Hit the Road

Harp Column’s harpmobile review has been a reader favorite since we first tested 10 harp-friendly vehicles in our debut issue back in 1993. 

Harpmobiles have come a long way since then. Today’s lineup is vast and varied—compact crossovers to extended SUVs, thrifty to luxurious. Seats fold flatter, mileage is better, and while the classic station wagon may be an endangered species, there is an entire ecosystem of crossovers to choose from. Thanks to clever seating configurations, harpists can now carry their instrument and a couple of passengers in more vehicles than ever before.

Of course, all that choice can be overwhelming. Short of hauling your harp to a dozen dealerships for some real-life test loads, how is a harpist to know which models can haul a harp? Don’t worry—we’ve done the heavy lifting for you (quite literally). We loaded a full-size concert grand into 22 vehicles that looked like they might fit the bill. Only 16 actually worked. We rated each one for harpability and McFactor (more on those in a minute), took measurements, fiddled with the seats, fielded curious questions from onlookers, and even posed for photos with car salesmen so they had proof to back up the story they would tell their buddies later.

About Our Rating Scale Because we know harpists refer back to our reviews for years, we’ve kept our system consistent so you can make fair comparisons from one issue to the next (see our Harpmobile Score Card on page 27). Both the harpability and McFactor scales run from 0 to 5 just as they have since our 2006 review. The Chrysler Pacifica minivan earned the only perfect McFactor score ever given (see our 2019 review). No vehicle has ever scored a perfect five for harpability—yet. But we’re sure automakers are working on earning this feather for their cap.

Harpability If you’re new to our harpmobile reviews, harpability is our made-up but totally legitimate term describing how easily a concert grand harp fits into a vehicle. We test for ease of loading, the number of loading options (flat, column, or propped), and available space for both harp and gear.

Let’s break down those loading styles. Flat loading—the classic—is when the harp lies on its tuning-pin side and slides straight into the cargo area. Column loading, less common, only works in minivans or especially tall SUVs. You tip the harp forward, crown first, and slide it in as the name implies—on its column, often resting it between captain’s chairs or securing it with straps. Propped loading is a hybrid of the first two. You lay the harp flat, then raise one of the second-row seats so the harp’s knee block rests against it. It’s not the most comfortable setup for any backseat passenger who ends up side-by-side with a harp, but it’ll do in a pinch when you need that extra seat.

To score higher than a three on harpability, a vehicle needs to offer more than one loading option. As in past years, minivans lead the pack—they’re simply the most versatile. But even vehicles with an average harpability score can still be solid harpmobiles; they just have fewer loading possibilities.

One thing to keep in mind: our tests don’t include the extra padding, plastic mats, or pillows harpists often use to customize their setups. A strategically placed cushion can solve a lot of the small challenges we ran into. And while we strive for objectivity, we’re only human. All testing was done by one female of average height and strength, which meant lower vehicles tended to score higher. Taller harpists might find that they prefer harpmobiles with a higher cargo bed.

McFactor While car reviewers usually obsess over torque and towing capacity, we care about something far more practical: can you eat a quick dinner on the go between gigs? The McFactor rates how well the front seat handles a pre-performance meal—space for a sandwich, chips, and a drink—without risking ketchup on your concert black. You won’t find this category in Car and Driver, but for harpists, it’s non-negotiable.

FAN FAVORITES Oh, Subaru, how we love thee. The Outback is an all-time favorite harpmobile for many. We jumped for joy when the redesigned Forester fit a harp in our 2014 review, and wept with despair when the Crosstrek was about two inches short of working. We were cautiously optimistic that recent redesigns of all three of these models would yield better harp fits this time around, but alas, nothing changed enough to note. The Crosstrek’s 2024 redesign resulted in no more cargo length. The redesigned 2026 Outback added 1.5 inches in length and .5 inches in width, while the Forester gained even less—.6 inches in added length and .5 in width in its 2025 redesign. They are still great harpmobiles, but no roomier than before, so no Subarus appear in this review.

YOU FORGOT ONE If you don’t see your favorite harpmobile in our review, fear not. There is likely one of a handful of explanations. First, there is a good chance that we have reviewed it in the past. (Check out our list of harpmobiles from past reviews on pg. 29.) Unless a vehicle has received a significant interior redesign that has resulted in a significant change in the cargo length or width, then we do not review it a second time. Reason number two is that we tried but failed to fit a harp in it. If a full-size concert grand harp does not fit, we do not review it. (See more about our Close But Not Quite vehicles below.) The third reason you might not find a vehicle you’re looking for here is the price. We did not review vehicles with an MSRP above $65K—see our explanation below. There were also a couple of potential harpmobiles that we wanted to try, but simply couldn’t find in stock during our testing period. Those two vehicles are the Toyota Crown Signia (MSRP $44,090) and the Genesis GV70 (MSRP $46,200). If you can find one near you, test it out, and let us know how it holds up as a harpmobile. The Kia EV9 Wind SUV is new for 2026, but we were unable to find one to test, and with an MSRP north of $67,000, it was above our price threshold. However, it’s electric, and it looks promising for harp toting. Finally, all vehicles tested were U.S. models. As much as we’d love to test some of the fabulous international harpmobiles out there, this review sticks to what’s available on American lots.

TOO RICH FOR OUR BLOOD We set the max MSRP threshold at $65K. After all, most harpists don’t want to invest more in their harpmobile than their instrument. That price limit still left out some tempting models, including the all-electric Rivian R1S SUV (MSRP $75,900), the BMW X7 (MSRP $83,500), the BMW XM (MSRP $161,675), Cadillac Escalade (MSRP $87,000), and Mercedes GLS (MSRP $90,250). If you are in the market for a luxurious ride for you and your instrument, these models are definitely worth a look. 

CLOSE BUT NOT QUITE We tried. We really tried to fit a full-size pedal harp in the smallest vehicles possible. In some cases, it wasn’t even close, but several vehicles were a matter of inches from working. The closest-but-not-quitest award goes to the Kia Seltos—literally a half inch short. These barely-too-short vehicles might work beautifully for semi-grand and smaller harps, so don’t write them off entirely. Here are the close-but-not-quite models we tried: BMW X4, Ford Bronco Sport, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, and the Chevrolet Trailblazer.

A WORTHY SUB As sad as we are about the absence of new station wagons on the market, we noticed a rise in a similar option: the subcompact crossover. These small-but-mighty harpmobiles are a tight fit for both driver and harp, but they offer an attractive blend of affordability, fuel efficiency, and a lower cargo bed, similar to a station wagon. If any of these criteria are high on your priority list for your next harpmobile, you’ll want to check out the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, and Volkswagen Taos.

Crossovers

Chevrolet Trax

Making its U.S. debut in 2015, the Chevrolet Trax was on the close-but-not-quite list in our 2019 harpmobile review. But a completely redesigned second-generation Trax gained just enough cargo space to earn a spot in our 2025 review. Chevrolet added 10 inches of length to this subcompact crossover, giving it enough room to fit a harp. The back hatch opening for the Trax is small—both in height and width, so you have to carefully tip the harp on an angle to navigate the narrowness. Once the harp was loaded, there was a surprising amount of leg room in the front. Not enough to be completely comfortable, but definitely more room than some subcompact crossovers. Don’t think that this is a roomy ride though—it is still tight for the driver and the harp. The McFactor was a little above average for its size with two cupholders and both a deep well and shallow well for holding your things in the front seat. 

Overall: The Trax shows what a difference 10 inches can make. In the class of subcompact crossovers that can carry a harp, this is both one of the roomiest and more affordable.

Honda HR-V

We reviewed the HR-V back in 2019, but the subcompact crossover was totally redesigned in 2023, so we took another look at it. The last time we tested the HR-V, it was a tight fit for both harp and harpist. Good news—the cargo space gained in the redesign made a marked difference in its harpmobile ratings. The HR-V is one of the biggest in its class of subcompact SUVs. It’s still a tight fit for the harp, but not as tight a fit as the Corolla Cross or the VW Taos. You can fit the harp in without the driver’s seat moved completely forward—I was almost comfortable in the front seat. But it is also a little cramped for leg room laterally in the driver’s seat. Despite the HR-V’s small size, there is a small tray in the front seat, which was an unexpected luxury in an otherwise basic-feeling driver’s seat. It feels like you are sitting a little higher than you would expect for such a small car, but it doesn’t sit as high as a traditional SUV.

Overall: The HR-V could work for a basic everyday harpmobile if you aren’t too tall or need lots of bells and whistles.

Mazda CX-50

Trevor at the Mazda dealership wins the award for the best salesperson in this harpmobile review. Once the sales manager finds out why I’m snooping around their lots, they usually send the newest employee to help me, knowing their efforts won’t end in a sale. Trevor was a great sport, and even pulled the cars into their showroom so I wouldn’t have to bake in the particularly hot September sun. Trevor really likes the CX-50, but didn’t think the harp would fit in this compact crossover. I was happy to surprise him when I easily slid the harp onto the flat cargo bed, even though the crown hung over the end of the back seat. The CX-50 feels more like a station wagon than a crossover when you are loading the harp because the cargo bed sits quite low and is also decently wide. Up front the CX-50 feels more sporty and stuffy, but doesn’t offer anything more than an average McFactor. The CX-50 is also available as a hybrid.

Overall: The CX-50 is as close to a station wagon as you will find in this harpmobile review. But it definitely looks and feels sportier and more fun than your mom’s Ford Taurus wagon. 

Mercedes GLC

The compact luxury GLC is Mercedes’ best-selling model, and it’s easy to see why. The GLC feels like a baby bear size—not too big, not too small, but just right. It definitely feels bigger and roomier than many of the subcompact crossovers in this category. The cargo bed is flat and fairly wide, with nothing to impede the harp from sliding right in. The tailgate opened to a staggering clearance height of 80 inches. (To be fair, many vehicles offer adjustable tailgate clearance heights, but this was set noticeably high, which was nice for harp loading.) Up front, the GLC still offered enough leg room, even with the seat moved slightly forward to accommodate the harp. For a luxury vehicle, more storage space in the center console would be nice, but it was adequate. The GLC is also available in a plug-in hybrid model.

Overall: If you’re looking for a little luxury in your harpmobile, the GLC offers a comfortable harp load for one or Mercedes’ more reasonable price points.

Tesla Model Y

The Model Y is one of only two fully electric harpmobile we looked at. Making its debut in 2020, it just missed our last review in 2019. The Model Y looks more like a four-door coupe than a crossover, but Tesla classifies it as a “crossover SUV.” The cargo bed sits very low—like station-wagon-low—at 28 inches off the ground. It is nice and flat, but a little bit narrow, requiring you to tilt the harp to get it in. Because of the angle of the back hatch, the harp has to be moved quite a bit forward of the back latch in order to close the tailgate. The driver’s seat had to be moved forward to do this, but it was still comfortable in terms of leg room. The front seat has a cavernous cubby and a flat space to lay a couple of phones. That back hatch angle will limit how much extra storage space is in the back next to the harp, but because the Model Y is fully electric, you can utilize the available storage space under the front hood. While a two-row model is standard, it is available with a third row, giving you two more seats.

Overall: Unlike some EVs we have tried in the past, the Model Y gives you enough harp space and driving comfort to make it a legitimate option for an everyday EV-harpmobile.

Toyota Corolla Cross

When I rolled my harp into showroom, the Toyota salesperson Trevor eagerly greeted me and suggested we try to load the harp in their Grand Highlander model. Of course, but first…let’s see if we can squeeze the harp into that little Corolla Cross in the corner of the showroom. Trevor was incredulous, but I was determined to keep the faith. The Corolla Cross is a “subcompact” crossover. When a car company says compact, they mean it. When they say subcompact…they really mean it. Getting the harp into the Corolla Cross was a little bit like cramming a sleeping bag back into its stuff sack—you know there is technically enough room, but it’s not gonna be easy. There is a fairly big lip at the edge of the tailgate to navigate. After that, the cargo bed is flat with no major impediments. However, it is very narrow. So narrow that I scribbled NARROW in all caps with eight exclamation points on my notes. I did manage to wrestle the harp into the Corolla Cross by myself. The front seats both had to be moved all the way forward. I was able to sit in the driver’s seat, and it wasn’t unbearable. The McFactor was basic and minimal. I wouldn’t want to do it every day, but it could be a good option for a shorter harpist or a shorter harp. (The Corolla Cross is also available as a hybrid.)

Overall: This is about as snug a fit as you can have, but if you are looking for the smallest harpmobile you can find for a concert grand harp, the Corolla Cross may be just what you’re looking for. 

Volkswagen Taos

New in 2022, the Taos is classified as a subcompact crossover. While it didn’t feel as tight a fit for the harp as the Corolla Cross, it is definitely snug. The harp fits with both front seats moved all the way forward. There is a significant drop off of the cargo bed level where the back seats fold down. It is not even close to a flat surface. You will need to strategically position some pillows in order to navigate the elevation change. It’s doable, but definitely something you’ll need to plan for. It’s also a bit narrow, complicating the matter of getting the harp crown over the elevation change. With the driver’s seat all the way forward, I was able to drive it, but it was cramped and a little uncomfortable. Unless you are quite petite, you wouldn’t want to be hauling your harp all of the time in the Taos. The McFactor is basic—just two small cupholders and no flat space available. 

Overall: Nothing about the Taos feels easy—from the load-in to the driver’s seat experience. You’ve gotta really want a VW to pick the Taos as your harpmobile.

Minivans

Kia Carnival

Kia introduced the Carnival in 2022 to replace its long running Sedona minivan. We reviewed the Sedona in 2004 and 2006 if you are interested in an older Kia model. But based on our impression of the Carnival, you might just want to save up your pennies for the Carnival. Minivan owners know the advantages of being able to column load the harp—safety, seats for additional passengers, and arguably an easier load to do solo. But one thing minivans haven’t allowed for is flat loading without removing the second row captain chairs. Until now. The Carnival’s second-row seats are on tracks that move all the way up against the back of the front row, allowing just enough space in the cargo bed to flat-load the harp behind the second-row seats. It was a very tight fit, but it could be done if you are a die-hard flat-loader. It’s not all perfection in the back of the Carnival, however. There is a fairly significant drop off between the second and third rows that has to be navigated, another average depth lip at the tailgate, and the tracks that allow the second-row seats to move forward seem like they would easily catch on a harp cover. Nothing more than average cargo bed obstacles, but they did keep us from giving the Carnival a perfect 5 rating. The comfort in the front seat stood out among the models we tested. It feels and looks a little more like an SUV than a minivan, but the cargo bed sits lower than an SUV, which makes it easier to load the harp than a high SUV bed. The driver’s seat felt roomy and comfortable, with lots of cup holders, charging ports, and a large tray for my turkey sandwich. There are almost no buttons on the dash, just a very large touchscreen, which keeps the look very clean…or is rife for showing fingerprints, depending on your point of view. It is also available as a hybrid.

Overall: An excellent option whether you are partial to column loading or flat loading, especially if you want the convenience of a minivan without it feeling so much like a minivan.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz

As I was packing up to leave the Mercedes dealership, my salesperson Mike asked if I had tested anything next door at the Volkswagen dealership they shared a building with. I told him about the Taos I had tried at another VW showroom. “What about their new van?” Mike asked.  “What van?” I replied, wondering how I could have missed a new minivan on the market. I walked around the corner into the VW showroom and there she was…the beautiful reboot of the classic VW bus. Turns out I didn’t miss a new minivan because Volkswagen classifies the ID.Buzz (a name not nearly as cool as this vehicle deserves) as a micro bus, not a minivan. However, for purposes of this review, we’re gonna call it a minivan. My excitement about this newly discovered harpmobile candidate must have been visible on my face, because Carl, the salesperson, jumped up and started opening doors for me. My initial excitement was tempered when Carl and I couldn’t figure out how to fold the second row seats flat. It first appeared that they only folded forward, which didn’t provide enough room for the harp. Carl gave up and went back to his email, and I took a few photos of the close-but-not-quite contender. Before I left, I gave the seats one last try, and lo and behold, they do fold flat. We’re back in business! There is a nine-inch gap between the second and third row seats, but it is manageable to navigate because the harp can lie flat before you reach the gap. There is also a large gap between the captain’s chairs, but again, it doesn’t really affect the harp loading because the crown and knee block are supported by the backs of the captain’s chairs. Up front I felt like I was in a Brady Bunch episode—it definitely feels like you could haul a bunch of people in the ID.Buzz. The center console is removable and offers four cupholders and a shelf. There is tons of extra space once the harp is loaded in the ID.Buzz, both behind the first row seats and in a storage area behind the third row. You can fit up to six passengers plus the driver in the ID.Buzz, and the seating configuration offers the option for propped loading to fit in one back-seat passenger. Probably the biggest drawback to the ID.Buzz is the battery range. At 234 miles, it is not as far as many other EVs (including the 337 miles range of the Tesla Model Y), so longer harp hauls will need charging stops built in.

Overall: A throwback to the past with the EV technology of the future, the ID.Buzz is a fun new harpmobile on the market that might turn more heads than the harp you unload from the back.

Suvs

Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe has been around almost as long as Harp Column, but somehow it never made it into our harpmobile review—until now. Introduced in 1995, the Tahoe is now in its fifth generation. In a harpmobile landscape dominated by crossovers and minivans, the Tahoe is a tried and true SUV. I tested the Tahoe right after squeezing the harp into the subcompact Chevy Trax, which probably accentuated the sheer size of the Tahoe in comparison. The seating configuration on the Tahoe I tested had two captain’s chairs in the second row. There was a significant gap between the two chairs, which you have to be mindful of when loading, but the Tahoe also offers a second-row bench seat, which would eliminate the gap issue. The Tahoe sits very high, with the cargo bed at 37 inches off the ground. For me, this made solo loading a legitimate struggle. Once the harp was in, however, there was tons of space. Getting into the driver’s seat of the Tahoe felt like I was stepping up into a semi-truck—the only thing missing was the air horn. But the roominess up front matched the ample space in the back. The McFactor was primo with four cupholders and a big tray in the center console. One fun throwback option offered in the Tahoe is a front row bench seat, which allows three people to sit up front. Chevy makes an even bigger SUV—the Suburban—which exceeds our price limit, so we did not test it, but you get another 11 inches of cargo length in the Suburban…not that you need it.

Overall: The Tahoe leaves no doubt about having enough space, and if you are comfortable with a higher loading surface and truck-like feel, the Tahoe is a great option.

Ford Bronco

Ford brought back its iconic Bronco model in 2021 after a 25-year hiatus. Seeing the new Ford Bronco on the road makes me feel like I’m missing out on a fun ride, so I had to see if it could hold a harp. I started by trying the Bronco Sport—slightly smaller than the Bronco. Sadly, it was a close-but-not-quite model. My salesperson Yassine quickly ushered me to to the Sport’s big brother, having me try a Bronco “Outer Banks” trim level. I admit to tuning out when he started talking about the differences between the Bronco’s different grades…something about off-road packages and suspension something or other. I was too busy gawking at the side-swinging back hatch with the spare tire attached to it. The Bronco gets bonus points for not having to take the harp out on the side of the highway to get to the spare tire. However, given that the Bronco is built for terrain much more rugged than the interstate, there might not be much use for the spare. When the seats are folded down, the second-row seats create a shelf that is about 4 inches tall, and there is a smaller lip at the back tailgate as well. It was a little difficult to navigate without the pillows, but it would be manageable with the proper padding, as the cargo area is otherwise very flat. Sitting up front, I couldn’t stop smiling as Yassine showed off all of the Bronco’s retractable and removable roof options. There is a small shelf for your takeout lunch and a couple of cupholders. And you will definitely need to watch your step as you climb in and out of the Bronco in your dress shoes.

Overall: The Bronco will get you to your gig in the remote mountains without worry—even if you get a flat on the way, you can leave your harp in the car while you put on the spare.

Kia Telluride

The cargo bed in this three-row mid-size SUV is as flat as the Great Plains. It felt like it stretched for miles in front of me as I loaded the harp. At first I was concerned that the gap between the second and third rows would make it difficult to slide the harp in, but I had no problem navigating it. To maximize the Telluride’s extensive cargo length (90 inches!) you will have to utilize some empty space between the second-row and first-row seats, but having too much space is a problem harpmobile owners would like to have. The cargo bed felt a little high at 32 inches off the ground. But the Telluride doesn’t feel like a high-riding SUV in the front seat. It’s also a little less roomy in front than most full-fledged SUVs. The McFactor is not as good as its Kia Carnival cousin—there was no flat surface for me to set my lunch. There is a big touch screen, but also lots of buttons, which can be a plus or minus, depending on how many gadgets you like to fiddle with in the front seat.

Overall: Solid mid-size SUV option with one of the flattest cargo beds in the business. 

Mazda CX-70

New for 2025, Mazda introduced the CX-70. It’s a mid-size SUV that is almost exactly the same as its CX-90. The only difference between the two is that the CX-90 offers third-row seating, while the CX-70 only has two. For this review, we tested the CX-70, but everything except the seating options applies to the CX-90. The CX-70 has an extremely flat cargo bed, but sits a little higher than the CX-50 we tested right before it. Space is plentiful for the harp without any overhang of the crown. The CX-70 offers some higher-end upgrades on a relatively affordable vehicle. One nice feature is the auto folding seats. They fold down with a push of a button, but you do have to put them back up manually. Despite the CX-70 being quite spacious, it doesn’t feel like a tank in the driver’s seat. We would have liked to see more space in the center console for an otherwise very nicely appointed harpmobile. 

Overall: The CX-70 offers a big, flat cargo bed in a mid-size SUV. It feels like you are getting a little bit of luxury for a reasonable price.

Mercedes GLB

Mercedes is known for its luxury styling and high-end features, but I gotta say, what made the GLB feel luxurious to me was its flat and wide cargo bed. Though it’s an SUV, the GLB doesn’t sit too high off the ground, making for an easy harp load. There are no hooks or gadgets or gaps to navigate on the cargo bed either. The driver’s seat had to be moved just slightly forward to fit the harp, but that left more than enough legroom in the front seat. Sadly, the McFactor is not as extra as the rest of the vehicles, with no flat space in the center console area and just two cupholders. But the sun roof that extends the length of the seating area was nice. The GLB offers an optional third row of seating if you want the additional passenger space.

Overall: The GLB offers a luxuriously easy harp-loading experience, but sadly nowhere to put your sandwich while you’re driving.

Mercedes GLE

There isn’t a lot of difference between the Mercedes GLE and its slightly smaller sibling, the GLB, but since I was already in the Mercedes dealership and it was air conditioned, I decided to give it a look. Like the GLB, the GLE has an option for third-row seating. The model I tested had second-row captain’s chairs and a third-row bench seat, which automatically folds down. The second-row captain’s chairs give you the ability to prop the harp on one and squeeze a passenger in, though it would not be a comfortable ride for the back-seat passenger. There is a gap between the chairs, but it does not affect the loading experience. The cargo area of the GLE is huge. It sits a little higher than the GLB, and it is bigger in all of its measurements. The driver’s seat feels nice and roomy, and you can really feel the GLE’s SUV size in the front seat. Unfortunately, the upsizing of everything in the GLE does not extend to the McFactor—it was essentially the same as the GLB. 

Overall: The GLE is a little extra compared to its GLB sibling in terms of size, power, and price.

Toyota Grand Highlander

Unlike the Corolla Cross, there was no doubt a harp would fit in Toyota’s Grand Highlander. New in 2024, the Grand Highlander lives up to its name—it is both grand and high. The Grand Highlander sits high. Well, not high, but just high like a traditional SUV. I find it difficult to load the harp into higher cargo beds, so I wasn’t as excited about the Grand Highlander as Nick was. However, the cargo area is so wide, that it eased the loading burden created by the height. I could basically push the harp in without tilting it to get over the wheel wells as many narrower vehicles require. There are two seating configurations for the Grand Highlander—you can choose captain’s chairs or a bench. I tested the captain’s chair option. There is a console between the captain’s chairs that does not move. The profile is low enough that it doesn’t affect the harp loading, but it is something to be aware of. To fold the captain’s chairs flat requires a multi-release sequence (I couldn’t figure it out on my own and had to call in Nick for help), but the resulting surface is fairly flat. There is a gap between the second and third rows, which isn’t ideal, but also didn’t affect my ability to load the harp on my own. The harp fits on the cargo bed without the crown spilling over the second-row seats. The driver’s seat was very comfy and spacious. It was disappointing that there was no decent flat space in the center console, given how big the vehicle is. There is one extra-large cupholder for your Big Gulp. (The Grand Highlander is also available in a hybrid.)

Overall: If you are a die-hard flat loader, the Grand Highlander offers a comfortable and wide option. •