5 SUVs Fit for Fall Road Trips and Leaf Peeping

Published October 14, 2020 by Elizabeth Jeneault

The fall is the perfect time of year to take a road trip as the days are typically dry and sunny and the nights and mornings aren’t all that cold yet. Leaf peeping is always a popular activity, but especially now because of the pandemic. People are exploring nature more than they ever have as it allows them to still bond with their family members and friends, but remain socially distanced from others.

 

If you’re in the market for a new SUV and one that you can take on fall road trips, you might want to consider the list we’ve put together below! All of the SUVs come available with large sunroofs so that you can admire the beautiful fall foliage along your journey. They’re also all highly capable and comfortable vehicles that you’ll actually want to spend time in!

 

Jeep Wrangler

 

How could we possibly leave the Jeep Wrangler off a list of SUVs best fit for fall road trips? The Wrangler is one of the most iconic off-roaders in history and it remains highly popular today. It’s just as capable as ever, with every Wrangler sporting the highly coveted Trail Rated badge. To earn that badge from Jeep, the vehicle must pass a number of grueling tests to prove its ability to withstand tough terrain, harsh conditions, and inclement weather.

 

The best part about a Wrangler is being able to take the top and doors off! If you want that ultimate open-air feel on a fall road trip while wearing a Patagonia jacket or a thick fall sweater or flannel, then you want to have a Jeep that you can rip the doors and top off of!

 

Not to mention, you get lots of variety when it comes to the Wrangler. You can get a two-door or a four-door Wrangler to best fit your driving style and family’s needs. If you have more people and cargo, the Unlimited four-door model is likely going to be a better fit for you.

 

No matter the Wrangler you choose, it’s going to be fun to drive and to take on fall road trips. Remember, the Wrangler is one of the most capable off-roaders out there and you don’t have to be afraid of tackling any trail when you’re behind the wheel of one! The Wrangler also hold its value more than most other SUVs on the market, making it an even better buy.

 

Toyota 4Runner

 

Just as the Jeep Wrangler is a fan favorite, so is the Toyota 4Runner! It’s a practical and fun sport utility vehicle that also has unique style. Plus, it has been conquering the off-road for over 35 years and counting! Its rugged body-on-frame construction is optimized for strength and durability, meaning the 4Runner is ready to conquer those fall trails.

 

Just as the Wrangler has an iconic style, so does the 4Runner. Toyota likes to say the 4Runner looks best with a fresh coat of mud. It has a trail-ready toughness to it and a cutting-edge style, but its versatile interior is comfortable and it also keeps you connected to the world around you.

 

Plus, you have the available power tilt/slide moonroof that brings you closer to the outdoors! The 4Runner is one of those vehicles that makes you feel like you’re taking in all that the great outdoors has to offer, but still in a highly safe way. Toyota is known for its highly advanced safety systems and so you can have peace of mind for your fall road trips by opting for a highly safe vehicle like the 4Runner.

 

Land Rover Discovery Sport / Discovery

 

The Land Rover Discovery and the more affordable Discovery Sport models are available with a fixed panoramic roof that allows a large amount of light to beautifully cascade into the cabin. You can also get the sliding front pane feature with the larger Discovery model to help you feel even closer to the fall foliage as you drive!

 

The Discovery models would be great to take on a fall road trip as their interiors are more luxurious than the other models we’ve mentioned so far. Discovery and Discovery Sport offer excellent quality materials for their interiors. It’s easy to spend a full day in a Discovery SUV as it’s truly that comfortable. What’s nice is that both models can also fit up to seven passengers, meaning you can bring more friends along with you.

 

With the five rear seats folded down, the larger Discovery can pack up to 83.6 cubic feet of cargo space! That means there’s a lot of room for camping gear, supplies, and sporting equipment. The Discovery also has an impressive towing capacity of up to 8,201 pounds!

 

Don’t forget, Land Rover sell lots of stylish and practical accessories that are tough, yet versatile and also offer you some fun ways to personalize your Discovery.

 

If you opt for a Discovery, you’ll definitely be riding in style for your fall road trip!

 

Volkswagen Atlas

 

The Volkswagen Atlas is going to be more affordable than the Discovery and Discovery Sport, but it still has a luxurious feeling interior and a dynamic looking exterior. It offers plenty of space for seven passengers as standard. It also has quite a striking exterior design with its LED headlights and chiseled, modern lines. You can opt for the available panoramic sunroof for your fall road trip, which makes the already spacious feeling Atlas feel that much larger.

 

The third row of the Atlas is less cramped feeling than it is with many competitors and so that’s a positive if you plan on having a vehicle full of passengers for your fall road trip!

 

One of the most impressive aspects of the three-row Atlas SUV, though, is the amount of max cargo space it offers! There’s a whopping 96.8 cubic feet of max cargo space when all the rear seats are folded down! There’s also a hands-free power liftgate available, which makes accessing that massive cargo space even easier. You could store a ton of camping gear, luggage, and coolers in the back with that amount of cargo space! Anything you would need for a fall road road trip could fit in the back of your Atlas.

 

You could also always consider the Atlas Cross Sport, which has just two rows and offers slightly less cargo room.

 

Tesla Model Y

 

While the Tesla Model Y SUV might not immediately come to mind when thinking about an SUV to take on a fall road trip, it does have Tesla’s best glass roof yet and that makes it excellent for leaf peeping!

 

While the Model X may be bigger in size and it does have one of the most massive windshields out there, its roof provides a somewhat obstructed view because of the SUV’s Falcon Wing doors. Since there are no Falcon Wing doors on the Model Y, you get a seamless glass roof and it definitely makes an impression.

 

The long range variant of the Model Y gets an EPA estimated range of 315 miles, which just might be long enough to allow you to take a fall road trip without even having to stop to charge!

 

Tesla also recently rolled out its “Camp Mode” feature which allows you to sleep comfortably in your Tesla while soaking in the full view of the sky above. It automatically adjusts the temperature of the cabin to keep it comfortable as you sleep. The feature turns your Tesla into a mini mobile hotel room, making an overnight fall road trip that much easier!


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