Top 10 Vehicles for Labor Day Tailgating

Labor Day is a holiday created to allow folks to kick back and do a whole lot of nothing — and what better way to celebrate doing nothing than a relaxing tailgate party? Here just in time for the holiday is our top 10 vehicles for Labor Day tailgating. This varied bunch includes everything from a “party mode” button, trucks with hidden ice boxes, and tailgates that magically open with the swipe of your foot. Will you be tailgating with any of the vehicles that made our list?

Toyota 4Runner – A gazillion SUVs qualify for this list, but the current-generation 4Runner is my pick simply because of its “party mode” button! So what does this button do? According to Toyota, it’s “ideal for tailgating, raises bass response and shifts sound balance to the rear of the vehicle,” including speakers mounted on the liftgate.

Honda Ridgeline – When Honda recently dropped off a Ridgeline at our office, a few editors and I did the obligatory inspection of the truck. Nothing out of the ordinary stood out until we got to the back. There, at the foot of the bed, is a semi-hidden door covering a ginormous storage bin about the size of a standard cooler. Our first thought? Tailgating! And we’re pretty sure most Ridgeline owners thought the same thing.

-Erick Ayapana

Ram 1500 – Fact: pickup trucks make the best tailgaters. What other vehicle can haul five people and all the tailgating necessities like a grill, chairs, tables, food, drinks, and even a trailer without breaking a sweat? Right now, the ultimate full-size pickup truck for tailgating is the Ram 1500. Why? Two words – Ram Box. Unlike any other full-size truck out there, the Ram comes with built-in coolers flanking the bed. According to Ram, each Ram Box can fit between 240 and 280 cans of your favorite adult beverage, depending on bed length. What more could you ask for?

Ford Flex Limited EcoBoost – The Ford Flex Limited earns my vote as a great tailgating vehicle for a few reasons. For starters, it gets 355 hp and 350 lb-ft thanks to its 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6. Now, that may have absolutely nothing to do with the act of tailgating, but it will help you get where you’re going faster, ensuring none of the meat goes bad. The other reason why the Flex EcoBoost makes the cut is because it can seat six in relative comfort, it’s available with a small refrigerator, a rear-seat entertainment system to keep the kids entertained, and with the tailgate open, the third row folds backwards so you can sit inside while still facing the party.

- Christian Seabaugh

Kia Soul - If you’ve seen any of Kia’s ads for the Soul, which show thumping music coming from the car’s sound system and dancing hamsters kicking it old school, you know the vehicle is made to party. With bright paint colors such as Alien (green), the Soul is sure to stand out as the ultimate party-mobile, especially with the available LED speaker surround lights that pulse to the beat. With 19.3 cu-ft of space in the trunk, all the grilling goods are sure to fit, too. Idle Stop and Go will prevent frequent gas fill-ups, which only means the good times can keep on rolling even after you’ve left the tailgate party.

Audi A8 – So the Audi A8 might not be the best at accommodating a huge group, nor does it boast tons of trunk space, either. The reason the A8 makes this list is because it looks good, and it has a wi-fi hotspot inside that can connect up to eight devices, whether they be iPads, laptops, etc. Why does that matter at a tailgate party? Because in this day in age, some people forget to enjoy the moment since they’re too busy bragging about it to others by blogging, tweeting, making videos, or uploading videos of it. Plus, if there are a few party poopers in the crowd, the A8′s wi-fi will keep them busy so they don’t ruin it for everyone else.

-Karla Sanchez

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited – When it comes to tailgating, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited let’s you have it all — whether you take it to the stadium, the beach, or deep into the trails. The Wrangler Unlimited can haul you, your gear, and your four closest friends thanks to its 46.4 cu-ft of cargo space behind the second row – that’s 29.2 more cubic feet than the two-door Wrangler. It’s also one of the few 4x4s left in the world available with a hard top, soft-top, or no top. Most models come with a rubber floor to easily clean the mustard and ketchup your certain friend is bound to drop. To top it off, roof speakers mounted to the roll bar flip down to spread the tunes.

Cadillac CTS V Sport Wagon – What better way for you and three (or four) friends to beat traffic on the way to the big game than with a 556-hp Cadillac CTS V Sport Wagon? Once you arrive, you can unload your chairs, cooler, fold-up table, and table-top barbeque from the 25-cu-ft cargo area, or as Motor Trend senior feature editor Jonny Lieberman did, unload 20 cases of beer he collected from local breweries in the Midwest. The 10-speaker Bose audio system and 40-gig harddrive will keep the music pumping. After the sun goes down and the game is over, interior ambient lighting will cast a soft glow while you wait for the parking lot to clear out.

-Jason Udy

Nissan Frontier PRO-4X – For those that want to take the party miles away from civilization, the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X has the capability — and bed space — to get you there. Though cooking out the back of a Frontier may not sound all that glamorous, this is one vehicle where the journey might win over the destination. When equipped with PRO-4X goodies, the Frontier boasts heavy-duty Bilstein shocks, electronic locking rear differential, BFGoodrich Trail tires, and skid plates. Combine those specs with the Frontier’s 261-hp, 281-lb-ft 4.0-liter V-6, and you have a recipe for some real off-pavement fun.

Mercedes-Benz R-Class - Though the R-Class has never been a hot seller in the U.S., the model will remain the most luxurious minivan-esque vehicle on the market until it’s discontinued next year. With seating for six or seven, the R-Class offers impressive interior volume at a total of 162.1 cubic-feet. Much of that space is upholstered in rich leather, and with both second- and third-row seats folded down, the cabin makes for a nice place to take a nap after you’ve gorged yourself on BBQ. If you have the right connections for your mobile device, you can watch the game on the two eight-inch screens of the optional rear seat entertainment system.