The 4th of July is here, and for many of us, that means one thing: seeing family or friends for a BBQ. And, for so many of us, seeing family and friends sometimes doesn’t just mean driving down the road, but across the country, so that means it is road trip time. Yes, you could take the minivan or SUV and just munch the miles in everyday comfort, but we rarely get the opportunity to make the most of an all-American road holiday, so we think this year’s Fourth of July cross-country road trip should be done in something much more fun and much cooler.

So, we have found 10 cars that are perfect for this year’s road trip. They are either fantastic GTs for combining long-distance slogging ability and fun, or they embody the true American road-tripping spirit. We have brought you information about the following sports cars, GTs, muscle cars, classic cars, and luxury cars that are great for a road trip, and have included why you should use them, their performance specifications, and how they’d make for a great Fourth of July road trip car.

To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power, Classic.com, and Kelley Blue Book. We have ordered the following ten models, from the model with the lowest horsepower output to the model with the highest horsepower output.

10

1982-1992 Pontiac Firebird

Horsepower Rating: 245

As part of the third-gen Firebirds, the ’82 to ’92 iterations evolved into a legit muscle car icon with a sleeker, lighter, and more versatile build. Built on the aerodynamic F-body platform, it boasts pop-up headlights, a roomy hatchback that offers a decent 12.4 cubic-feet of storage (reasonable for taking things across country), 43 inches of legroom up front, a slightly cramped but child-friendly 28.9 inches of legroom in the rear, originally optional air-con, and a cassette deck (for if you want to wind back time on the road).

You can choose from a decent range of engines, from a modest 2.5-liter inline-four (90 horsepower) to a 305-horsepower V8. Early models boast a cross-fire-injected V8 good for 156 horsepower; the mid-80s models were equipped with a healthy V8 that can pump out 165 horsepower, while if you are looking for some torque, you could look for a 1989 Firebird Turbo Trans Am, which boasts a turbocharged 250-horsepower/340 pound-feet of torque 3.8-liter V6. This will see you hit 60 MPH in around 4.5 seconds, so if you are pulling through any towns on your trip, you’re going to have some fun.

Handling is set up for a sporty ride, and if you opt for a model with the WS6 suspension, which includes beefed-up sway bars, wide snowflake wheels, and tighter steering, you should plan your route to the BBQ to include some twisty mountain roads to take a much-needed break from the highway and have some fun. Average auction prices for the 3rd-gen Firebird are relatively low considering their caliber, and you can pick one up for an average auction price of just over $21,000, while if you are looking for something a bit more beefy and awe-inspiring on the road, you can pick up a third-gen Trans Am for just shy of $24,000.

9

1966 Ford Mustang Convertible

Horsepower Rating: 271

Nothing says an American road trip like an open-top Mustang, and this iconic pony car is always going to get some green-eyed looks and love in most corners of the nation. For a car from the mid-60s, the Mustang offers a pretty conclusive set of comfort features that’ll make a road trip relatively comfortable in the shape of power steering, power brakes, and even air-con (or you could just drop the roof). You can also pick up models that boast the “Pony Interior” package, which includes two-tone seats, woodgrain trim, and a sporty steering wheel, so you’ll make a statement when you get to the BBQ as well as on the way.

The ’66 Mustang convertible looks sporty; it is an icon; it offers open-top fun, and it doesn’t look bad anywhere you drive it. Plus, you can choose from a range of engines that offer some decent cruising horsepower in the form of a 120-horsepower inline-six, or some meatier V-8s for a bit more muscle. The ’66 Mustang is available with three 4.7-liter V8 options that include a two-barrel flavor that kicks out 200 horsepower, a four-barrel version that is good for 225 horsepower, or the top-tier “Hi-Po,” which will give you a maximum output of 271 horsepower.

8

2020 Nissan 370Z

Horsepower Rating: 332

As the last MY of the awesome Nissan 370Z, the 2020 model is not only iconic for being the last of a fantastic lineup of Japanese sports cars, but it also offers both performance and comfort features that make it a very handy road trip companion, especially if you like to do more than just sit at 70. Under the hood is a 3.7-liter V6 that kicks out a healthy 332 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, or if you find yourself a NISMO, 350 horsepower.

The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed auto box, so for long highway slogs, the auto box may be a smarter choice, but if you are looking to divert onto some twisty roads part way through your road trip, the manual transmission is worth going for to really get the feel of it.

Despite its sporty breeding, the 370Z is well-suited for long trips with well-bolstered sports seats, a driver-focused cabin with everything in easy reach, and Bluetooth connectivity via an eight-inch touchscreen, while you can also get models with a high-end Bose sound system. Storage space is relatively low at 6.9 cubic feet, but the hatchback design does mean you can easily get a few bits in for the BBQ.

7

2017 BMW M2

Horsepower Rating: 365

Striking a balance between performance, luxury, and comfort, the 2017 BMW M2 may be a safer option than some of the other models on our list, but it still makes for a very impressive road trip companion. The chassis is tuned for dynamic handling, but the ride is still easy enough for long rides; the suspension is admittedly set up for more sporty driving, with a wide track, double-joint spring strut, and a five-link independent suspension, but is still road trip-worthy. Leather sport seats, dual-zone climate control, and BMW’s iDriver infotainment system with navigation make everything very easy and serene on long hauls, but what may make the M2 most fun for a trip across the country is the engine.

Under the hood, the M2 is equipped with a single, potent engine option: a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six (N55), which can kick out 365 horsepower and 343 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch auto (DCT), which, if you opt for the DCT, you can hit 60 MPH in as little as 4.1 seconds. But, the best thing is, the engine is smooth, responsive, and refined, as well as being capable of turning the M2 into an animal, so you get the best of both worlds.

6

2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Horsepower Rating: 405

If you are looking to make a statement on your road trip to see the family this year, you can’t go much wrong with the 2002 Corvette Z06. It is sleek-looking, it boasts a very impressive LS6 V8, it is reasonably comfortable, and you can pick one up for an average price of $21,607.

As the high-performance variant of the C5-generation Corvette, it boasts a 5.7-liter LS6 V8 which can kick out 405 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, giving you 0-60 MPH times in just 3.9 seconds, while its performance breeding makes it more suited to hitting the twistier and funner roads across the country instead of just sticking to the highways.

The 2002 Z06 is equipped with FE4 suspension, stiff springs, beefy shocks, thick sway bars, and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires on lightweight wheels, while a lightweight titanium exhaust and thin glass around the cabin keep the curb weight down to just 3,118 pounds, so you are bound to have a lot of fun in it on the less-than-straight roads. And, despite its aggressive setup, you also get supportive leather seats, dual-zone climate control, and a somewhat surprisingly roomy hatchback trunk that can fit 12.6 cubic feet of stuff in.

5

2017-2025 Lexus LC500

Horsepower Rating: 471

As we know, Lexus’s blending of luxury, comfort, and performance seems to come naturally, and the lineup of the Lexus LC500 proves this. You get a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 good for 471 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque; 0-60 MPH times in as little as 4.4 seconds; a glorious exhaust note from the rear; rear-wheel drive for fun in the canyons; and oodles of high-end additions that make road trips both fun and comfortable.

The cabin showcases hand-stitched leather, Alcantara, real metal and wood accents, heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and an optional 13-speaker Mark Levinson audio setup – so you are well covered for keeping entertained and comfortable throughout the miles.

Plus, the LC500 is built on the rigid GA-L platform, which provides a low center of gravity and great weight distribution, so handling is kept well in check; a Torsen limited-slip rear diff gives you traction in the corners; and, if you choose to add it, you can equip rear-wheel steering with the “Performance Package”. All-in-all, it is meant for real driving and being seen in.

4

2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 55 Coupe

Horsepower Rating: 476

Built around the 516-pound-foot, handcrafted 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 55 pumps out an impressive 469 horsepower between 5,500 and 6,500 RPM and rockets you to 60 MPH in just 3.8 seconds; the nine-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT transmission delivers silky yet aggressive shift logic-race-car quick launches; and the whole thing is built on top of the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system. So, you get sportiness, fun, luxury, and lightning-quick acceleration in a coupe that can comfortably carry you and three other people around.

Inside, the cockpit is plush yet purposeful, with a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a portrait 11.9-inch touchscreen, Burmester sound system, heated sports seats, dual-zone climate control, and lots of driver-assist toys like Parktronic, Blind-Spot Monitoring, and adaptive cruise control to make things easy on busy roads or when spend hours on the same stretch of highway. Plus, with 2+2 seating and a very impressive cargo capacity, the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 55 Coupe is certainly GT-worthy and will undoubtedly make a statement of luxe wherever you arrive in it.

3

2022 Porsche 911 GT3

Horsepower Rating: 502

Boasting an overall rating of 83 out of 100 on JD Power, the admittedly very expensive 2022 Porsche 911 GT3 (average used prices are still at around $250,000) would make for the ideal road trip car if you are looking for fun, lots of other envious drivers, sultry looks, and true performance grit.

Beneath the athletic skin, the GT3 boasts genuine race-car hardware in the shape of a double-wishbone front suspension (for the first time in a street-going 911), and rear-wheel steering, while PDK models are equipped with Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus and an electronic rear limited-slip differential, so handling and steering on the looping diversions are well catered for.

At the heart of the 911 GT3 is the focal point of why it would make for such a fun road-trip car: the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six. This beast is derived from Porsche’s GT3 Cup race cars and can rev up to a raucous 9,000 RPM, spit out 502 horsepower, and wind out 346 pound-feet of torque. If you own a PDK-equipped model, you can hit 60 in 3.2 seconds, while if you are going down the purist road with a manual box, you’ll get 3.7-second sprint times.

Despite its very athletic breeding, the GT3 is relatively handy for luggage, with a decent-sized front trunk, while if you are looking for automotive purity on your Fourth of July road trip this year, the GT3’s luxurious stance, wild engine, intense sound, and civilized aura can make it the ideal coast-to-coast weapon.

2

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Horsepower Rating: 640

Alongside the Mustang, the Camaro is a stalwart of the American landscape, and road trips wouldn’t be the same without them. You could go for a classic Camaro and relive the glory days of muscle cars, but if you go for a newer iteration in the shape of the Camaro ZL1, you get everything that we love about Camaros, but more comfort and an insane LT4 V8 under the hood. The 2017 ZL1 boasts a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that kicks out a massive 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque; it can send you to 60 MPH in about 3.4 seconds, and will top out at just south of 200 MPH. You’re only going to get around 16 combined MPG from this beast, but you’ll have fun between the gas stops.

Though the Camaro ZL1 is well-adapted for the track, thanks to Brembo brakes with six-piston front, four-piston rear calipers, and an electronic limited-slip rear diff, even on long trips it is useful due to Magnetic Ride Control constantly adapting damping to smooth out the road, dual-zone climate control, Recaro sport seats, and a Bose audio setup. This Camaro can offer you both the world of fun canyon carving on highway mile-munching in one very aggressive and all-American package.

1

2016-2019 Cadillac CTS-V

Horsepower Rating: 640

Built for undercover performance and luxury, the 2019 Cadillac CTS-V is a high-performance luxury sedan that pulls double duty as a very impressive long-distance cruiser and track-ready monster. So, the ideal car for a road trip. Under its covert-looking hood is a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 (borrowed and tuned from the Corvette Z06), which can punch out 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, and, despite its heavy curb weight of 4,141-pounds, you can still gun it to 60 in just 3.7 seconds (so as quick as the manual GT3 on our list). But, it is not just aggressively fast, but also smooth, because the CTS-V comes equipped with Magnetic Ride Control and a finely tuned chassis, so while you can floor it and screech around corners in it, it can be driven with composure down the highway.

Inside, you’ll find a lot of luxuries as well, with heated and ventilated leather sports seats, tri-zone climate control, and a premium Bose setup, while Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system gets you smartphone connectivity, navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity, and you can find models with a HUD fitted. And, just to top it off, the CTS-V is meant for road-tripping; it comes equipped with adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and a respectable 13.7 cubic feet of trunk space. It is a rare beast in the sense that you can munch hundreds of miles in comfort in it and then smash through a mountain pass for fun, and we think it would make the perfect way to start your 4th of July celebrations.