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Top Picks for Commuters

Lower on the corporate ladder are the workaday stiffs, ourselves included. From a pool that included our Best Bets and all the newer cars we've driven since, we considered coupes, sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons, minivans, pickups and SUVs — anything that gets you to the office with a reasonable dose of style and comfort. We pared things down by looking at safety features, gas mileage, reliability and driving comfort.

 Best New Car for Commuters
2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Starting MSRP $26,785

As one of the best-selling cars year after year, the Toyota Camry is no doubt used in every way possible. The Camry Hybrid stands out as a commuter car with its soft and refined ride. Commuters in stop-and-go traffic as well as on highways will appreciate the hybrid's gas mileage: 43/39 mpg city/highway in LE trim. The Camry Hybrid comes in two flavors: a base LE for frugal commuters and a higher-optioned XLE that adds higher-quality interior pieces, a power driver's seat, touch-screen display and more. The XLE has slightly lower gas mileage, at 40/38 mpg.

   
  
 Best Deal for Commuters
2013 Hyundai Elantra
Starting MSRP $17,470

It's hard not to consider a Hyundai when looking for value. The 2013 Elantra is a deal and a half, with a spacious interior for the class, comfy ride and gas mileage ratings of 28/38 mpg city/highway. The Elantra sedan isn't worried about being sporty, so the ride is smooth and comfortable, absorbing bumps without disturbing occupants. The Elantra's base price includes a USB port for iPods, manual transmission, tilt and telescoping steering wheel and a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat. Add $1,000 to get the automatic transmission, which doesn't impact gas mileage ratings and is a necessity for commuting in traffic.

   
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Suggestions for Commuters
2013 Honda CR-V Recommended for Commuters Honda CR-V (2013)
Starting MSRP $23,525

The redesigned 2012 Honda CR-V won our $25,000 Compact SUV Shootout by a considerable margin. The CR-V's commuting attributes shine with good gas mileage — it returned the second-highest observed mileage (30.3 mpg) in our Shootout testing — and a quiet cabin at any speed.

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2013 Hyundai Genesis Recommended for Commuters Hyundai Genesis (2013)
Starting MSRP $35,075

The Hyundai Genesis sedan makes frequent commuting easy. The value-laden luxury sedan may not be the most efficient commuter, but its 18/28 mpg city/highway ratings are good enough, considering that the luxurious ride helps boost workday sanity by starting the day on a relaxed note.

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2013 Kia Optima Recommended for Commuters Kia Optima (2013)
Starting MSRP $22,175

Injecting a little excitement, the midsize Kia Optima successfully balances sporty handling and comfortable ride. The performance-oriented Optima SX has a firmer suspension and lower mileage ratings with the turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

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2012 Nissan Leaf Recommended for Commuters Nissan Leaf (2012)
Starting MSRP $36,050

Don't be fooled: The electric-only Nissan Leaf drives like a "real car," not a golf cart. Its EPA-estimated range of 73 miles is accurate — as verified by our long-term Leaf testing — and that range might be enough to drive an entire commute without gasoline.

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2013 Subaru Impreza Recommended for Commuters Subaru Impreza (2013)
Starting MSRP $18,665

For many, and much to our dismay, driving to work doesn't stop for the winter. The 2013 Impreza is an affordable all-wheel-drive compact that can get you to the office in a snowstorm and still get up to 36 mpg on the highway with its continuously variable automatic transmission.

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2013 Toyota Camry Recommended for Commuters Toyota Camry (2013)
Starting MSRP $22,850

For the same reasons that Toyota's Camry Hybrid is 2013's best commuter, the non-hybrid Camry is another good option. It gets worse mileage, of course, but it's still competitive with 25/35 mpg city/highway with the four-cylinder engine.

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2013 Toyota Prius Recommended for Commuters Toyota Prius (2013)
Starting MSRP $24,995

Even though there are more variants of the Prius than ever (Prius v and c), the classic hatchback hasn't lost any appeal. While not the most dynamic to drive, the Prius delivers what a hybrid should: impressive gas mileage. The Prius is still the most fuel-efficient car that you don't need to plug in.

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Recommended for Commuters Volkswagen Jetta TDI (2013)
Starting MSRP $17,470

Commuters who have the luck of all-highway commutes should seriously consider a diesel like the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. It gets its best mileage from highway driving, with a 42 mpg rating for both automatic and manual transmissions. That rating is often easy to beat while on extended highway drives.

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