Whether it's the breathtaking Scottish Highlands, sandy Cornish beaches or idyllic Welsh valleys – the UK has a wealth of stunning places to visit without leaving our shores.
For most of these destinations, road tripping by car is the easiest, most relaxing way to get there. But which models are best at the job? A great road-trip motor should be big enough for your luggage, spacious so you can stretch out, and satisfying to drive so covering all those miles doesn't feel like a chore.
Here are our favourite road trip cars, all available as great-value used cars from Motorpoint.
Audi A5 Sportback
There are remarkably few areas the Audi A5 Sportback doesn't excel in. It's stylish on the outside and even better looking on the inside, with plush materials and a modern dashboard design. You also get extremely surefooted handling, a slick automatic gearbox and a selection of strong engines to effortlessly eat up the miles. Plus, five-door Sportback models have enough seat space for four adults to lounge in comfort and a spacious, easily accessible hatchback boot for your luggage.
Browse used Audi A5 cars or read our Audi A5 review
Mazda MX-5
If you're unburdened by the need to bring kids along for the trip, why not embrace the lightweight lifestyle with the Mazda MX-5? This is the definitive two-seat convertible – and also one of the very few left on sale that doesn't cost a fortune. Fizzy petrol engines urge you to rev them to redline while the darty, communicative handling makes every journey feel like a special event. You can drop the roof so you and your passenger can experience the sights, sounds and smells along the way, and there's enough boot space for a couple's holiday.
See used Mazda MX-5 cars or read our Mazda MX-5 review
Cupra Formentor
The Cupra Formentor is another great option if your road trip includes the whole family. This dramatic-looking coupe-SUV blends grippy and engaging handling, with enough suspension compliance that you can enjoy a twisty mountain pass without your passengers getting motion sickness. Plus, unlike many cars that try to mash coupe style with an SUV body, the Formentor still has enough space to seat grown adults and carry their cargo, or for families with kids who might need to drag a pushchair along for the ride.
Check out used Cupra Formentor cars or read our Cupra Formentor review
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai together with sister brand Kia makes some of the most impressive EVs on the market right now. Between its slippery shape and 77kWh battery pack, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 can return more than 300 miles on a full charge. Charging on the road should hassle-free too, as the Ioniq 6's 800V architecture means it can accept up to 350kW – blasting the battery pack from 10-80% in just 18 minutes. It's also a lovely car to spend time in, with a stretched-out passenger compartment, excellent quality and tasteful materials.
View used Hyundai Ioniq 6 cars for sale
BMW 3 Series Touring
The BMW 3 Series is a superb all-rounder, combining agile, entertaining handling with a practical cabin that's slightly larger than its direct rivals from Audi or Mercedes. Saloon models have a spacious boot with enough space for at least two large suitcases but road trippers might want to consider the cavernous 3 Series Touring estate, which is ideal if you need to bring pets or pushchairs. Nearly new examples can be had for less than £30,000, so you don't need to blow the bank to get a great road trip companion.
Shop used BMW 3 Series cars for sale or read our BMW 3 Series review
Range Rover Evoque
This second-generation Range Rover Evoque finally delivers on its original billing – to distill the full-fat Range Rover down into a more affordable, everyday package. Its cabin is properly luxurious, with soft, expensive-feeling materials and enough practicality that rear-seat passengers won't be complaining on long trips. It's also one of the best-riding SUVs on the market, let alone at this price point, with a softer edge to its suspension than its main German rivals – it floats over bumps and potholes, all without compromising the deft handling.
Browse used Range Rover Evoque cars or read our Range Rover Evoque review
Renault Austral
If you're not looking to be thrilled on your road trip but, instead, wafted gracefully to your destination, try out the Renault Austral. Compared to so many family SUVs that end up overly firm in pursuit of sporty handling, the Austral is genuinely softly sprung. That makes it easy to soak up hundreds of miles without any bumps, vibrations or noise disturbing your journey. It's easy to live with too, with a funky interior trimmed in classy materials, and a self-charging-hybrid engine that's both punchy and efficient.
Shop used Renault Austral cars or read our Renault Austral review
Mercedes C-Class Coupe
If you want to road trip in style, few can compete with the Mercedes C-Class Coupe. It's the two-door sibling of the standard C-Class and shares that car's elegant cabin, which comes trimmed with lots of real wood, metal and leather details. Like the four-door, it strikes a great balance between being soft and comfortable, and still feeling agile and direct, ending up less sporty than rivals like the BMW 4 Series but without losing a sense of driver appeal. Plus, once you're done driving it, you can just get out and take in its handsome looks.
Browse used Mercedes C-Class cars or read our Mercedes C-Class review
Citroen C5 X
The Citroen C5 X sits in the middle of a few Venn diagrams. For one, it has both the chunky styling and raised ride height of an SUV, but the sleek shape and long roof of an estate car. It also treads a line between feeling like an expensive car with leather upholstery and natural wood trim, but coming from Citroen – a brand focused on affordability – which means tempting prices, especially on the used market. It's in its element on a long road trip, with the soft suspension soaking up the miles and the big cabin swallowing all your passengers and cargo.
Check out used Citroen C5 X cars or read our Citroen C5 X review
Volkswagen Arteon
The Volkswagen Arteon is perfect for eating up huge cross-country mileages. You get an eye-catching coupe-like body that hides an impressively spacious cabin – offering more rear legroom than you'll find in any of its direct rivals. Under the skin, you'll find high-tech engines and gearboxes shared with other VW Group cars, which work effortlessly in the Arteon, making it a supremely relaxing car to drive for long periods. There's also enough boot space to hold a couple of big suitcases, even if you didn't manage to get the zip done up all the way!
Take a look at used Volkswagen Arteon cars or read our Volkswagen Arteon review
Ready to take a trip with one of these cars?
Check out Motorpoint's huge selection of used cars for sale. For more inspiration, take a look at our picks for the best nearly new SUVs and the best cars for dogs and their owners.
