Smart Choices for Long Drives
If you drive long distances on the highway weekly, gasoline and maintenance can become expensive. It's important to find a vehicle that won't break the bank and gets good gas mileage. These are 20 cars that provide great bang for your buck when commuting.
1. Toyota Corolla
The Corolla has been reliable for so long for good reason. It’s dependable, efficient, and doesn’t require constant maintenance. Expect excellent fuel economy while driving on the highway. Coming home won’t feel like a workout with its comfortable interior.
2. Honda Civic
You can’t go wrong with something as stylish and practical as the Civic. Enjoy its comfortable ride and impressive gas mileage while cruising down the highway. It’s packed with helpful tech features like adaptive cruise control to make life easier on you.
3. Hyundai Elantra
This delightful compact sedan offers much more driving fun than you might expect. Plus, it won’t require premium fuel like some performance cars do. There’s enough legroom inside for any adult, so you won’t feel like you’re sardined in for longer commutes. Hyundai provides a great warranty that lasts for years, too.
4. Kia Forte
The Forte is an excellent sedan for commuters looking to save money at the pump. It’s inexpensive to own and operate, with enough technology features to keep you comfy on your commute. Highway driving is more enjoyable thanks to a quiet interior and agile steering.
5. Nissan Sentra
The Sentra has a humble appearance, but it’s perfectly fine for getting around town and on the highway every day. Plus, it won’t break your bank with gas prices thanks to its fuel-efficient engine. Sentra seats are supportive enough to tackle long commutes in comfort, too. You’ll also find plenty of modern safety nets without paying a luxury rate.
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6. Mazda3
With Mazda3, you can add a little excitement to your daily commute. It steers and handles like a sportier car, but without drastically reduced efficiency. You’ll still get fantastic gas mileage with this fun-to-drive sedan. Its interior also looks and feels more upscale than it does cheap.
7. Chevrolet Cruze
Our list of great highway commuters includes the budget-friendly Cruze. It has a quiet cabin with a smooth ride so you won’t arrive at work feeling drained. In addition to its fuel efficiency, Chevy cars are usually inexpensive to own.
8. Ford Fiesta
This small car is peppy, economical, and smoother than you might expect. With the Fiesta, you can zoom past traffic while still racking up great gas mileage. It also makes passing those pesky downtown parking lots a breeze with its tiny frame.
9. Volkswagen Jetta
German-engineered Jettas are comfortable and surprisingly upscale for the price. It confidently handles highway driving and isn’t afraid to take on curves, either. Enjoy roomy seats and decent fuel economy on longer journeys in this reliable sedan.
10. Subaru Impreza
Are you looking for a car with all-wheel drive? You’ll love the Impreza’s ability to keep you safe on wet or slippery highways. It provides stable handling so you won’t feel anxious about rushing to work. Plus, its cute interior is cozy and doesn’t hurt your wallet.
11. Honda Fit
Who knew you could stuff so much room inside of the Honda Fit? It’s practical for both highway commutes and fuel efficiency. If you need to bring extra things to work or bring pets along, you’ll appreciate its versatility. Don’t be surprised if you enjoy driving around rush hour traffic in the Fit.
12. Toyota Prius
Gas mileage is still king with the Prius, even after all these years. It effortlessly cruises on highways without devouring your fuel tank. Although it’s not the flashiest car interior-wise, you’ll appreciate how quiet and practical it is.
13. Kia Soul
You’ll feel cool driving Kia’s stylish Soul around town and on the highway. It has plenty of cargo space if your definition of “commuting” includes weekend getaways. Soul doesn’t offer the absolute best fuel economy, but you’d be sacrificing too much by choosing a car with better gas mileage.
14. Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai also has a larger sedan for those who want something bigger than the Elantra. Sonata has plenty of room to stretch your legs and comfort features that make your commute feel worthwhile. Safety wise, the features are among the best in the industry.
15. Chevrolet Malibu
The Malibu is a large sedan that’s perfect for relaxing drives on the highway. Choose from multiple engine types to get just the right balance of power and fuel economy. Front and rear passengers have enough room to breathe in its spacious cabin.
16. Nissan Altima
If you crave a little luxury but don’t have the budget, check out Altima. It drives smoothly, efficiently, and is quite enjoyable to drive on highways. Don’t forget about all the tech and safety features you can equip your Altima with.
17. Ford Fusion
Ford may be known for pickups and trucks, but Fusion is here to prove they make nice commuter cars, too. The ride quality and cabin space are great for those who spend hours behind the wheel each day. You can also look forward to getting good gas mileage in Fusion.
18. Toyota Yaris
Yaris is a great option if you’re looking for a super affordable and efficient car. It’s extremely easy to drive on the highway and around city streets. Plus, you can fit into parking spots that larger vehicles would have trouble with. Spending hours inside of the Yaris isn’t bad either; it’s comfortable enough for both the driver and passengers.
19. Mazda6
Did you want more space than the Mazda3 offers but still keep things affordable? Mazda6 is your goto car when you’re in the market for a budget-friendly sedan. With slightly sportier handling than its compact competitor, 6 has a refined interior and respectable gas mileage for its class.
20. Hyundai Ioniq
Hyundai has hybrid technology that is just as efficient as Toyota’s but at a lesser price. If fuel efficiency is your number one concern with choosing a new car, the Ioniq is for you. You can commute mile after boring mile without breaking a sweat in this comfy car.
