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RENAULT AUSTRAL, VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON, BMW 3 SERIES TOURING NAMED BEST CARS FOR SOLO ROAD TRIPPERS THIS SUMMERBest cars for solo road trips
Vehicles and destinations for individuals
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 21/08/2025
In the spirit of spontaneity and solo travel, Tempcover explored seven key car features that ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey for anyone travelling on their own.
Our research focused on vehicles already recognised for their road trip and long-distance capabilities, assessing the following factors:
The three best cars for solo road trips were:
Rank | Vehicle make & model | Used price | Boot space (seats up) (L) | Reliability rating (%) | Safety rating (/5) | Miles per round | Interior & comfort rating (/5) | RAC Equipment Score (/100) |
1 | Renault Astral | £24,714 | 453 | 93.6 | 5 | 8.75 | 4 | 80 |
2 | Volkswagen Arteon | £24,816 | 510 | 92.7 | 5 | 6.75 | 4.5 | 80 |
3 | BMW 3 Series Touring | £13,778 | 455 | 96.75 | 5 | 5.5 | 4.5 | 70 |
4 | Citroen C5 X | £18,362 | 515 | 94.1 | 4 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 70 |
5 | Volkswagen Golf | £20,614 | 327 | 77.25 | 5 | 7.3 | 4.5 | 80 |
6 | Tesla Model 3 | £24,627 | 568 | 93.8 | 5 | 6.95 | 4 | 70 |
7 | Honda Civic | £25,923 | 412 | 97.6 | 5 | 8.55 | 4 | 70 |
8 | Dacia Jogge | £16,277 | 186 | 96 | 1 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 70 |
9 | Range Rover Evoque | £26,845 | 635 | 86.9 | 5 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 80 |
10 | Mini Convertible | £17,597 | 160 | 97.1 | 4 | 6.25 | 4.5 | 70 |
11 | Skoda Superb | £29,914 | 645 | 89.75 | 5 | 6.8 | 4.5 | 70 |
12 | Hyundai Kona Electric | £22,330 | 466 | 91.1 | 4 | 6.8 | 4.5 | 60 |
13 | Mazda MX-5 | £17,736 | 130 | 91.4 | 4 | 6.35 | 4 | 80 |
14 | Cupra Formentor | £26,448 | 398 | 89.8 | 5 | 7.1 | 4 | 70 |
15 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | £25,885 | 401 | 93.5 | 5 | 6.05 | 4 | 70 |
Now you’ve seen the best cars for your solo getaway, it’s time to start planning. Where will you go? You could explore the countryside or delve into art, culture and Britain’s rich history.
Going on your own means the choice is yours, but here’s some inspiration for solo road trips:
York, Bristol, London, Manchester… There are so many fascinating places to explore in Britain. Take a solo road trip to one of them, park up and then have a wander. With nobody else with you, you can take your time and explore the whole city. On your terms.
Pack your suncream, grab a towel and a book and head to the coast. Once you’ve parked up, treat yourself to a coffee and take the time to people-watch and just relax, taking in the fresh sea air. Porthcurno in Cornwall, Weymouth in Dorset and Whitesands Bay in Pembrokeshire all featured in National Geographic’s list of best UK beaches.
In need of some pampering? Book yourself a treatment at a spa. Take your time to get there, enjoy the surroundings, sit back and relax… The Good Spa Guide recommends Dormy House Hotel and Spa in Worcestershire, Pennyhill Park in Surrey and Serenity Spa in County Durham.
Whether quirky or a must-see, solo travel gives you the chance to visit attractions that have always been on your list. From Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick to The National Gallery in London, there really is something for everyone.
Britain is home to plenty of green spaces. Drive to a park, National Trust site or woodland area and take in the fresh air and natural beauty. Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), the Scottish Highlands and Peak District could all be great solo destinations.
This will depend on the individual, but if you’re happy in your own company and want to explore on your own terms, solo travel could be a great idea. Just make sure you know where you’re going and let a friend or family member know the details before heading off.
This could be different for everyone but as long as you are sensible, let someone know where you’re going and stay safe - both while travelling and at your destination - you could have so much fun.
Follow the rules of the road by driving at the speed limit, wearing your seat belt and staying alert at all times, paying particular attention to potential hazards, diversions and the behaviour of other road users.
Make sure you have your insurance and emergency breakdown provider’s details to hand and pack an emergency kit with the following:
If you’re driving, then yes, insurance is a legal requirement. Whether driving your own car or someone else’s, you’ll need to have cover. If you are borrowing a vehicle, consider taking out temporary car insurance. This will give you comprehensive cover for the duration of your trip - and you choose just how long you need it for. Perfect for a day trip or solo weekend away.
Heading off on a road trip must be easy, right? It's just a case of getting in the car (making sure you have the correct cover) and heading to your destination... Not always. You should do some research before heading off, checking out the best routes to get where you're going and ensuring you have performed all your car safety checks.
You can use Google Maps to plan out your route and pack appropriately. The RAC's How to prepare for a road trip blog post recommends the following:
If you're heading on a road trip in an electric vehicle (EV), you should plot out points where you can recharge along the way.
According to BP Pulse's Essential EV route planning tips, you should factor in how long the vehicle takes to charge, whether it's better to take A roads that can prolong your EV's range and check the charging options both en route and at your destination.
Give the car a full charge at home before setting off and perform the usual maintenance checks e.g. battery and tyres. Don't forget to pack a charging cable.
Preparing for a solo road trip means paying extra attention to the details that keep you safe and comfortable - both on and off the road. Here are our tips for staying safe and free from stress:
We took all vehicles mentioned in five respected roundups related to the best cars for road trips and long journeys. We made the decision to focus on vehicles that cost less than the average car price when bought second hand based on listings from Carowow and Parkers. We removed vans to make it a fair comparison, and any vehicles where data for all metrics wasn't available. Each metric was given a score out of 10 based on how it compared to others—so the best in each category scored 10, the worst scored 1. These scores were then averaged to create the final rankings.
Best Road Trip Vehicles
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/best-ofs/best-cars-for-road-trips https://www.carwow.co.uk/best/long-distance-cars#gref https://www.motorpoint.co.uk/best/cars-for-road-trips https://www.cinch.co.uk/guides/choosing-a-car/the-best-car-for-long-distance-driving https://www.theaa.com/cars/advice/best-used-cars/best-used-road-trip-cars
Used Car Cost. Collected on 01/07
https://www.carwow.co.uk/#gref
https://www.parkers.co.uk/citroen/c5-x/review/
Average Cost of a Car. Average of the bottom and top price taken.
Reliability Rating. Average of petrol and diesel where applicable. Where exact model/ body type wasn't available, the overall brand reliability was used.
https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/used-review/n22742/reliability
Safety Rating. Make & model taken where specific body type was not available. Rating from the most recent year available was taken.
Miles Per Pound. Where available, the MPP for electric public charging was taken. If the vehicle was not electric, the MPP for hybrid petrol was taken. If the vehicle didn't have a hybrid model or data available, the petrol MPP was taken. Basic trim was taken where necessary, this is indicative and not an exact science
https://www.parkers.co.uk/dacia/jogger/review/mpg-running-costs
Interior & comfort Rating
https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/bmw/3-series/3-series-touring-estate/interior
RAC Equipment Score /100
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/car-reviews/mini/convertible/convertible/
