Top Picks for Commuters

Lower on the corporate ladder are the workaday stiffs, ourselves included. Commuter cars include 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 2009 Audi A4 Starting MSRP $30,700 For commuters, the redesigned A4 strikes a consummate balance: It's easier to drive than competitors from BMW and Infiniti, more fuel-efficient than even the four-cylinder Acura TSX, and generally roomier than the whole lot. Ride quality suits the daily grind, and the cabin boasts excellent materials and supportive seats. The A4's $30,700 base price gets you a capable turbo engine and a well-rounded list of luxury features; most trims have Quattro all-wheel drive, giving the car all-weather capabilities its rear-wheel-drive competitors lack. Sport sedans aren't known for commuter-car comfort, and the fact that the A4 bucks the trend — while still being engaging to drive — is worth high praise.

Best Deal for Commuters 2009 Nissan Versa Starting MSRP $9,990 Don't judge the Versa by its sub-$10,000 price; the car, available as a hatchback or sedan, is roomier and more comfortable than you might expect. We haven't driven the base 1.6-liter four-cylinder yet, but the 1.8-liter engine in the $12,990 Versa 1.8S cranks out the sort of passing power many competitors don't — and the hatchback's 50-plus cubic feet of maximum cargo volume should swallow any presentation materials your day might require. Step up to the SL trim level, and options like steering-wheel audio controls and hands-free keyless access give the Versa an uplevel feel. Crash-test ratings are good, too — something not every small car can boast.

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Acura TL (2009) Starting MSRP $34,955 Its radical looks aside, the new TL in base, front-wheel-drive form is one of the more comfortable entry-level luxury sedans on the market. It's so quiet and smooth on the road, the Lexus ES no longer holds that advantage. Factor in the TL's responsive steering, bevy of high-tech gadgets and no-frills pricing, and the TL is an easy choice for commuters looking for a little luxury. Research this car      Build this car

Chevrolet Malibu (2009) Starting MSRP $21,605 After its repeated visits to our fleet, driving the Malibu is as familiar as putting on a pair of comfortable shoes. There's little road noise, the ride is pleasant and there are plenty of standard features at a good price. The 2009 also has the most efficient four-cylinder engine in its class. That's kind of important these days. Research this car      Build this car

Ford Escape Hybrid (2009) Starting MSRP $29,305 We know stop-and-go commuting can be a drag. The Ford Escape Hybrid makes it less so, as it can travel along the slow march to the office on electric power alone for long stretches, saving gas. When it's time to fill up, the optional navigation system includes real-time gas-price info so you can find the cheapest place to get fuel. Research this car      Build this car

Ford Taurus (2009) Starting MSRP $24,125 The Taurus exudes the sort of day-to-day practicality commuters will prize. Broad sightlines and large mirrors render next-lane blind spots a thing of the past, and the soft seats and pliable ride should suit even the bumpiest interstates. Available AWD gives those in wintry climates an all-weather option, and gas mileage, at 28 mpg on the highway with FWD, puts the car near the top of its class. Research this car      Build this car

Honda Accord (2009) Starting MSRP $20,755 Whether your drive to the office is five minutes or 50 minutes, the Accord is a solid choice for fighting traffic. Featuring fuel-efficient four-cylinder or V-6 power, the Accord is an easy-driving car that has a meticulously crafted interior you'll appreciate every time you slide behind the wheel. Those you carpool with will like the roomy backseat. Research this car      Build this car

Honda Civic (2009) Starting MSRP $15,204 If you're commuting, two of the attributes you want most are efficiency and reliability — confidence that the car will always start and run properly. Meet your new car, the Honda Civic. The Civic isn't a cheap compact car, but its mileage, loads of safety equipment, refined driving experience and resale value make it a great deal. Research this car      Build this car

	Nissan Murano (2009) Starting MSRP $26,870 If you spend a lot of time in slow-moving traffic, you could do so in a worse car than a Nissan Murano. For people who want a modestly priced midsize crossover, the Murano is exceptionally well-appointed and refined, and at 18 mpg it has a 1- to 3-mpg edge over the Ford Edge in city driving. Research this car      Build this car

Toyota RAV4 (2009) Starting MSRP $21,500 With its powerful V-6 engine, the RAV4 returns unbelievably high mileage for a compact SUV, while the base four-cylinder is middle-of-the-pack in terms of efficiency. Either packs plenty of performance — yes, the V-6 is fast — and a giant cargo area for those days when you need to stop by Costco on your way home from work. Research this car      Build this car