5 great cars for drive-in movie visit during Covid-19

There’s no wrong vehicle to drive to a drive-in movie theater. But some are better than others. And one of the best is a Ram 1500 pickup truck — at least according to cars.com.

Drive-in movie theaters are having another renaissance during the coronavirus as a safe escape from social distancing. Drive-ins around the country aren’t yet showing new movies. Instead, classics from many genres are playing.

“Drive-in theaters are making a comeback this summer as the destination of choice for movies, music and other forms of live entertainment that people can experience without ever leaving the safety of their vehicle,” said Matt Schmitz, Cars.com’s assistant managing editor.

The Ram 1,500, a popular choice among RVers to haul their rigs, was selected for its spacious bed.

Drive-in movie: A popular coronavirus option

“Chill outside with blankets and plenty of fluffy pillows,” the editors wrote. “This pickup truck also has the RamBox. The RamBox Cargo Management System is a massive locking, conveniently lit storage space inside the hull. It’s drainable, perfect for filling with ice to keep snacks, sodas and other movie treats cool.

Be sure to choose sensible treats. There’s no reason to spoil the enjoyment of a drive-in movie experience by getting into trouble and having to apply for a hardship license.

Here are four other vehicles, editors of cars.com recommend to experience a drive-in movie in

Chrysler Pacifica: Cars.com’s Best of 2017 sports plenty of mini cubbies and storage nooks in the back for popcorn, soda and sweet snacks. The Stow ‘n Go seats create a huge flat surface in the rear, ideal for settling in for a long night at the moving pictures. Park with the back facing the screen, pop the liftgate and spread out blankets and pillows while sheltered from rain or wind. If the movie isn’t a hit for the entire party, parents can pop in a Blu-ray movie into Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system.

Dodge Challenger: Muscle-car fans love the Challenger’s throwback body-style feel and charm. Upgrade to the 717-horsepower SRT Hellcat version for extra power; however, be polite and stay until after the credits roll to avoid drowning out the on-screen dialogue with the rumble under the hood.

Volkswagen Atlas: The sensible, sexy Volkswagen Atlas is a three-row SUV that earned Cars.com’s Best of 2018 award and the 2020 Family Car of the Year award. The Atlas comfortably holds seven occupants and boasts a Fender 12-speaker audio system in the SEL Premium trim. Premium sound system upgrades are available for an extra $6,000.

Tesla Model X: Tesla’s first all-electric SUV looks like a rocketship from the future with incredible acceleration, over-the-air updates, a roomy cabin and up to 328 miles of range. For movie watching, the Model X’s visibility is spot on with tall side windows and a large windshield that stretches over the first and second rows combined to ensure passengers can see as much of the screen as possible.