(May 27, 2011) SEYMOUR, Conn. (PRNewswire) — Thule has named the 2011 Ford Explorer Limited in the over $30,000 category and the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI in the under $30,000 category as its 2011 Road Trip Vehicles of the Year.

Thule, a maker of automotive accessories for carrying gear and equipment, annually names two road trip vehicles. Last year the winners were the Hyundai Tucson and the Volvo XC70.

Both the Explorer and the Jetta provide the perfect combination of fun, utility, safety and conveniences when heading out on a road trip. Both vehicles also score high in the criteria that is on everybody's mind — gas consumption, Thule said in a press release.

The Memorial Day holiday weekend is the unofficial start of summer vacation travel for many families, and this year, more people will be getting into their vehicles and heading out on summer vacations and road trips. Having a safe, comfortable and fun vehicle is essential to truly enjoying the journey.

"Gas prices are on everyone's minds this year. Both the vehicles we have chosen not only scored highly on all our criteria, but are also on the lower-end on gas consumption," commented Karl Wiedemann, Thule's Channel Marketing Manager.

Thule bases the decision on 11 unique criteria including styling, storage, gas mileage, size, comfort, cost, number of cup holders, number of speakers, warranty, entertainment features and safety.

Starting at just under $25,000 the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI is a great combination of value, style and utility. This small wagon comes with raised roof rails which makes adding a rack for bikes, skis, cargo, surfboards or kayaks a breeze. This is the second win for this vehicle in the last three years.

"For around $25,000 you can get a fun-to-drive wagon that gets 42mpg on the highway. The peppy engine makes for a spirited drive while the interior cabin space is comfortable and intuitive. The raised rail on the roof provided many roof rack positions to maximize the amount of gear we were able to transport," remarked Tripp Wyckoff, Thule's VP of Sales, Marketing and Service.

Ford completely reworked the Explorer for 2011. With seating for up to seven, EPA highway mileage of 23 mpg and the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds, the Ford Explorer Limited was a clear winner.

"The Explorer was an amazingly capable vehicle weekend road trip to Vermont this past winter. Our road conditions varied from snow to ice to muddy dirt road to dry pavement and the Explorer felt confident in all these conditions. With a price tag just above $40,000, the Explorer has a luxurious feel and all four occupants had plenty of space for ski gear and snacks," said Wiedemann.