You’ve decided that Iceland travel is next up on your bucket list. As you begin planning the logistics, an interesting query pops up. What are the best road trip cars for Iceland, and how do I choose one? While this is a great question, it’s a bit like asking “what should I pack for my trip?”. Well, that depends! Are you going to Stockholm or Seychelles? It’s the same when deciding on the best car for road trips in Iceland.

There are many different factors to take into account when picking out your road trip car. What are the most comfortable cars for long trips? What’s your itinerary and are you planning on going to the Highlands? How many people are in your party, and are you traveling with kids or your family? These questions and more will help decide whether or not you need a compact car, a sedan, an SUV, or even a van or camper.

Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list for road-trippers to know exactly which vehicle is the right one for them. Buckle up and let’s see what we’ve got!

Best Road Trip Car For Couples

If you’re traveling with your partner or your best friend, the best road trip car for your travels is going to be a compact car. Depending on the amount of space you need, you can go as small as a Toyota Aygo or Kia Picanto. If you’d like bit more legroom and room to stretch out, the right car for you might be a larger model like a Kia Rio or Toyota Yaris.

The largest cars in the compact category are the Kia Ceed and Toyota Auris. They fit up to five passengers and have plenty of room for suitcases, so if there are just two or three of you, it will be perfectly fine.

Renting a Camper

Another option is renting a campervan. This is a great way to save money and is the best travel vehicle for those on a budget. You’ve got your cooking and sleeping facilities with you at all times, so you save a ton on both food and accommodation. Traveling around Iceland by campervan is one of the most popular ways to see the island.

Favorite camper models are the Renault Kangoo, Nissan NV200, and VW Caddy. You can also rent 4×4 camper models like the VW California or Mercedes Marco Polo.

Best Cars For Road Trips With Families or Friends

Because driving is the best way to see the country, you’ll notice plenty of families coming here during summer or winter holidays with their kids. For this reason, motorhome rental in the summer is actually quite popular here as well. But that’s a topic for another day. What I want to talk about is the best cars for road trips, whether it’s a family or a group of your best friends.

For this category, I wanted to look at the best car for traveling long distances because you’ll be racking up those kilometers as you make your way around Iceland. While you’re playing the number plate game with your kids or reminiscing about the college road trip you took, what you need is a vehicle that’s reliable, trustworthy, and above all, comfortable.

Best Car For Traveling Long Distances

For me, a solid choice that falls under this category is the Kia Ceed Sportswagon. It’s a modern update on the traditional family station wagons of the past. While you’ll usually only spend two or three hours driving between sights (and stopping along the way), there are also days when you need to spend several hours in the car.

For example, you might be at the end of your trip and decide to drive back from Vatnajökull National Park all the way to Reykjavik. You definitely want to be comfortable for this five-hour journey.

And if you’ve spent a full day of physically exhausting activities like hiking waterfalls or exploring glacier caves, you’re going to want to pass out when you get back into your automobile. For your kids or travel companions, this is definitely one of the best cars to sleep in the back of.

Best Road Trip Vehicle for Exploring the Highlands

The best SUV for road trips in Iceland are those that have a 4-wheel drive so you can go to the Highlands. You are required by law to use a 4×4 vehicle while navigating Iceland’s F-roads (mountain roads). The solid, well-built construction of these types of automobiles makes them the obvious choice for handling the rugged terrain of Iceland’s wild backcountry.

Some of the best SUVs for Iceland road trips are the Dacia Duster 4×4, the Suzuki Vitara 4×4, and the Kia Sportage 4×4. The Suzuki Jimny is also great for crossing those narrow rivers that you’ll come across in the Highlands.

SUVs are also great for the winter because their 4×4 steering gives you extra control over the vehicle.

What Are Iceland’s Best Road Trip Cars?

Remember that summer is peak road trip season in Iceland, so whichever car you choose for your Iceland trip, be sure to reserve in advance. They say driving around our glacier-and-volcano-filled island is one of the best road trips in Europe, and I can’t say that I disagree. The breathtaking scenery and unforgettable landscapes will make you happy that you’ve decided to take this once in a lifetime adventure.