Best Cars If You Live Near A Beach

Do you live at the beach? Perhaps not literally, but if you chose where to live in large part due to its location near the water, you're probably someone who loves the easy-going, relaxed idea of life at the beach. And you need a car that fits that lifestyle.

We polled the Autoblog editorial staff for suggestions, and found that there are plenty of vehicles for anyone who yearns for soothing sea breezes, fun in the sun or even the perfect wave.

Click on the image above to see which vehicles we think are perfect for the beach.

The Fiat 500 brings Italian styling and flair in a subcompact two-door hatchback to the US market. And it exudes a laid-back style that looks perfect parked at the beach.

A standout in the small commercial van segment the award winning Transit Connect combines flexibility, functionality, and reliability. It's also available with seating for the full family, and it offers a more utilitarian approach to people-hauling than its more luxury-oriented rivals.

The benefits of the Jeep Wrangler seem pretty obvious to beach-going owners, including the ability to remove the top for fun-in-the-sun style. It's also highly unlikely to ever get stuck in the sand, with its heavy-duty four-wheel-drive platform.

One of the world's best utility vehicles gets even more capable for 2015 with the addition of a four-wheel-drive model. If you have stuff to haul – surfboards, scuba equipment or anything else – you'll find more space in a Mercedes Sprinter than just about anything else.

The MINI Countryman is the largest vehicle in the MINI line-up and looks to offer compact crossover flexibility and space in a unique MINI way. It'll also look perfect with a surfboard or two on top.

The Volkswagen Beetle is now in it's third generation and has been designed as a modern interpretation of the original Beetle that respects the past and looks forward to the future. And, can anyone argue that VWs and the beach go hand-in-hand?

The Volvo V60 is a sporty, dynamic wagon combining excellent performance and great versatility. If your idea of a beach day includes quiet solitude with your loved ones, perhaps with some wine and cheese, you could do worse than this wagon from Volvo.