The best beach cars are big enough to carry a surfboard or two, zippy enough to hug a coastal highway, and so rugged that you can hose them out when they get too sandy. Preferably, they're all of the above, with a convertible top to boot. I asked Jody Victor to tell us about msn.com's choices for the best beach cars of 2010.
Jody Victor: Each one of these choices fits the above criteria - a few even fit them all!
Honda Element - The Element is a vehicle you can hose down, inside and out. The floor mats are rubber and the seats are made of durable water- and dirt-resistant fabric; there isn't a speck of carpeting in this small utility vehicle. A detachable refrigerator (an option, of course) in the center console makes it easy to chill drinks while you're en route to the beach and keep them cold once you get there. The seats can be configured in 64 different ways, including removing the rear ones altogether to transport anything from a grill to a stack of beach chairs.
Jeep Wrangler - The best choice for sun-worshippers, the Jeep Wrangler lets you choose among a hardtop, a soft-top with roll-back sun roof or no top at all. There's also the option of doors or no dorrs, and you can get a full-on sea breeze by taking advantage of the fold-down windshield - bes done if you're driving on the beach. A tent accessory attaches to the rear of the vehicle for when you pull up to your favorite beach campsite; you can store your gear in the back of the Wrangler and access it through the tent.
Toyota Prius - The ultimate environmentally friendly beach car got even greener in 2010 with the addition of a solar-powered cooling system. When the interior temperature rises above 68 degrees, rooftop solar panels power fans inside the car, helping to keep the Prius cool on steamy summer days. Another energy-efficient feature designed to keep the mercury down in the car's cabin is the electric air conditioner, which can be operated by remote control while the car is off, alowing you to start cooling it down before you even leave the sand at the end of the day.
Volkswagen Routan - Reminiscent of the classic surfer-mobile, the VW bus, the Routan is wide and long with plenty of space for surfboards, beach chairs or even a kayak. The rear seats tilt all the way back - a configuration that allows for sitting way in the back and dangling your feet out the back door and over the sand while you're parked beachside. You can even participate in a Frisbee toss, grill a marshmallow over a campfire or watch the surfers hang ten from the comfort of the car. A storage space under the floor in the second row is ideal for stashing pails and shovels, volleyballs and other essential beach gear.
smart fortwo passion cabriolet - With a price starting at just under $17,000, the smart fortwo passion cabriolet is the most fun you can have without a roof and without breaking the bank. It's a tiny 2-seater, so you'll have to choose between bringing a friend to the beach and bringing anything else. If you opt for a lounge chair, umbrella or cooler, the passenger seat folds down to accommodate cargo. The roof electronically adjusts to any configuration you want, from one-tenth of the way open to let in a bit of sun, to all the way down for letting your surfboard pop out the top.
Thanks, Jody! Can't wait to hear about the last five from this list!