Advertisement

Best cars for 'megacommutes': Super cruisers starting at $25,000

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly 600,000 Americans have "megacommutes" that have them working more than 50 miles from home or traveling more than 90 minutes each way. As a megacommuter myself, I can relate. Having given this much thought through the years, I have compiled a list of the best cars for megacommutes currently on sale.

More by destiny than design, I've been saddled for years with an extra-long commute: 75 miles each way to get to work and back. What I've learned is that for the long haul, forget about hard-riding small cars and sports cars. Cross out gas guzzlers, too.

Chrysler-300-pr-f.jpg
Chrysler-300-pr-f.jpg

When shopping for a super cruiser, consider:

ADVERTISEMENT
  • A comfortable, steady ride

  • A very supportive, multi-adjustable seat

  • A quiet cabin, free of road and wind noise

  • Great fuel economy

  • An awesome audio system

Here's a list of cars that make the cut, sorted by ascending price--based on our price as tested, being popularly equipped. All are recommended by Consumer Reports, meaning that they perform well in our tests, have proven reliable, and did well in independent crash tests. And naturally, the more premium models provide the most pampering experience.

  1. Volkswagen Golf TDI ($25,730): If you are on a budget and can forgo some amenities common in higher-priced cars and are willing to shift for yourself, consider this versatile-yet-refined hatchback. The diesel version gets 38 mpg overall with the manual in our test. The Golf rides comfortably and handles with agility. Its well-shaped seats won't hurt your back and the sticker price won't break your bank account. We've also tested the less-refined Jetta diesel automatic, which gets 34 mpg, and we are now testing the Jetta hybrid, so we'll soon see which one is more frugal.

If the goal is to get to your destination ache-free and as fresh as possible, this list is a good place to start. No doubt there are other comfy long-haul candidates waiting in the wings, pending reliability data or final testing. But this list comprises some top cars we're confident about right now.

Learn how to improve the fuel economy on your commute.



More from Consumer Reports:
2013 New Car Preview
Best & worst used cars
Complete Ratings for 200 cars and trucks

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. No reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission.