8 Best SUVs For Your Summer Weekend Road Trip
The sun's out, temperatures are rising, and you're probably feeling the itch to hit the road with your girls in a rented SUV. Here are 8 that we recommend.
Ah, summer. The smell of sunscreen, chlorine, and an ice-cold beverage by the pool is calling you. If you’re telling the group chat it’s time to splurge on a fun rental car and Airbnb to enjoy a fun lake or poolside weekend in a town far away from home, we certainly don’t blame you. Everyone needs to live a different life, even if it’s just for a few nights.
Since you’re taking your friends, it makes sense to bring an SUV over a sedan. After all, there’s more cargo space, more passenger space, more comfort, and, depending on which one you choose, you can earn decent mileage (if that’s a central concern, of course). Many modern SUVs come with upgraded sound systems at the base level, making it easier—and more fun—to blast your 2000s Pop Hits on full blast.
But with so many options nowadays, it begs the question: which one should you choose? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here are 8 SUVs we’d choose if it were us, ranging from ultra luxe to the most cost-effective (without sacrificing fun or style, obviously).
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Best Luxury SUV: The Genesis GV80 Coupe Delivers on All Fronts
We picked the GV80 Coupe as the best luxury vehicle for a road trip because of how much you get for a relatively low rental cost. The sporty but insanely comfortable interior can fit five passengers comfortably with plenty of accommodations, a comfortable ride, an amazing sound system, and a powerful (but not too powerful) engine. Plus, it’s unique enough to spark conversations.
The average cost to rent one from places like Turo is around $230 to $280 before taxes for a weekend away. Which isn’t nearly as expensive as cars from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Porsche. If money wasn’t an issue and you did want to go ultra luxe, however, we’d recommend the Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator for its technology, unbeatable ride quality, interior space, and overall comfort.
For a crazy luxurious experience, you can’t go wrong with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan or Bentley Bentayga.
READ MORE: 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe First Drive: The Perfect Way to Fly From Your Empty Nest
Best Electric SUV: The Kia EV9 Has Recliner-Style Foot Rests??
Those of us who’ve reviewed the Kia EV9 nearly immediately fell in love with it, thanks to its ease of driving, tech-forward (but still very intuitive) interior, passenger space and comfort, abundance of cargo space, excellent visibility, boomin’ sound system, and quirky features. Certain trims, for instance, have recliner-style footrests for the front and rear passengers. Plus, with this EV, there’s a third row. So, you can bring more gal pals on your trip.
Typical rental costs aren’t terrible, either. They’re a little hard to find on places like Turo (probably because their owners are enjoying them too much to rent to strangers), but some Kia dealerships will allow rentals of their EVs. The average cost for a weekend with the EV9 is around $350 for a Friday thru Monday arrangement.
If you’re not hip to Kia, other alternatives we’d recommend would be the Rivian R1S, Mustang Mach-E, or the Hyundai IONIQ 5.
READ MORE: Kia EV9 First Drive: The Family Electric SUV We’ve Been Waiting For
Best Economy SUV: The Honda CR-V is Always a Solid Choice
Honda is known for its quality compared to the cost, and the CR-V resembles that remark perfectly. As a family vehicle, it’s spacious, comfortable, remarkably efficient, and can be configured in just about any way you want. For a road trip on a budget, it’s our top choice because the typical cost for a weekend rental was incredibly low.
On sites like Expedia or Kayak, the prices ranged between $108 to $177 for a Friday through Monday deal. AWD versions were a tad more expensive, but since it’s summer, you can get away with keeping 2WD and be perfectly fine.
If you want something other than the Honda, we’d also wholeheartedly recommend the Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sorento, or Hyundai Tucson.
READ MORE: Honda CR-V Hybrid Compact SUV: Still One of the Best
Best 3-Row SUV: The Hyundai Palisade Doesn’t Hold Back on Tech or Comfort
If you’re looking to bring the entire group chat, you’re going to need more than five seats. There are plenty of 3-row SUVs to choose from, and yet, many of them are uncomfortable for whoever has to sit in the third row. There are expensive cars like the Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator, but if you’re looking to splurge on the Airbnb but still need something to cart everyone around in, we’d recommend the Hyundai Palisade.
On Turo, most Palisades can be rented for around $108 per day. Which isn’t bad, considering how high-tech the Palisade’s interior is for the overall cost of the vehicle. We found the third row to be the most comfortable of most mainstream SUVs, but if you wanted something with even more room, then we can passionately recommend the two ultra-luxe SUVs we mentioned earlier.
READ MORE: Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Night Edition Review: One Badass 3-Row SUV
Best Performance SUV: BMW X5 M60i
When it comes to a powerful, sleek, and remarkably quick SUV for a weekend getaway, the BMW X5 M60i checks every box. Not only is it nice to look at and comfortable to sit in, but there are 523 eager horses from a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 just waiting to be let loose. While the BMW is no slow poke, it’s also tame in the sense that it can be driven modestly and still be extremely comfortable.
On Turo, these beauties typically run about $150 per day if you get the unlimited mileage options, which is pretty reasonable considering how much comes with the car. The X5 M is also a powerful option, as it has 617 horsepower—but you’ll be paying for those extra ponies. If you’re not feeling it from the Germans, we’d also recommend the Lamborghini Urus or Genesis GV80.
READ MORE: The Redesigned BMW X5: Day-to-Night Luxury, With Sporty to Spicy Performance
Best Off-Road SUV: Lexus GX 550 Overtrail
If you’re planning on a camping trip or heading to a lake that requires 4WD, the Lexus GX 550 Overtail is your perfect match. It’s not just beautiful, either—it’s got one of the most capable 4WD systems on the market, it’s roomy, and has excellent highway manners. It’s not the most efficient, but let’s be honest—no one’s renting a Lexus GX 550 for mileage reasons. You’re picking it because it’s capable.
Now, since the Lexus can cost close to six figures, renting this bad girl is not cheap. Typical rental costs are about $500 per day on Turo. Which, unless you’re camping in tents or staying at a friend’s place, can be a hard pill to swallow. So, if you’re looking for something similar that won’t break the bank, we’d recommend its industry sibling, the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Nissan Pathfinder, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, or the Ford Bronco.
READ MORE: The 2024 Lexus GX 550: Polished and Posh With a Rugged Old Soul
Best SUV for Towing: The Ford Expedition is All Muscle and Executive Comfort
If you’re looking to tow something, say a boat, camper, or trailer for your ATVs, the Ford Expedition is a no-brainer. It comes with a jaw-dropping towing capacity of around 9,200 pounds, which is astounding for a full-sized SUV powered by a twin-turbo V6. If it’s equipped with the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package, it can tow up to 9,600 pounds. So, it has all the power you need without sacrificing an ounce of comfort for your passengers (or yourself).
Renting the Ford Expedition isn’t incredibly expensive, either. Average prices on Turo are around $50 to $60 per day. So you can pack the girls and whatever else you’re towing with you for a very reasonable price. If you’re not hip to Ford, you may also appreciate the Chevy Tahoe, Nissan Armada, or Toyota Sequoia.
READ MORE: The 2025 Ford Expedition Is Still All That, But Now, Even More
Best Hybrid SUV: The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is Efficient, Spacious, and Affordable
You can’t go wrong with any Toyota hybrid SUV, but we recommend the Highlander over the RAV4 simply because the Highlander has more cargo space, especially if the third row isn’t being used. It’s still remarkably efficient like the RAV4, but that little bit of extra space can make a difference for a long-distance road trip.
Additionally, they’re incredibly affordable to rent. You can rent them from chains like Hertz, Expedia, or Budget for around $36 to $80 per day, depending on the trim level and distance, of course. So not only are you saving on gas, but you can use what you’re saving on a nice dinner.
If you’re not looking for a Toyota, we’d recommend the Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid or the Honda CR-V hybrid.
READ MORE: Driving the 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Brought Pleasant Memories Back to the Surface
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