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There is a particular magic that only a great car unlocks. Somewhere between city limits and open highway, the engine settles into rhythm, conversation softens, and the journey becomes the destination. Road trips strip away noise and urgency, leaving something analogue and intimate: two people, one road, and time unfolding ahead.
But not every car deserves a role in that story. The wrong one turns romance into logistics—cramped cabins, intrusive noise, restless suspension. The right one becomes a co-author. It cocoons. It thrills. It reminds you that getting there was the point all along.
For 2026, we selected twelve exceptional getaway companions: cars that blur the line between transport and experience. From whisper-quiet electrics to operatic convertibles and commanding SUVs, each offers one essential quality: the outside world fades, and the drive takes over.
Convertibles: Sky’s The Limit
Nothing dramatises a road trip like dropping the top. When the sky becomes part of the cabin, every tunnel and coastline feels cinematic.
Porsche 911 Cabriolet
Porsche 911 Cabriolet (Photo credit: Porsche)
The eternal romantic. Decades of refinement have perfected the formula: thrilling yet composed, intimate yet practical. The rear-engine soundtrack remains restrained at cruising speeds, wind buffeting is minimal, and the 12-second folding roof turns an ordinary sunset into theatre. It’s as comfortable threading mountain roads as it is gliding along the coast at dusk.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider
Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider
Italian drama without compromise. Its retractable hardtop disappears in seconds, revealing a cockpit as sculptural as the car itself. The naturally aspirated V12 sings a mid-range aria that rewards sensitivity rather than aggression. Every straight feels like a finale; every curve, a flourish.
Sports Cars: The Drive Is The Destination
For some, romance lies in the perfect apex.
Aston Martin DB12
Aston Martin DB12
A Grand Tourer with 680 horsepower and exquisite restraint. In GT mode, it glides; in Sport, it bares its teeth. What lingers, though, is the craftsmanship—hand-stitched leather, polished metal, and the effortless composure that makes every arrival feel cinematic.
Lotus Emira
Lotus Emira
Lotus’s last petrol sports car is tactile brilliance distilled. Compact, beautifully proportioned, and blessed with steering that feels telepathic, the Emira balances raw engagement with surprising comfort. It proves a sports car can thrill without sacrificing companionship.
Electric Vehicles: The Silent Revolution
Silence is underrated luxury. Without engine noise, conversation deepens. Music breathes. The landscape feels closer.
Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV
Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV
Electrified opulence. With 659 horsepower, a 700 km real-world range, and fast charging capability, it travels far and stops briefly. Inside, reclining Nappa leather seats, Burmester 4D audio, air suspension with road-scanning tech, and the sweeping Hyperscreen create a sanctuary on wheels. It doesn’t merely transport, it elevates.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Hyundai IONIQ 5
Retro-futuristic design meets everyday brilliance. Built on an 800-volt platform, it charges from 10–80% in under 20 minutes. Spacious, airy, and serenely comfortable, the IONIQ 5 makes long distances feel effortless, and makes you question why travel was ever noisier.
Luxury Saloons & Coupes: The Art Of Effortlessness
True luxury is the absence of effort.
Rolls-Royce Ghost
Rolls-Royce Ghost
The world’s most serene passenger car. Its V12 powertrain and self-levelling air suspension deliver near-silent motion. The Starlight Headliner transforms night driving into something celestial. The Ghost doesn’t simply take you somewhere, it makes the journey feel inevitable and important.
Bentley Continental GT
Bentley Continental GT
The Grand Tourer distilled. Smooth, powerful, and impeccably crafted, it combines long-distance composure with driver engagement. Hours dissolve unnoticed. Conversation deepens. Miles feel irrelevant.
Elevated SUVs: Romance at Altitude
Modern SUVs blend command, comfort, and charisma.
BMW XM
BMW XM
Bold and unapologetic. With up to 748 horsepower in Label Red guise, it combines hybrid muscle with surprising plushness. Dramatic design meets a richly appointed cabin. For couples who prefer their road trips with spectacle.
Audi RS Q8
Audi RS Q8
Effortless performance. Its twin-turbo V8 and quattro all-wheel drive deliver composure in any condition. Adaptive suspension keeps things controlled yet comfortable. It’s an SUV that makes extraordinary capability feel routine.
From India, With Love
India’s automotive landscape has matured dramatically, producing cars with global confidence and local understanding.
Volkswagen Virtus
Volkswagen Virtus
A proper sedan in an SUV world. Built on the sophisticated MQB-A0 IN platform, the Virtus GT delivers spirited performance and European refinement at accessible pricing. On Indian highways, it feels composed, planted, and purpose-built for distance.
Mahindra BE 6
Mahindra BE 6
Boldly electric and unmistakably Indian. Built on Mahindra’s INGLO platform, it pairs striking design with a claimed 680 km range and fast-charging capability. Inside, dual screens and panoramic glass create a future-facing cabin. It represents a new chapter in India’s automotive ambition, and an exciting one for road-tripping couples.
The car you choose becomes the first chapter of the story you are about to tell together. Make it a good one.
Related: Around The World In 8 Luxury Cars: The Ultimate Global Car-culture Bucket List
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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Written By
Nikhil Chawla
