Skip to main content

Summer is right around the corner and that means that it’s a great time to take a nice road trip. And while driving an SUV or minivan will give you the most practicality and comfort, a sports car will provide you with the most fun along the way. Here are seven of the best sports cars to take on a road trip.

The Ford Mustang GT Convertible allows you to feel the wind in your hair

2022 Ford Mustang Coastal Limited Edition
2022 Ford Mustang Coastal Limited Edition | Ford

There’s almost no American car more iconic than the Ford Mustang Convertible. With a rumbling V8 engine under the hood and a tight suspension, you probably wouldn’t believe that the Mustang GT is also a great car to take on a road trip across the U.S.

Despite its performance aspects, the Mustang GT has a trunk that’s spacious enough for a couple of carry-on bags, a 16-gallon fuel tank, and the ability to get up to an EPA-estimated 14 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Those aren’t exactly fuel-sipping numbers, but who cares when you have the wind in your hair?

The Chevrolet Camaro works well for road trips

2021 Chevrolet Camaro
2021 Chevrolet Camaro | Chevrolet

What has four usable seats, decent cargo volume, and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine? A Chevrolet Camaro! You were thinking “Honda Civic,” weren’t you? Anyway, Carvana reports that the Chevy Camaro has a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that puts out 275 hp, has 9.3 cubic feet of cargo volume, and can seat four people in relative comfort. If those attributes don’t scream “road trip car,” then we don’t know what does.

Want a fun and class trip? Get a Fiat 124 Spider

Cheap Cars Likely To Appreciate and Make You Money
Fiat 124 | Getty Images

Not only does the Fiat 124 Spider have a stylish look inside and out, but it also makes a decent road trip car. We say “decent” because the 124 Spider is a two-seater, after all. But if that amount of room works for you, then you’ll enjoy its 160-hp, turbocharged 1.4-liter engine that can be mated to either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission and gets up to 35 mpg on the highway. Just remember that this roadster is limited on trunk space as its cargo hold measures at a tiny 4.9 cubic feet.  

The Mazda MX-5 Miata provides zippy fun for the journey

2017 Mazda MX-5 RF Spor
2017 Mazda MX-5 RF Sport | Getty Images

Believe it or not, the Mazda MX-5 makes for a decent road trip car. Sure, it’s lacking in cabin and cargo space, but if you’re only going a shorter distance, then the MX-5 will give you the most fun along the way. Its 181-hp 2.0-liter engine packs a good punch and can achieve up to 34 mpg on the highway.

Additionally, the MX-5’s razor-sharp handling makes it a joy to drive on curvy roads and its 7-inch infotainment screen and six-speaker audio can provide entertainment during the journey.

The Dodge Challenger has plenty of room

2022 Dodge Challenger SXT front view
2022 Dodge Challenger SXT | Stellantis

Considering it’s a muscle car, you wouldn’t think that the Dodge Challenger would make a good road trip car, but it does. The Challenger has plenty of front and rear seat room, a base 3.6-liter V6 engine that puts out 305 hp and gets up to 30 mpg highway, and a large 16.2 cubic-foot trunk. Those three attributes alone should be enough to get you packing for a week-long vacation knowing that the Challenger will get you there in comfort and style.

The Chevrolet Corvette has two seats and lots of power

A blue 2022 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray on a desert canyon overlook
A 2022 Chevrolet C8 Corvette Stingray | Chevrolet

If you can overlook the fact that the Chevrolet Corvette is a genuine sports car, then you’ll start to realize its road-trip potential. Its base 6.2-liter V8 engine puts out 455 hp, but it can also achieve up to 24 mpg on the highway. The Corvette is also a two-seater, but it has plenty of room for two adults. Also, with 15 cubic feet of cargo space in its trunk, the Corvette is more practical than you might initially think.

If you want fun with a dose of practicality, get a Porsche Cayman

Porsche makes some of the least boring sports cars
The 2021 Porsche 718 Cayman sports car on a highway | Porsche AG

There’s no doubt that the Porsche Cayman is a bonafide canyon carver with its spry handling characteristics and mid-engine layout. However, its 300-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine can get up to 27 mpg on the highway, it has plenty of legroom, and it has a trunk that boasts 9.7 cubic feet of cargo volume.

Not to mention it also has a “frunk” with an additional 5.2 cubic feet of space. All that being said, the Porsche Cayman is qualified to carve up a canyon and get you there in relative comfort, even if the canyon is 500 miles away.

Sports car for long road trips

While you might think that road trips are only meant for SUVs and minivans, this list shows that a sports car can provide adequate transportation as well. Sure, it might not be as comfortable or practical, but any one of these sports cars will make sure that your get to where you’re going with a large smile on your face.

Related

3 Fun Rental Cars for Your Next Road Trip