Top 10 Cars for a Road Trip

7. Volkswagen Passat TDI

In the world of midsize sedans, the VW Passat is a bit strange. It’s handsome but dull, sophisticated but a little cheap in places. It’s a fine car but it lacks the panache of some competitors and the reliability reputation of others; it’s sort of stuck in the middle.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Volkswagen Passat Review

But two things make this a tremendous long-distance cruiser. One, it’s got a HUGE back seat and two, the car offers a super thrifty diesel engine. When matched to a six-speed manual transmission the TDI model delivers 31 mpg city and up to 43 on the interstate. That’s huge. This car can digest miles like a commercial airliner. Go ahead and reach for the horizon; you can get there in the Passat TDI.