Commuting is not, by definition, fun. It’s time consuming and stressful and often eats a hole in your wallet for gas and parking. So we’ve put together a list of cars that fit multiple commuting situations so you can minimize that stress and enjoy yourself.
Best Gas Mileage
In recent years, there has been an arms race of sorts to produce the best car in terms of fuel economy. The result is that almost every manufacturer now has at least one hybrid car in production and their gasoline models have become significantly more efficient. Electric cars are also becoming more accessible, though their limited range should be taken into consideration if you have a long commute.
As far as the best option for fuel economy with four seats at a price that is relatively affordable, the Ford C-Max regularly ranks at the top of non-electric cars with a combined 100 MPG from electric and fuel power, even better than the touted Toyota Prius.
For those not sold on hybrids and their high production cost (and long term viability), the Golf TDI has a diesel engine that gets EPA estimated fuel economy of 30 city, 42 highway, and the Chevrolet Cruze Eco gets EPA estimated 28 city, 42 highway.
Most Comfortable
While luxury cars are sure to top this list, let’s look at vehicles that cost less than $30,000 but that still have the amenities you want for a long drive to and from work every day.
The Chevrolet Cruze Eco manages to offer a surprisingly quiet cabin and supportive front seats while the 2012 Buick Verano has been winning awards for three years for its sleek, comfortable design. The Toyota Camry and Volkswagen Passat are also very popular for affordable styling and comfort.
Best for Carpooling
If you’re carpooling, you need space, so the compact size of most sedans and super-fuel efficient cars won’t work. For third row seating, look at the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Mazda CX-9 and Kia Sedona. Chevrolet’s Tahoe is also good, but uses more fuel on average than the others.
The Fun Factor
Last but not least, there is the fun factor. If you’re on a (relative) budget and want to ensure you have real fun when on the road, there is nothing better than a Corvette. Sure, it’s not entirely practical for carpooling or fuel economy, but it will solve that pesky problem of traffic frustration – just try and get upset when sitting in the driver’s seat of a C6 or C7.
If you’re ready to buy a new car and are interested in getting the best vehicle to match your current commuting needs, keep the above in mind. There are other options of course, but we highly recommend these for their respective strengths.
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