Read article : 8 camping cars you’ll never lose in the woods!
What does it take to go camping these days? Die-hard campers swear by nothing more than a tent and a swath of multi-tools, while some outdoor enthusiasts prefer hauling everything they own atop a camper.
When a clean toilet and the occasional connection to a 4G network are seen as luxury amenities, it’s vital that your choice of camping vehicle be well thought-out.
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Whether your camp site is in the hinterlands, or in your very own backyard (stocked with scary stories and a bag of marshmallows), consider these choices for a most memorable experience:
All-in-one glamping: 2015 Airstream Interstate Grand Tour
Who says that all camping trips must conform to be down-and-dirty affairs? After spending a limited amount of time with the Airstream Interstate Grand Tour, we can confirm that there is plenty of joy in stylishly arriving, parking, and relaxing. Although the Interstate shares fun-to-drive attributes with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, upon which it’s based, the real pleasure is luxuriating in the rear compartment. A full kitchen offers a world of possibilities at the camp site, as does an airplane-size bathroom with a working shower. Rent or buy one, and instantly become the darling of the van contingent at every campsite.
Vital Stats: 2015 Airstream Interstate Grand Tour
Price: $155,060 (excluding destination fee, includes donor Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500)
Powertrain: Rear-wheel drive, 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine, 188-hp, 325 lb.-ft. of torque, 5-speed automatic transmission
Best camping feature: Enhancing the greater outdoors, from within.
Haul any trailer: 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel
If your idea of camping involves tailgating and long nights staring at the stars, there are few pickup trucks that do it better than the Chevrolet Colorado diesel. The standard Colorado – and its sibling, the GMC Canyon – are both capable pickups, but the diesel variants can tow up to 7,700 lbs. Hitch a trailer and head for the camp site, knowing that the integrated towing brake (aka “Jake brake”) is a midsize innovation that makes it easier to come to a stop while towing. Best of all, thanks to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection, camping doesn’t have to be a vacation from the modern world.
Vital Stats: 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel
Price: $32,185 (including $895 destination fee)
Powertrain: Rear-wheel drive, 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, 181-hp, 369 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed automatic transmission
Best camping feature: The ability to attach a tent and cover the pickup bed.
Camping for the Civic-minded: 2016 Honda Civic
What if the tent was already set up, the drinks were chilled, the fire pit was lit and, in the end, to go camping all you really had to do was show up? Look no further than the 10th-generation Honda Civic. Honda’s economy car champ is all new for 2016, with added refinement and style in a compact sedan market that suddenly looks outdated in comparison. (Though be sure to check out the nimble Mazda3!) The base Civic LX offers tremendous value and a 6-speed manual transmission, a feature that goes back to Honda’s roots as building driver’s cars on a budget. Pull up at the camp site, unload what you need, and know that the trusty Civic is patiently waiting for the return trip.
Vital Stats: 2016 Honda Civic
Price: $19,475 (including $835 destination fee)
Powertrain: Front-wheel drive, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, 158-hp, 138 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmissions (LX trim)
Best camping feature: Light up the forest with standard LED taillights.
Leave no trace or emissions: 2015 BMW i3
A respected mantra of camping is “leave no trace.” In the all-electric BMW i3, you can come and go from a camp site with little harm done to the environment, or the ozone layer. The i3’s electric motor offers plenty of pulling power – sorry, it’s not enough for trailers – and there are usually EV charging spots close to campsites. Yes, a “range-extended” hybrid i3 is also available, but there is merit in going completely electric and green…the wildlife you admire will thank you for it!
Vital Stats: 2015 BMW i3
Price: $43,395 (including $995 destination fee, before added incentives)
Powertrain: Rear-wheel drive, electric motor, 170-hp, 184 lb.-ft. of torque, 1-speed automatic transmission
Best camping feature: Open the doors to reveal a gorgeous natural tapestry that includes eucalyptus trim.
Relax and catch some shut-eye: 2016 Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is a subcompact hatchback that has the interior volume that puts many small SUVs to shame. (Jeff Jablansky)
The Honda Fit always surprises us, since it’s a subcompact hatchback that has the interior volume to shame many small SUVs. The functional front-wheel-drive Fit is a must, if you’re the one responsible for setting up camp. When you’re not carrying gear for a weekend getaway, fold the front passenger seat flat and stretch out, as part of a configuration that Honda calls “refresh mode.” We call it taking a snooze, but there you go. (There are also Utility, Long, and Tall modes.) If you forget a tent peg and need alternative accommodations, the Fit is your ride.
Vital Stats: 2016 Honda Fit
Price: $16,610 (including $820 destination fee)
Powertrain: Front-wheel drive, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, 130 hp, 118 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmissions
Best camping feature: The ability to either stretch out and veg or store everything that would otherwise require a separate camper.
Space to roam: 2016 Ram ProMaster City
There is a growing list of choices in the small van category, from the Mercedes-Benz Metris to Ford’s Transit Connect. Yet the one we’d take camping is the nifty little Ram ProMaster City. After a week of driving it around New York City, we’re convinced by the ProMaster City’s versatility, ability to navigate tight spaces, and unexpected passenger comfort. With a 1,700-lb. payload, and SUV-like towing capacity, the ProMaster should make an excellent utilitarian vehicle for a quick camping trip with lots of gear to haul.
Vital Stats: 2016 Ram ProMaster City
Price: $25,240 (wagon, including $995 destination fee)
Powertrain: Front-wheel drive, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, 178-hp, 174 lb.-ft. of torque, 9-speed automatic transmission
Best camping feature: Pickup-grade payload and as much room inside as your first NYC apartment.
Clearance to camp: 2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country
What has 7.9 inches of ground clearance, all-wheel drive, European driving dynamics, and the ability to tow 3,300 pounds? Yes, of course, it’s the Volvo S60 Cross Country! This high-riding, four-door sedan recently impressed us on the back-roads of California’s Napa Valley. As you’d expect, the S60 Cross Country is a safe and classy alternative to the standard fare in the crowded luxury sedan class. Lo and behold, it’s also a great choice for a camping trip! If your pup tent could be upgraded business-class, the result would be the S60 Cross Country.
Vital Stats: 2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country
Price: $44,440 (including $940 destination fee)
Powertrain: All-wheel drive, 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine, 250-hp, 266 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed automatic transmission
Best camping feature: Heated front seats, heated rear seats, heated windshield…you stay warm when it’s cold!
Nature’s eye candy: 2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4
There are few vehicles as striking, and completely impractical, to take on a camping trip than a Lamborghini Huracan. Will its 602-hp V-10 help the Huracan tow a trailer? Nope. Will its trunk fit all your gear? Probably not. Does it seat all of your fellow campers? Not unless this is a couples trip. No, taking a Huracan camping makes as much sense as borrowing a Ford Transit for a date with a supermodel – but that’s why we love it. However, the Lambo’s standard all-wheel drive, not to mention its ability to make a quick exit, could make it the ideal camping ride if you suddenly pull up to a den of Grizzlies.
Vital Stats: 2015 Lamborghini Huracan
Price: $240,745
Powertrain: All-wheel drive, 5.2-liter V-10 engine, 602-hp, 413 lb.-ft. of torque, 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
Best camping feature: The look on fellow campers’ faces when this V-10 roars to life.
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