Three big SUVs walk into a road trip. Sorry, that ain't the start of a joke, though some of the results are kind of funny. Autoblog lined up the Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-90, and Hyundai Palisade to see which one handles the long haul best, and the Palisade came out on top.

That don't surprise me one bit. I've put enough miles on enough vehicles to know a road trip tests a rig different than running to the grocery store. You can read spec sheets all day but after eight hours in a seat with a cooler full of drinks and three passengers all fighting over the climate control, the numbers quit mattering. What matters is whether the thing works when everybody's tired and you still got two hundred miles between you and the next motel.

Autoblog called the Palisade a clear winner. They don't spell out every detail in their summary, but I'd bet money it comes down to the stuff you only notice after hour six or seven. That's cabin quiet, seat comfort, and controls that don't make you want to cuss. That's my read from years of long-haul driving, not what Autoblog reported.

The Honda Pilot came close, according to the comparison. I've always had a soft spot for Honda because they build things that last, and the Pilot has always been a solid workhorse that'll get you there and back without giving you grief. Hondas do tend to play it safe on interior comfort, though, and on a long trip that catches up with you. That's my opinion, not something Autoblog laid out.

Then you got the Mazda CX-90. Mazda builds stuff with some character, and I genuinely like what they've been doing. They lean sporty over comfortable, and for a road trip that might be the wrong trade. Again, that's my read on Mazda as a brand, not a finding from the comparison.

What I can tell you for certain is what Autoblog concluded. The Palisade won, and the Pilot came close. Beyond that, I'd point you to their full article for the specifics on why.

I've said before the drive is the real trip, not the destination. The rig you pick for that drive matters more than most folks admit. A bad road trip vehicle makes every mile feel about ten miles long. A good one disappears under you, and suddenly you're pulling into the driveway before you know it. Whatever the Palisade is doing right, it's doing enough of it to win this comparison.

If I were loading up the family and pointing the grille toward Colorado or the Smokies next month, I'd want to read the full Autoblog piece before picking. But based on their verdict, the Palisade is the one to beat. The Pilot would get the job done. The CX-90, well, that depends on what kind of roads you're planning to drive.