Planning a road trip is fun and exciting, but finding a place to sleep comes with its ordeals. There are a variety of vehicles out there, but having to sit in a compact car is uncomfortable, let alone sleeping, which could be disastrous if you have a bigger build.
Cars and Vans, your trusted companions on the journey, provide a safe and comfortable sleeping environment, which is inexpensive and saves you much cost and effort.
Therefore, knowing the type of vehicle for a full sleep-in is a must for hardcore fans of road trips and people aiming for a nomadic lifestyle.
Our top 10 includes:
- Mercedes Sprinter
- Subaru Outback
- Subaru Forester
- Volvo XC90
- Toyota Hiace
- Chevrolet Suburban
- Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle
- Honda Odyssey
- Ford Transit
- Mazda CX-5
The Sprinter is your go-to option for a sleep-in because it’s reliable and has a lot of cargo space to fit a comfortable conversion. Some models allow you to stand up tall inside. In the case of cars, Subaru takes the lead, as they are spacious, cheap, and reliable.
So, in the end, which will be the best vehicle perfectly tuned for your needs?
Here, we’ll be detailing various vehicles and help you figure out the cost and numerous pros and cons for ease of selection.
Let’s dive right in…
1. Champions’ choice Mercedes Sprinter
It offers an average of 22 Miles per gallon and is the top choice for any moving home fanatic. And it is available for around $15,000. To convert this van into your full-time home, check out this video.
Pros
- Maintain a good resale value
- A variety of features
- Massive housing space
- Safe and reliable
- Good mileage
Cons
- Lacking load-carrying potential
- Shaky driving experience
- Big size
Sprinter has optional features, meaning you can have it customized according to your preferences. It comes with a variety of built-in attributes. Check out the complete feature list here.
2. The best car to doze off is the Subaru Outback
This vehicle is ideal for getting a shut-eye. It has the option of foldable seats, making it quite attractive. Also, The new wilderness model makes this car best suited for occasional outdoor activities.
Pros
- Exceptional Safety standards
- Spacious Interior
- Fuel-efficient
- Centered toward outdoor enthusiasts
- Easy handling
Cons
- Slow performance
- Difficult touchscreen operations
This car comes with advanced and innovative safety systems, good towing capacity, and a flexible design. You can check the full details on this site.
3. Reliable sleep-in car Subaru Forester
Another marvel of Subaru, you can get a used Forester for just around $2,500. And it provides enough space to house two (6ft 3in tall) adults.
Pros
- Ingenious eye-assist system and reliable safety measures
- Wide cabin (fits a mattress)
- Standard AWD (All-Wheel Drive)
Cons
- Simple interior design
- Poor engine strength
- Sluggish Gearbox
Like Outback, safety features are very advanced, but its versatility and spacious interior stand out from the others. Check out the website subaru.com for a full range of features.
4. A luxury car to get a shut-eye Volvo XC90
The best thing about this car is you can get a used car for around $3,000, and this vehicle is outstanding for large families to travel and nap in. The only demerit is lacking MPG.
Pros
- Luxurious and comfort-centered design
- Good handling
- Adequate safety and technology
Cons
- Inconvenient controls
- Limited rough terrain capabilities
- Shaky climate options
Volvo comes with a massive list of features involving safety & security, driver assistance & support, a good range of audio and connectivity systems, and more. See full details here.
5. Your go-to option for sleeping is Toyota Hiace
A used Toyota Hiace comes at a price tag of around $4,500, and it provides a great MPG of 7.5L/100km, but its seats are not foldable.
Pros
- Good load-carrying capacity
- Good Quality and reliability
- Made for long-distance travel
Cons
- Outdated design
- Safety concern
- Stuffy interior
Compared to other competitors, it doesn’t provide a great range of technological features, but it has massive space.
6. Comfortable sleep-in car Chevrolet Suburban
Source: Car Store
You can get a used Chevy Suburban for $3,000, and it is spacious enough to fit in a family of eight. It also has the option of foldable seats, providing enough room.
Pros
- A handful of standard and safety technologies
- A great combination of powerful engines
- A spacious and lavish interior
- Responsive infotainment system
Cons
- Burdensome Maneuverability
- Greater oil consumption
Like Volvo, it doesn’t provide a good enough MPG. But it has an enormous list of features safety features, good engine power (diesel), and a vast array of technological features.
7. The top choice for good sleep is the Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle
Source: crash71100
Volkswagen is among the pioneers to share the idea of camper conversion, which highlights its conversion potential. A used VW Transporter Shuttle can cost around $12,500.
Pros
- Easy to drive
- Good design
- Ease of maintenance
Cons
- More pricy in comparison to others of the same genre
- Noisy insides
- Shorter servicing durations
It comes with a good list of safety features involving Parking assist, Side protection, and Emergency brakes (automatic). Also, you can have the seating tuned to your needs. You can check out the feature list of available variants here.
8. Mini-home for travelers Honda Odyssey
Source: Car store
The price starts from $5,000 for this used minivan providing a decent MPG of 19, and You can also convert it to a campervan. You can take a look at this video for conversion.
Pros
- Good interior and exterior
- Good engine performance
- A hefty list of safety attributes
Cons
- It’s quite pricy
- Must removal of seats for space enlargement
Honda Odyssey comes with an elegant interior and exterior design. It provides snow mode for better traction in snowy weather, but also Smart and automatic locks and much more, which you can check here.
9. Best camper van Ford Transit
A mid-sized van starts with a hefty price tag of $20,000 for a used vehicle. With tremendous space to house more than one adult, you can easily convert it into a moving home.
Pros
- Easy handling
- Noiseless travel
- Heavy-duty engines
- Immense space
Cons
- Lesser towing capability compared to others
- Mechanically less reliable
It provides a vast list of features from safety, and design, to entertainment. You can check the full details here.
10. Compact and Reliable sleep-in car Mazda CX-5
This vehicle offers luxury, style, and affordability, making it quite attractive. This car is a compact SUV that boasts a good driving experience, and when seats are folded, it provides enough space for an adult to sleep.
Pros
- It provides an exquisite driving experience
- Reduction of exterior noise
- Great safety standards
- Luxurious interior design
Cons
- Smaller space in comparison to the cars of the same genre
- Absence of ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System)
CX-5 comes with a luxurious interior and exterior design and provides water-resistant flooring, but out of all, the peaceful and quiet ride is its top-notch feature. To get around the complete list of features, check this out.
You may also like: What Is a Van Conversion? (Explained!)
Conclusion
Starting a camper life is tough. It accounts for a reasonable initial sum to get you set up completely.
Lastly, the larger the vehicle better it is suited for you to sleep in, which means vans with the spacious interior are your go-to options.
Remember, people not planning to permanently live in the car/vans or making occasional long trips are better suited to buy a car, which will be helpful in your day-to-day use, and won’t cover much space.
If you are new to this and planning a long trip, check out our 11 long trip tips.
