What is the best car for a commuter?

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Whether you’re trundling up and down the motorway or sitting in stop-start traffic across the city, commuting comes with a number of challenges for drivers in the UK. Traffic congestion and long commuting hours mean it’s important to choose the right car for a comfortable and efficient drive to and from work. Car subscriptions are a flexible and convenient solution for commuters, allowing you to enjoy total reliability and access to the latest technology, with none of the commitment.

Understanding the needs of commuters

When you’re choosing a car for your daily commute, there are a number of key factors you’ll want to bear in mind. Some of the most important are fuel economy, reliability and comfort. Let’s take a look at each of these and why they matter.

Fuel economy is important because when you’re driving to and from work each day, the cost of fuel will quickly add up. The better the fuel economy, the more miles to the gallon your vehicle will achieve, increasing the amount of driving you’ll be able to do before you need to refuel. Not only that, better fuel economy is kinder to the environment, so that’s something else to consider if you’re looking to reduce the environmental impact of your commute.

Reliability is paramount when you need to be at work for a certain time – and when you’re keen to get back home after a long day in the office. A reliable car is key to avoiding breakdowns and ensuring a smooth commute because nobody wants to have to call on their breakdown cover when they should be in a 9am meeting.

Comfort is also a major consideration when you’re spending long hours every day in your car. Features such as ergonomic design, spacious interiors and advanced technology all add up to a pleasant driving experience – and that makes all the difference to how frazzled you feel when you get to work or get back home.

At Drive Fuze, we understand how important these factors are for commuters and have a wide range of cars that meet these needs for a smooth and comfortable commute.

Evaluating fuel economy for commuter cars

Fuel economy is one of the most important aspects to look for in a car you’ll be using to commute to work each day. Fuel efficiency is key to reducing both the cost and the environmental impact of commuting, so if you’re trying to make savings and have your eye on sustainability, the miles-to-the-gallon metric is one to watch. If you’re going for an EV, you’ll need to think about the range.

More fuel-efficient cars make use of fuel-saving technologies – such as auto stop/start, as well as hybrid options– to make excellent savings on fuel and emissions. An added benefit to this is that such vehicles enjoy little or no road tax (not that you’d need to think about this with a Drive Fuze subscription, as it’s included in your monthly fee). A good example is the Fiat 500 Pop Hybrid, which achieves an impressive 60 miles to the gallon and makes a cost-effective and eco-friendly choice for your daily commute.

Here are some handy resources forgetting to grips with fuel costs:

●     Use the RAC’s mileage calculator to workout the fuel cost of your commute

●     The AA’s monthly fuel price report is a useful page to keep an eye on for understanding average fuel prices in the UK

●     When choosing a commuting car, be sure to read our guide to choosing the right car to help you make an informed decision

At Drive Fuze, we’re committed to prioritising fuel efficiency by offering a selection of fuel-efficient cars in our car subscription services, such as the Fiat 500 Hybrid.

Reliability and comfort: essential features for commuters

When you depend on your car to get you to work on time and to get you back to your family at the end of the day,you need to know that it’s not going to let you down en route. Reliability is therefore of the utmost importance.

As we touched on earlier, comfort-oriented features will also enhance your commuting experience. Features to look out for include spacious interiors with ample leg room, comfortable, supportive seating and noise reduction technology – the latter particularly useful when you’re on a noisy motorway every day.

Advanced infotainment systems area must-have, too, giving you access to the latest traffic updates as well as plenty to keep you entertained while you’re on the road. Features such as Apple CarPlay will also allow you to connect your phone to your car so that you can use your commute productively – whether that’s listening to an interesting podcast, briefing your team by phone or chatting with friends or family.

If you’re on the lookout for a comfortable and reliable commuter car, look no further than the Drive Fuze subscription fleet, which has a great choice of well-maintained and quality-checked cars that make the perfect vehicles for your daily commute.

Top commuter cars in the UK

Drive Fuze’s car subscription service offers a great variety of commuter cars, providing enough different options for you to find the ideal vehicle for your own commuting needs and preferences – and all while meeting the trio of ideal requirements we talked about above, namely comfort, reliability and fuel economy.

If you’re looking for a reliable commuter car and want the peace of mind that you’re very unlikely to have an unexpected breakdown to contend with, you can’t go wrong with a Nissan Qashqai. This is great for if you’re doing longer journeys, and it also doubles up as the perfect family vehicle for the weekends. Clever technology in the latest models includes traffic sign recognition and lane keep assist, which adds up to an incredibly safe commuting vehicle.

If you’re looking for low maintenance costs (not something you would need to consider if you had one on a car subscription!), then the Kia Niro EV is a good option. This car is electric, and perfect if you live in the city or an area that has a ULEZ,whilst also boasting an impressive range of 285 miles if you’re looking to pop out to the country.

Similarly, the Toyota Aygo achieves over 50 miles to the gallon while being a reliable and comfortable choice of a commuter car. As well as adaptive cruise control and both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, it has Lane Departure Warning – adding to its safety on those long motorway commutes when you’re tired at the end of the working day.

For strong performance on the road, look no further than the Volvo XC90, an all-wheel drive with commuter-friendly features such as Apple CarPlay, Harman Kardon premium sound and adaptive cruise control. It even has a heated steering wheel for those freezing winter mornings when you need to be in the office early.

With a Drive Fuze subscription, you can have any of these top commuting cars in as little as seven days, and you can easily switch to a different car if you fancy a change. Even better,the only cost you’ll need to think about is fuel, because all your other monthly and annual running costs are wrapped up in your single monthly subscription payment. That includes tax, insurance, breakdown cover, maintenance and tyres. Good to know, given the miles you’ll be covering!

The best car for your commute

A commuter car is one you’re going to be spending a lot of time in, so it’s important to make the right choice. To summarise, a good commuting car offers the following three features:

●     Great fuel economy – helps you get further for less,and reduces the environmental impact of your commute

●     Top reliability – ensures you get to work and home on time, reducing the risk of breakdown

●     Maximum comfort – ergonomic features and infotainment systems make your commute more enjoyable

Whether you’re choosing a vehicle for your own commute or you run a business and you’re thinking about which cars to add to your fleet, these will be your top considerations. If you’re in need of some inspiration, feel free to reach out to Drive Fuze or browse our cars to find the perfect car for your commute.