The best commuter cars in the car test
Anyone who frequently travels long distances between home and work needs a suitable car. But which one is the best? The ADAC presents around 50 commuter cars tested that are suitable for long distances, environmentally friendly, comfortable and inexpensive.
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Around 50 ideal commuter cars at a glance
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The type of drive makes a difference
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Special tips for commuters on buying a car
More than 60 percent of commuters in Germany travel by Own car to work. According to a 2019 survey by the ADAC, as many as two-thirds of those surveyed there spend 20 to 60 minutes in the car on their daily commute to work - and almost half commute around 20 kilometers or more.
Anyone who spends so much time in the car needs a vehicle that is ideally suited to their individual needs on the way to work. The ADAC has therefore examined current models in the ADAC Autotest from the special point of view of commuters and put together around 50 well-suited vehicles with different drive types.
Commuters should pay attention to this
Of course, the question of the best cars for commuters cannot be answered in a general way, because individual needs and circumstances play a major role when buying a car. But some criteria apply to everyone.
For example, the comfort of a commuter vehicle is particularly crucial – after all, you spend a lot of time in it every day on the way to work. Another important factor is the space available in the first row of seats. Because sitting cramped on a long commute is no fun in the long run.
Good multimedia equipment in the car is also a selling point for commuters: If you are often on the road, you should have up-to-date traffic jam data available in your car and feel comfortable with music, podcasts and the like on the way to work and home.
The choice of car always depends on the individual financial situation. Therefore, commuters should always pay attention to the operating costs of the individual models. It is also worth taking a look at the fuel consumption. Because especially those who drive a lot can save on refueling with a car with low fuel consumption. For many, environmental friendliness also plays a major role, which the automobile club regularly examines in the ADAC Ecotest.
Table: Ideal commuter cars at a glance
The models were selected according to these criteria:
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Vehicle must be available as a new car
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Rating in the ADAC car test:
Comfort: maximum up to 3.0 Front
space: maximum 2.2
Multimedia: maximum 3.0
Car costs/maintenance: maximum 3.0 -
Consumption maximum according to drive types in the ADAC Ecotest:
for diesel: 5.8 l/100 km
for petrol/full hybrid: 6.5 l/100 km
for plug-in hybrid: 4.0 l/100 km – 25.0 kWh/100 km
for electric 22.0 kWh/100 km
The type of drive is important
Commuters with very long distances and annual mileage of more than 20,000 kilometers are usually suitably served with a diesel. All models recommended by the ADAC here belong to the lower middle class and middle class, because there are no longer any small cars with diesel engines.
For less mileage, gasoline models are more likely to be a good choice, and for shorter distances, hybrid models are a good choice. Compared to diesel, consumption is often somewhat higher. But modern cars are almost without exception turbocharged turbocharged engines. As a result, the consumption of gasoline engines has been greatly reduced in recent years. Full hybrids also always have an automatic transmission or a continuously variable transmission as standard and are therefore particularly suitable for commuters in urban areas.
Electric cars can also be a good alternative. As a commuter car, they are particularly recommended if a charging option is available at home or at work. Electric cars, like plug-in hybrids, are ideal for commuters – as long as the charging infrastructure is right and they can be conveniently charged at the start or destination. However, in order to be able to drive as much as possible electrically in everyday life with a plug-in hybrid, long distances should always be the exception with this type of drive.
Choosing the right commuter car
It is often not easy to find the right vehicle. After all, anyone who travels a lot has high expectations of a car in which a lot of time is spent.
What you should consider as a commuter before buying a car:
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Define your individual requirements for the car precisely.
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Think about which type of drive is ideal for the respective commute.
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If you often travel long distances, you should also find out about a cheap long-distance car.
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If you choose an electric car or a plug-in hybrid: Check whether your employer offers a charging option or whether the battery can be charged on the daily commute. A charging station for the home is the convenient option. Maximum safety is provided by a wallbox (wall charging station). You should also consider the costs of installing a wallbox.
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The car should only ever be as big as absolutely necessary.
Expert advice: Maximilian Bauer, ADAC Technical Centre
The type of drive is important
Commuters with very long distances and annual mileage of more than 20,000 kilometers are usually suitably served with a diesel. All models recommended by the ADAC here belong to the lower middle class and middle class, because there are no longer any small cars with diesel engines.
For less mileage, gasoline models are more likely to be a good choice, and for shorter distances, hybrid models are a good choice. Compared to diesel, consumption is often somewhat higher. But modern cars are almost without exception turbocharged turbocharged engines. As a result, the consumption of gasoline engines has been greatly reduced in recent years. Full hybrids also always have an automatic transmission or a continuously variable transmission as standard and are therefore particularly suitable for commuters in urban areas.
Electric cars can also be a good alternative. As a commuter car, they are particularly recommended if a charging option is available at home or at work. Electric cars, like plug-in hybrids, are ideal for commuters – as long as the charging infrastructure is right and they can be conveniently charged at the start or destination. However, in order to be able to drive as much as possible electrically in everyday life with a plug-in hybrid, long distances should always be the exception with this type of drive.
Choosing the right commuter car
It is often not easy to find the right vehicle. After all, anyone who travels a lot has high expectations of a car in which a lot of time is spent.
What you should consider as a commuter before buying a car:
-
Define your individual requirements for the car precisely.
-
Think about which type of drive is ideal for the respective commute.
-
If you often travel long distances, you should also find out about a cheap long-distance car.
-
If you choose an electric car or a plug-in hybrid: Check whether your employer offers a charging option or whether the battery can be charged on the daily commute. A charging station for the home is the convenient option. Maximum safety is provided by a wallbox (wall charging station). You should also consider the costs of installing a wallbox.
-
The car should only ever be as big as absolutely necessary.
Expert advice: Maximilian Bauer, ADAC Technical Centre