SANTA MONICA, Calif.  — Depending on your priorities, a hot European sports car may be just as good for your next big road trip as a big, roomy SUV, says Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. In its list of the Top 10 Best Road Trip Vehicles for 2011, Edmunds.com’s editorial staff nominated a wide variety of vehicles, from Porsches and Mercedes to Chevys and Volkswagens.

“Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end to summer and many people will take that one last road trip before autumn slowly creeps up,” said Carroll Lachnit, features editor at Edmunds.com. “This list takes into account all of our editors’ diverse opinions on what exactly makes for a perfect road trip vehicle, from extra cargo room, to fuel efficiency, to an engaged driving experience.”

The assortment of Edmunds.com’s road trip vehicles include selections such as:

• Chevrolet Suburban — “For all-terrain road trips, a 4WD Suburban is unmatched. Its power and sturdy iron means you won’t wince when a submerged rock pokes the door sill.”
• Hyundai Genesis — “A good road trip car needs to deliver power and high speeds with a sense of quiet effortlessness — no shouting required from front to backseats.”
• Porsche 911 Carrera — “Clearly, this is not an all-purpose road-trip car. It won’t hold masses of luggage. Its realistic maximum human capacity is two. But for a long weekend getaway — particularly if it involves a twisty road such as the Big Sur stretch of California’s Highway 1 — the 911 has no peer.”
• Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI — “Its wagon body style makes it easy to load and fit plenty of cargo, while its turbodiesel engine provides more than enough torque to handle changes in elevation and passing maneuvers on the highway.”

For Edmunds.com’s detailed listing of all ten road trip selections, please visit http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-10-best-road-trip-vehicles-for-2011.html.

For those who value space to move around in their vehicles, Edmunds.com has an updated list of the Top 11 Wagons and Hatchbacks With the Most Front-Passenger Room for 2011 at http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-11-wagons-and-hatchbacks-with-the-most-front-passenger-room-for-2011.html and the Top 12 SUVs and Crossovers With the Most Front-Passenger Room for 2011 at http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/top-10/top-12-suvs-and-crossovers-with-the-most-front-passenger-room-for-2011.html.

About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/index.html)

Edmunds.com Inc. publishes Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site and hosts the most established automotive community online. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com, makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com, features the wireless Web’s highest quality car photos and videos. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds.