5 of the Best Luxury Cars for College Football Road Trips

Grab some buddies and head to the stadium in comfort and style.

Abigail Bassett | 

Jan 19, 2023 | 5 min read

Rivian

Football and tailgating go together like hot dogs and hamburgers. But when it comes to choosing the right vehicle for traveling to an away game, it can be tough to narrow down the field even with a big budget. Here are five great vehicles available now that will make your trip to the stadium and the party in the parking lot that much better.

Rivian

Rivian R1T

If you’re looking for the ultimate electric pickup that will turn heads and let you serve up some hot stadium-side snacks, check out the Rivian R1T truck.

With prices starting at about $68,600 including destination charge, the 2022 R1T gets up to 314 miles of electric range and offers one of the most unique features you can get on a pickup: a Camp Kitchen. The innovative team at the startup automaker is still working on the final version of the Camp Kitchen, but the original design featured a two-burner induction stove top and a collapsible sink that slides out of a gear tunnel at the rear of the five-seat cabin. Not only do you get a convenient place to prep, cook, and clean up after a delicious pregame feast, but you can also store your cookware below the stovetop for easy access. It’s one of the coolest available features on this brand-new electric vehicle and is sure to impress your college buddies.

The Rivian R1T seats up to five passengers and features a wealth of really thoughtful additions, including a camp speaker that nestles under the center armrest and can be taken out of the cab and connected to your phone via Bluetooth to stream the game.

Cadillac

Cadillac Escalade

If you have to haul up to seven friends or family to the game and want to do it in style, the Cadillac Escalade is a good choice. For 2022, the Escalade gets an optional center console that serves as a refrigerator or freezer to keep your drinks and snacks cold and easy to grab as you head to the stadium. The Escalade also is available with GM’s hands-free Super Cruise adaptive cruise control, which can be engaged on some mapped roads to make a long road trip to the next game more relaxing.

The Escalade can also be optioned with a pretty solid rear seat entertainment system with a pair of 12.6 inch diagonal infotainment displays that can be controlled independently for those who want to hang out in the car and watch the game. No matter which trim you choose, the Escalade gets some fantastic audio. Cadillac teamed up with the Grammy Award-winning audio and acoustics company AKG to develop the Escalade's sound system. Pricing for the 2022 Escalade starts around $79,500.

Land Rover

Land Rover Range Rover

The Range Rover lets you travel and tailgate in luxury and comfort, and it will really stand out in the stadium parking lot. With prices starting around $95,200, this capable SUV offers plenty of off-road ability in case you want to take the less trafficked route to the game. For 2022, it comes in several head-turning colors, and the interior options include a refrigerated center console to elevate your tailgate.

The Range Rover also offers noise-canceling headrest speakers and interior air purification for a calmer drive as you and your college friends traverse from one game to the next. The rear seats can recline individually to create the perfect spot for a pregame power nap. The traditional tailgate can be outfitted with what Land Rover calls the Tailgate Event Suite, which includes leather cushions, tailgate speakers, and dimmable lighting. You can also choose a rear-seat entertainment system with in-car Wi-Fi to keep the most avid sports fan connected.

Jeep

Jeep Grand Wagoneer

If you’re looking for a full-size SUV with plenty of space for passengers and some perks, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer could be just the ticket. With prices starting around $90,000, the Grand Wagoneer seats up to eight passengers in a standard three-row layout and delivers comfort and class. The second-row captain’s chairs can be swapped for a bench seat, and screens abound in the large SUV, including one in front of the front passenger seat that allows your navigator to input GPS locations and access entertainment features so you can stream the game on your way to the stadium. An integrated camera system can help you ease into tight parking spaces, too.

You also get USB ports on all three rows so everyone can charge their devices and an optional rear entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV, which lets your passengers start a movie at home and pick it up right where they left off on the long drive.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain

If you want to avoid burning through gallons of gas on your college football road trip, at least compared to a big SUV, go with a refined wagon. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain has all the panache of a Mercedes plus a pair of rear-facing third-row seats that can double as a tailgate hangout spot once you arrive at the stadium. While they’re not really suitable for adults on long hauls, they’re the perfect place to set up your pregame snacks or sneak a quick nap before kickoff.

With a price starting around $69,500, there’s only one engine available, but it is a mild hybrid, making the E-Class far more fuel efficient than many of the internal combustion vehicles on this list. It gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg combined to get you to the game on less gas than the Wagoneer, Range Rover, or the Escalade.

Abigail Bassett

Abigail Bassett is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Los Angeles. There, she covers everything from automotive and business to travel and luxury. She has a passion for 1980s-era Volvo wagons, microcars, and dogs. She is also a World Car Juror.