Best Cars for the Commute

More and more people begin their day with a long drive through heavy traffic to get to work, and end their day with a long slog home. U.S. Transportation Research Board and Census Bureau studies show more people enduring longer commutes. Most drivers are alone. Many hit the highway in the pre-dawn hours. Enduring a long commute through stop-and-go traffic can be aggravating and stressful.

Fortunately, the right car can help.

We think the car for this task should be mechanically refined, with smooth brakes, a smooth throttle, and a smooth ride. You'd think all cars nowadays would fit that description, but a lot of new cars have overly sensitive throttles and grabby brakes. The lightest touch of the gas pedal makes some cars lurch forward, which gets old in stop-and-go traffic. Likewise, smooth and precise braking can be a challenge with some of the latest brake-by-wire systems.

A good car for heavy traffic offers excellent visibility front and rear. Its controls can be operated without distraction. The stereo sounds great and it's easy to switch radio stations and modes. Long commutes call for comfortable seats. Secure cup holders are a given. The ultimate commuter car offers satellite navigation, real-time traffic reports, Bluetooth, voice commands and other technology to ease the pain.

The proper equipment for the daily battle includes active safety features to help the driver avoid wrecks and curtain airbags and other passive safety features for crash protection.

That said, there is no one best commuter car. So we asked our top correspondents to name the cars they'd recommend for long commutes through stop-and-go traffic. Seven of them responded, all veteran automotive journalists who gather impressions for New Car Test Drive. Based in Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix, they frequently find themselves driving in heavy traffic in cities around the U.S. We also pored over our driving impressions to determine which vehicles excelled at smoothness and interior ergonomics. CarsDirect pointed out the vehicles with the latest safety features and alerted us to the best values and deals. Bottom line, we'd be happy commuting in any of these 10 cars.

Acura RL We're tempted to name the Acura RL "commuter car of the year" or the "best car for the commute." A veritable sanctuary, Acura's flagship luxury sedan is super smooth in stop-and-go traffic yet brilliantly responsive. It offers every feature we can imagine to improve any commute. And those features are easy to operate. It has a great stereo. Acura's navigation system might be the best in the industry in terms of ease of use and sophistication. Its real-time traffic reporting helps us steer away from congested freeways. Its active cruise control matches the pace of the car ahead and warns us when everyone ahead stands on the brakes. A sophisticated all-wheel-drive system improves handling on slippery on-ramps. Other luxury cars offer these features, but too many of them are too hard to operate. This is the ultimate commuter car. The 2007 Acura RL with the Collision Mitigation Braking System and Adaptive Cruise Control retails for $53,870 (prices are MSRP and include destination charges). Acura RL pricing from CarsDirect

Toyota Camry Hybrid All-new for 2007, the Toyota Camry offers a smoother ride than most midsize sedans, along with a responsive throttle, and excellent interior ergonomics. The Camry Hybrid kicks it up a notch by delivering an EPA-rated 40/38 mpg. And it emits almost no pollution. The Camry Hybrid comes loaded with JBL audio and Bluetooth along with a sophisticated traction and stability system to reduce the chance of spinning on an on-ramp. The Toyota Camry Hybrid retails for $26,520. Toyota Camry Hybrid pricing from CarsDirect

Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec boasts an EPA-estimated 26/37 mpg and excellent real-world fuel economy from its diesel engine. It can go about 700 miles on a tank. Yet we found it very responsive in traffic. Unlike the diesels of distant memory, the Bluetec is smooth, quiet, and clean. The E-Class has all the convenience features to make it a commuter's sanctuary. The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec retails for $52,325. Mercedes-Benz E320 pricing from CarsDirect

Hyundai Sonata The Hyundai Sonata strikes a nice balance between frugality and comfort. It costs less than your average midsize sedan: A GLS automatic with the Premium Package retails for $19,445 and gets an EPA-rated 24/33 mpg. Yet the Sonata offers a smooth ride, a spacious cabin, and five-star crash test ratings. The seats are comfortable, there's a hook in the passenger footwell for securing a handbag, and compartments are conveniently provided to hold your stuff. A V6 is available, but the four-cylinder engine in the GLS works just fine. Hyundai Sonata pricing from CarsDirect

Ford Focus Compact cars come to mind whenever the term "commuter car" is used. For drivers on a tight budget, the Focus is economical yet enjoyable to drive. It's not the newest car out there, but deals abound. The cushy seats are comfortable, there's decent leg room and the controls are straightforward and easy to use. The Focus is small and handles well, allowing nimble lane changes. Designed as a world car, it offers a more compliant ride than some of the other compacts. The four-door ZX4 makes it easy to toss a briefcase and coat onto the back seat. A Focus ZX4 SE loaded with safety and convenience options retails for $17,390, but deals abound, including $2,500 rebates on some models. It gets an EPA-rated 27/34 mpg with the automatic. Ford Focus pricing from CarsDirect

Toyota Prius With its excellent fuel economy, the Prius is the poster car for the hybrid market, and in some ways it's the perfect commutermobile. Large windows make for excellent visibility, while midsize roominess makes for a comfortable cabin. Some states let hybrids drive in carpool lanes, a dealmaker feature for lone commuters. If you're trying to minimize emissions, there is no better choice. A Prius retails for $22,755, and the base model offers the softest ride quality. Toyota Prius pricing from CarsDirect

Suzuki SX4 A totally new vehicle for 2007, the Suzuki SX4 is a compact car with all-wheel drive, making it a superb choice for commuters in the Northeast, Midwest and Northwest states where weather can make roads slippery. The SX4 handles these conditions easily, and it's quite nimble on dry pavement. The back seats are roomy enough for adults. Fold the rear seats down and there is a spacious 38 cubic feet of cargo room. The SX4 starts at $16,594. Suzuki SX4 pricing from CarsDirect

Ford Escape Hybrid The Escape Hybrid offers the cargo space of a compact sport utility yet boasts an EPA-estimated 36/31 mpg. The Hybrid version is a smooth, comfortable vehicle that drives almost identically to a regular Escape. The continuously variable transmission offers seamless propulsion in heavy traffic. The seats are comfortable and provide an elevated vantage to see dangers ahead in traffic. Getting in and out is easy. The Escape Hybrid starts at $26,320. Ford Escape Hybrid pricing from CarsDirect

Ford Edge A totally new vehicle for 2007, the Edge is an excellent choice for commuters who need a large vehicle but want something that drives like a sedan. We did not consider truck-based SUVs. Besides getting terrible gas mileage, they're difficult to maneuver in heavy traffic. The Edge is based on a car and maneuvers well for its size. Swap your Explorer for an Edge and you've got a better commuter car. The Edge offers an ergonomically designed interior with simple knobs and useful convenience features. It has four 20-ounce cup holders, two juice box holders, and an audio jack to plug in your MP3 player. A mid-grade Edge SEL with all-wheel drive and loaded with the satellite navigation, the ultimate stereo, satellite radio retails for $32,215. Ford Edge pricing from CarsDirect

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Sports cars have their own set of drawbacks, firm suspensions and poor rearward visibility among them. The Porsche Carrera 4 is amazingly easy to drive and it's smooth and comfortable in heavy traffic, particularly with a Tiptronic automatic. A leader in active safety features, Porsche fits the Carrera 4 with all-wheel drive, legendary braking performance, and the latest in electronic stability control. Not many sports cars make good everyday commuter cars, but this is one does. And when the road opens up, it delivers driving enjoyment that no Prius can match. That's where its high price pays off. The Carrera 4 coupe starts at $77,895. Porsche 911 Carrera 4 pricing from CarsDirect

Get guaranteed low prices for your new commuter car at CarsDirect.