans left on the market, namely the Kia Carnival 2022, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica. Some of the shared features of these vehicles are three rows of seats and plenty of storage space. This makes them versatile and would generally make them ideal for family outings. However, only one made it onto the Consumer Reports list of the best cars for road trips: the Toyota Sienna.
Consumer Reports’ Best Road Trip Cars in 2022
There are six cars on Consumer Reports’ list for the best road trip cars in 2022, including the Sienna. These are divided into three categories: those with room for two, three and an entire family. If you’re a group of one or two headed for a long drive, the reviewer recommends either the 2022 Honda Accord or the 2022 Tesla Model 3.
Reasons for the inclusion of the Honda are the quiet cabin, the large trunk and the comfortable interior layout. The hybrid option would also save you some money on long journeys, with added benefits such as standard cruise control. As for the Tesla Model 3, the EV’s 358-mile range and Tesla’s supercharger network play a big part in the selection.
Where the road trip consists of two passengers in addition to the driver, the website chooses the 2022 Hyundai Tucson and the 2022 Lexus RX. Consumer Reports prefers the Hyundai SUV hybrid variant over the gas option for fuel economy, faster acceleration and a quieter cabin. In addition, the gas-powered and hybrid picks offer advanced safety features such as comfortable seats and a large luggage compartment as standard.
As you would expect from Lexus, the 2022 RX has a quiet, luxurious and comfortable interior. It is also safe and gives confidence on the road, despite not being very manoeuvrable.
Finally, if you plan to bring the whole family for the trip, the recommended options are the Toyota Sienna minivan 2022 and the Toyota Highlander 2022. According to Consumer Reports, the third row seat in the highlander is best folded down to increase luggage space, although it could also be suitable for your children. Other reasons for choosing the SUV include advanced safety features and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility with the infotainment system.
Why the 2022 Toyota Sienna is listed as one of the best road trip cars
One of the reasons the Sienna is on the list is the optional four-wheel drive. It is therefore not much of a problem to get grip, even on slippery or snowy roads. Plus, it seats up to eight people, and like other options in its class, there’s plenty of luggage space.
Although it’s only offered as a hybrid, the fuel economy is better than its three other minivan counterparts and even some sedans. According to Edmunds, the Sienna offers better fuel economy at a combined 36 mpg than the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid, which is rated at 30 mpg. With seven USB ports, you don’t have to keep your kids fighting over who gets to charge their device first.
The 2022 Toyota Sienna overview.
As a hybrid minivan, the 2022 Toyota Sienna combines its engines with a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine to produce a total power output of 245 horsepower. The engine/engine combination is mated to a CVT transmission and as mentioned above, it is up to the buyer to choose FWD or AWD. Also, the 3,500 lbs towing capacity can come in handy if you’re heading to a camping destination.
One major drawback to the Toyota minivan is that, unlike its counterparts, you can’t remove the second-row seats into the floor or fold down for extra storage space. last, Toyota the price of the minivan starts at $35,285, although you could pay upwards of $50,000 depending on the equipment and package.
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