Summer is almost here and for many people that means it's time to take a road trip. Whether that means loading up the family and taking off across the country or heading out with your sweetheart for a weekend getaway, there is no time like summer for hitting the road.

Here are the 6 best cars to drive on your long summer road trips.

1.) Volkswagen Passat TDI

When you're covering a lot of miles, fuel efficiency makes a big difference in the cost of your trip.  With excellent gas mileage of 31 mpg city and 43 mpg highway, the Volkswagen Passat TDI is one of the best cars for long road trips.  It also has a range of 700 miles on one tank of gas, which means you don't need to fill up at an overpriced station in the middle of nowhere.

2.) Toyota Prius V

If your trip is going to involve more city driving, then the Toyota Prius V can save you money on gas.  It gets about 40 mpg on the highway, but does even better in the city with 44 mpg.  It has enough leg room for passenger comfort, and the hatchback is easy for dealing with luggage.

3.) Honda Odyssey

When you're taking the family, the dog, and enough luggage for a month on the road, then you need a vehicle that can handle it.  For a trip like this, the Honda Odyssey is one of the best cars for summer road trips.  It has room for 8 passengers, and can fit 3 child seats.  The DVD player in back can keep kids occupied for hours, and there's a beverage cooler to keep cold drinks handy.

4.) Ford Flex

This is among the best cars for road trips for families, with 3 rows of seats that can fit kids or adults. Kids will like the DVD system, while the driver will appreciate the automatic braking system that helps prevent accidents, and the automated parallel parking feature.  With 300 horsepower, the Ford Flex can even haul a small camper or trailer.

5.) Infiniti QX56

If you need to tow a larger camper or a boat, you might need to step up to the 400 horsepower V-8 engine in the Infiniti QX56.  This is one of the best cars for road trips if you need to haul these heavy loads.  Of course, the added power is a trade-off for fuel economy, but it still gets 20 mpg on the highway.  It has 3 rows of seating, and one row can fold down for luggage space.

6.) Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan

When you are driving for hours day after day, comfort is important, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan delivers ample legroom, an exceptionally smooth ride, and luxurious comfort.  It is easy to get tired on long drives, and its safety features make this one of the best cars for long road trips.  The car has a pre-collision automatic braking system, a driver fatigue monitor, a blind-spot detection system, an emergency telematics service, and a lane-departure warning system.