Roadtrip royalty: the top 5 SUVs for passenger princesses

What do floating front seats, a mini-fridge, and a bulletproof vehicle have in common? They are all perfect for a passenger princess. Or so we think anyway…

At this point, we think everyone knows what a passenger princess is, and it’s not just someone who can’t drive. What you may not have realised is that by spending time in the passenger seat, regardless of your gender, you’re part of a community, and you may have unwittingly embraced the passenger princess lifestyle.  

Now, to enjoy a long, successful career of princessing, there are a few factors to consider. Ideally, both driver and passenger will arrive smoothly at the correct destination in comfort, having been well-fed and entertained throughout their journey.

Bearing that in mind, we have split our top cars for passenger princesses into five categories.

The Navigator

You may think a passenger princess can simply relax, but you’d be wrong. Co-pilot duties are a key responsibility, and with sat-nav being a standard feature these days, we wanted something that takes navigation to the next level.

Enter the striking PURA vision concept. This Luxury Utility Vehicle (yes, like an SUV but better) from Automobili Pininfarina ticks the comfort boxes with sculped front seats and even a wine cooler in the back, but that’s not why it's here. 

A panoramic front windscreen, partnered with 'floating' front seats, provides an ideal vantage point for scouting out the road ahead on behalf of your designated driver. Thus, avoiding any bad vibes which may come hand-in-hand with a missed turn. The minimalist, uncluttered interior contains a central display which only slides into view when needed, allowing for maximum focus whether you are guiding along with a map, or taking directions into your own hands.

The DJ

Okay, with the destination locked in, now it's time to entertain. As passenger princess, DJ duty falls well within your remit, and even the best playlist requires the speaker system to match. 

Through a partnership with university professors of “music, health, and the brain”, as well as audio startup SUBPAC, the new 2024 Range Rover Sport SV makes a strong case with its sound system. 

Three years in the making and known as the “Body and Soul” seat, Land Rover have integrated two speakers and four transducers (like speakers but emitting lower pulses — apparently) into each chair. This allows for another dimension to be added for an optimised music experience, emitting the perfect frequencies to tickle your brain just right.

We won’t pretend to understand the science, but a concert like experience for anyone listening to our carefully curated tunes? Yes please.

The Chef

Every car has a cup holder, maybe even a few cup holders, but how many have a fridge? We don’t count the PURA or the Toyota Century as their coolers are in the back, and a true passenger princess must be up in the front.

Step up the Toyota Land Cruiser. It’s equipped with a spacious cool box, right in between the front seats of its classy and pleasant interior. Should you step off the beaten track in inhospitable landscapes using Land Cruiser’s off-road capabilities, rest assured that the cold drinks will still be flowing, regardless of the outside temperature.

The Comfy One

Of course, comfort is key for the pampered passenger princess, and we’ll admit we couldn’t look past the Toyota Century SUV.

Based on a limousine with “omotenashi” (hospitality) principles, the Century offers a completely flat floor in the back for extra leg room, reclining heated seats with massage functions, TV screens, a fridge, and a separate rear stereo system — it doesn’t get much more lavish than that. The catch? As a limo-lite, these goodies are all in the back seats, and passenger princess is a front seat title.

Cards on the table, we actually had another choice for comfort, outside the SUV category, the Mercedes E-class. 

Luxuriously cushioned leather seats with massage functions and plenty of elbow room set the tone in this executive saloon — back-aches be gone. A potent combination of Mercedes’ MBUX Interior Assistant and Thermotronic automatic climate control (snappy names indeed) also allow for unique climate zones to be created for each seat. In human terms, whether you run hot or cold, the E-Class can lend a hand in keeping both you and your driver the perfect temperature.

The Smooth Operator

Ok, for this last one we’ve completely stepped outside the SUV category, but it would be wrong to miss it. While a comfy interior is a must for the passenger princess experience, it's not much use if you are being shaken around out on the road. Cue spilled drinks and food crumbs in the seat seams.

Our go-to for a smooth ride is the luxury electric BMW i7 saloon, with fancy air suspension and active anti-roll technology — enough to keep your drinks in your cups through even the sharpest turns and over the largest potholes.

However, since we’re talking princesses, why not upgrade to the bulletproof BMW i7 Protection? If it’s suitable for real royalty, surely it’s ideal for bubble-wrapping any passenger princess.

Truth is, like Cinderella’s glass slipper, not every car here will be the perfect fit for every passenger princess. But what would be your chariot of choice?

Hero image credit: Automobili Pininfarina