Photo: Mazda
Although millennials have been cited as the reason for the downfall of every industry, ranging from canned tuna to diamonds, it seems that they’re embracing one classic American tradition: the road trip. According to a study commissioned by Mazda, millennials find road trips to be a fun, relaxing and engaging way to spend free time — they just face a few hurdles that keep them from hitting the open road. Here’s a look at the study’s specific findings.
Looking for Adventure? Check out these hiking trails near Victoria, Texas
A craving for connection
Photo: Mazda
The survey tapped the minds of 1,004 American participants, age 23-38, and found that 39 percent would love to hit the highways and go on a driving adventure if given the time. On the other hand, just 26 percent would rather cozy up on the couch and binge-watch streaming content.
Mazda found that 64 percent of survey participants believe that road trips are a great way to spend quality time with your passengers. And what kind of passengers do millennials want to bring along for the ride? Well, a whopping 92 percent would choose a loved one over an actor, social media influencer, famous athlete, or musician.
What keeps millennials from hitting the highway?
Photo: Mazda
So why aren’t more millennials going on road trips? Well, 22 percent of respondents didn’t think their vehicle was up for a long journey. On top of this, 28 percent aren’t confident when driving under bad conditions, while 19 percent are hesitant to tackle rough terrain.
The surveyed millennials voiced a few other car-related issues that keep them off the roads. Storage capacity was a leading complaint — 76 percent said their current vehicle lacked the space they needed to bring along pets, outdoor equipment, and luggage. Plus, 43 percent wished for a more comfortable, user-friendly, and ergonomic interior to take the fatigue out of long drives.
“The results of this study show that millennials want to reclaim the roads and bring back the road trip — but it also highlights how many are not taking a trip of their dreams because of an inadequate vehicle,” said Mazda chief marketing officer Dino Bernacchi. He further expressed that the Mazda CX-30 is the ideal road trip companion for millennials who crave adventure.
Before You Hit the Road: Have your vehicle serviced by the pros
Indeed, the new Mazda CX-30 has plenty of features you’d want in an adventure machine. In addition to earning an EPA-estimated 33 mpg on the highway, the Mazda CX-30 boasts the i-ACTIVSENSE suite of safety technology, an available Bose 12-speaker premium audio system, and room for passengers and cargo alike. If you’d like to learn more about the Mazda CX-30, check out our overview of the model.
Kimiko Kidd is a native Daytonian. She graduated from Wright State University with degrees in environmental science and sociology. She loves her trusty old Honda Civic, but dreams of owning a 1974 Ford Falcon XB with a custom paint job and a vintage Kawasaki Z1000. In her free time, Kimiko can be found watercolor-painting, baking muffins, collecting rocks, playing old-school Nintendo games, writing her novel, sewing stuffed animals, and cosplaying as her favorite Mad Max characters. See more articles by Kimiko.
