A good surf SUV or vehicle is one that’s durable, spacious, and affordable. It should offer everything that you need without blowing your budget.
8 of the best SUVs & vehicles for surfers are: VW Bus, VW Bug, Toyota Rav4, Toyota Forerunner, Toyota Land Cruiser, Jeep Wrangler, Sprinter Van, & Subaru Outback.
If you’re a surfer making regular trips to the beach, and you want a car that will make your life easier, take a look at this guide to the best surf cars.
What Should a Good Surf SUV Include?
A good surf SUV or car is one that provides all the following benefits:
- Durability: Your car is going to be exposed to a lot of salty air. It will rust, and if it’s not durable, it will be rendered useless in a few short years. A durable vehicle will also need fewer repairs and won’t break down as easily or as often.
- Economical: Think about the environment (and your bank balance) and look for a vehicle that doesn’t guzzle gas.
- Off-Road: There are no roads where you’re going! Off-road capability is essential as you’ll need to drive on sandy, rocky, and grassy terrain to find the best spots.
- Large: Ideally, you want a vehicle that is large enough to transport surfboards inside. It’s not essential, though, as a roof rack will suffice. Still, the larger it is, the easier it will be to transport everything that you need. It also means that you can sleep in the vehicle during long trips.
What Are The Best Surf SUVs?
There are many vehicles out there that can be used as surf cars.
The following is just a small selection of the ones that we think are best suited for the job.
The following list is in no particular order, and all of these surf cars are worth bearing in mind.
VW Bus
The Volkswagen Bus is the classic surf vehicle, as well as the vehicle of choice for hippies. The technical name is Type 2, but it’s often referred to as the VW Bus.
This iconic vehicle is well past its prime, but it’s spacious, cheap, and surprisingly reliable.
VW Bug
The old-school VW Bugs are iconic surf cars.
Strap your surfboard to the roof rack, head for the beach, and prepare to draw some admiring gazes!
It’s a vintage car that’s closely associated with surf culture and it’s usually quite cheap.
Toyota Rav4
The RAV4 is a compact SUV that has been in production since 1994.
The latest models are great vehicles for surfers. They are comfortable, fast, durable, spacious, and they offer great gas mileage.
Toyota Forerunner
The Toyota Forerunner is a fantastic off-road vehicle with plenty of space to make those beach trips a breeze.
It has a large cargo area and can tow an impressive 5,000 pounds, making it an extraordinary workhorse.
Toyota Land Cruiser
If the RAV4 and Forerunner are not to your taste, check out the Land Cruiser, which is easily one of the best cars for surfers.
This long-running full-sized SUV is great offroad, has lots of space, and will keep going for years and years.
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is a fast, reliable, and gorgeous car that will do everything you ask of it.
Newer models are also surprisingly eco-friendly, although they are definitely not as kind to your bank balance.
Sprinter Van
The Mercedes Sprinter Van is huge, giving you more than enough space for your surfboards (or your entire quiver!), portable showers, wetsuits, and even a few of your friends.
The prices start at around $36,500 for the latest models and there are plenty of these vehicles on the used market, as well.
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is one of the best cars for surf trips.
It’s eco-friendly, all-terrain, and very spacious.
It also comes with a roof rail system that’s equipped to carry your surfboard. You can even squeeze a surfboard or two inside the vehicle.
Summary: The Best Surf Vehicles
You could argue that a good car is the one that gets you where you need to go for a price you can afford.
But if you’re a keen surfer and you want a vehicle that has the storage, style, and convenience that you need, the above options are far better.
You don’t need to buy one of them, but you should definitely consider them when you’re in the market for a new car.
