Best Commuter Cars
The average American spends 26.1 minutes commuting to work each day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Weather, traffic, and bad drivers can all conspire to make that commute longer, but there’s one sure way to make it seem shorter: driving a car you love. Here’s a look at eight of the best commuter cars that stand out for fuel efficiency, safety, and style. Plus, they all fall within a reasonable price range.
How We Rate the Best Commuter Cars
- Efficient gas mileage: Paying to travel to work each day already stings (and daily commuting expenses are not tax-deductible, according to the IRS). Driving a fuel-efficient vehicle will save you money — and in some states, hybrid or electric cars can use the HOV express lanes. For this list, we considered only cars that offer a fuel economy of least 28 mpg on the highway.
- Upscale interiors: Look for a high-quality sound system, attractive finishes, and a cushy interior with enough legroom and headroom. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also innovative features that integrate your phone with your car.
- Reliability: What’s worse than commuting during rush hour? Getting stuck on the side of the road during rush hour.
- Fun to drive: Commuter cars don’t have to be boring. From luxury cars to turbo-powered sedans and crossovers with all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrains, dealerships offer plenty of reasonably priced commuter cars that can fit your budget.
- Advanced safety features: Lane-keeping assist, automatic braking and adaptive cruise control can work to make your commute a lot safer — and less stressful. Of course, tech can’t keep you safe from every bad driver out there. That’s why it’s important to learn the key defensive driving techniques, too. You can identify the safest commuter cars because they’ll have the “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, and/or a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.
4 of the Best New Commuter Cars for 2021
1. 2021 Volkswagen Golf (base MSRP $23,195)
Thanks to its reasonable price point and EPA estimated 39 mpg highway efficiency, Volkswagen‘s 2021 Golf TSI remains a terrific option for those eager to conquer their daily commute with ease.
In addition to boasting Volkswagen‘s classic style and stance, the Golf also features an array of advanced safety features that will put commuters at ease. They include a blind spot monitoring system, forward collision warning, and rear traffic alert.
Also consider: Mazda 3
2. 2021 Kia Forte (base MSRP $17,890)
The latest Kia Forte compact is about more than its excellent efficiency (31 mpg city/41 mpg highway). It’s also about sleek styling. Black exterior accents, red grille inserts, LED exterior lighting, and alloy wheels are just a few of the performance-centric design upgrades on the 2021 Kia Forte.
Forte also offers commuters plenty of bite with its bark. Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters or an available 6-speed manual transmission make driving the Forte GT’s 201-horsepower turbocharged engine quite the thrill, whether you’re heading to a conference or home for a holiday weekend.
Also consider: Chrysler Pacifica
3. 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Fastback (base MSRP $27,205)
Surprised to see Ford‘s venerated muscle car on a list of best commuter vehicles? Don’t be. This isn’t your grandfather’s Mustang. The 2021 Ford Mustang EcoBoost fastback is a far cry from the gas-guzzling Mustangs of yesteryear. With an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, it’s more than efficient enough to be a daily driver.
That said, it’s a true Mustang at heart thanks to a turbocharged 310-horsepower 2.3L EcoBoost engine that offers plenty of highway punch. And with comfortable seating for four, you can even thrill your co-workers when it’s your day to head up the carpool.
Also consider: Dodge Charger
4. 2021 BMW M340i (base MSRP $54,700)
Eight distinct colors. Luxurious leather seating. Thrilling performance. The 2021 BMW m340i is a car so fun to drive you won’t be able to wait for Monday morning. The m340i is powered by a 3.0-liter BMW M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder capable of 382 horsepower and a zero-to-sixty time of 4.4 seconds.
With 23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, it’s plenty efficient as a commuter and weekend warrior. Performance enthusiasts will also love the car’s 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes, complete with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Also consider: Lexus IS 500 Sport
Top 4 Best Used Commuter Cars Under $10K
If a brand-new BMW is not in your budget, consider a late-model used car instead.
1. 2015 Toyota Prius Two
With 51 city/48 highway mpg and a well-designed interior, the classic hybrid is hands-down one of the best commuter cars. While a new Prius starts around $24,000, you can find a used model for under $10,000 if you look at older model years.
Also consider: Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
2. 2010-2012 Honda Civic
The 2012 Civic is a winner all the way around. U.S. News has named it the #1 compact car, #1 used small car, and #1 affordable small car. It won’t turn heads, but the Civic is still a good-looking sedan powered by a drivetrain that offers legendary reliability. It gets great gas mileage, too: up to 29 city/41 highway for the 2012 model year.
Also consider: Toyota Camry
3. 2010-2012 Toyota RAV4
If you need a little more room than a Civic may offer, one of the best commuter SUVs is the Toyota RAV4. You’ll get decent gas mileage (up to 22 city/28 highway for the 2011 model) for a ride that’s roomy and reliable — and available with an AWD powertrain. It’s possible to find RAV4s under $10,000, although most will have around 100,000 miles on the odometer.
Also consider: Mazda CX-5
4. 2014-2016 Hyundai Sonata
Not only does the Sonata get up to 38 mpg on the highway, but its interior allows you to commute in luxury. Some models of this stylish coupe have leather upholstery, heated front seats, and dual-zone climate control. All these features, plus the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (which transfers to a certified, pre-owned Hyundai) make the Sonata one of the best cars for long commutes.
Also consider: Hyundai Elantra
Read more: Most fuel-efficient cars under $10,000
Once you’ve found your perfect daily driver and take it for a test drive, make sure you compare car insurance quotes from multiple companies before you buy a policy.
Comparison-shopping for auto insurance often reveals that some companies charge hundreds more than others to insure the exact same car. We display real rates that come directly from the insurance companies, unlike other sites that only provide links to other companies. Try it for yourself!
