Best Used Cars for Commuting

A car you'll drive every day for years puts a lot of miles on quickly, which makes fuel economy, ride comfort, and reliability more important than for a car that only sees occasional use.

Fuel economy adds up faster than you'd think

A difference of even 5-8 mpg between two otherwise similar commuter cars adds up to real money over tens of thousands of commuting miles. Compact and midsize sedans, along with hybrids where budget allows, generally offer the best fuel economy for daily highway and stop-and-go driving.

Comfort features that matter for long commutes

• Adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist reduce fatigue on longer highway stretches
• A comfortable, supportive driver's seat matters more than it seems on paper once you're in it daily
• A quiet cabin at highway speed reduces fatigue over a long commute
• Reliable, effective climate control for whatever your regional weather demands

Reliability matters more for high-mileage use

A commuter car accumulates miles faster than average, which means a model with a strong reliability reputation and a straightforward maintenance schedule will save you real time and money over years of daily use.