Which car should I buy for motorway commuting?
I am looking for a car for motorway commuting and I am spiralling down an endless rabbit hole of options! I drive around 500 miles a week - a mix of 80% double carriage/motorway and 20% single carriage/broads/town. Comfort and economy are important to me so ideally I'm thinking of a biggish car (though I'm not keen on SUVs). I do quite like my options too (i.e. adaptive cruise control, digital dashboard). My budget is around £30k and I'm considering the following: Mercedes-Benz C-Class or E-Class, BMW 3 Series or 5 Series, Skoda Octavia or Superb, Jaguar XE or XF, or Volkswagen Arteon. What do you recommend?
Asked on 5 November 2021 by mihai
Answered by
Russell Campbell
The Skoda Superb estate scores well for user satisfaction and your budget will get you a post-facelift example with all the toys you mention.
For ultimate comfort, the Mercedes C-Class is a good shout and it's just been replaced so there may be deals to be done on slightly older cars. The E-Class is even more comfortable and many of them will have been specified with air suspension that takes them to another level compared to the rivals you mention.
The Jaguars offer a great balance between comfort and handling, particularly the XF, but they're feeling a little dated now.
The BMW prioritises comfort at the slight expense of comfort, but both the 3 and 5 Series are still great cars to do lots of miles in.
For ultimate comfort, the Mercedes C-Class is a good shout and it's just been replaced so there may be deals to be done on slightly older cars. The E-Class is even more comfortable and many of them will have been specified with air suspension that takes them to another level compared to the rivals you mention.
The Jaguars offer a great balance between comfort and handling, particularly the XF, but they're feeling a little dated now.
The BMW prioritises comfort at the slight expense of comfort, but both the 3 and 5 Series are still great cars to do lots of miles in.
Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.
Honest Used Car Prices
From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.
Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....Similar questions
I drive a 60 mile commute each day and would like a large car to replace my Range Rover Evoque. Can you recommend something that will get me as much MPG as possible please?
I have about £6000 to spend on a used car. I'll use it for a daily 25 mile commute in rush hour and, as my wife has a Volkswagen Up!, it will be our main car for longer journeys. I'd like a balance of...
I'm looking at replacing our current car for a nice, fuel-efficient car for our daily commute. Currently, I drive a 140-mile round trip every working day so looking for something that's frugal, yet isn’t...
Related models
.jpg?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
Superb ride comfort and fuel economy. Eight-speed automatic is excellent. Interior is much improved from 2019.
.jpeg?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
Offers limousine levels of comfort and space, but with a very affordable price tag. Efficient engine options include plug-in hybrid models. Boot capacity is truly huge.
Great blend of ride quality and enjoyable handling. Comfortable and refined. Well-equipped as standard. Fleet-friendly diesel engine.
Superb refinement and quality, impressive handling, decent equipment levels, automatic as standard.
High quality interior with impressive amounts of space, comfortable on the move.
Innovative infotainment system that looks great. Interior looks pretty swish. Comfortable and easy to drive.
Great to drive with a wide range of refined engines. Looks and feels very classy. New infotainment from late in 2022 means it's now entirely up-to-date.
.jpg?width=115&height=75&rmode=crop)
Extremely comfortable with excellent ride quality. Great practicality and a large boot. Even better quality inside than its predecessor. Impressive all-rounder.
Real mini S-Class look and feel. Impressive technology and cabin ambience. Excellent ride and refinement.
Elsewhere on 
.jpg)
