A daily driver often has different requirements than other cars. Even within this class, the kinds of roads you drive on and whether you are bringing kids will influence your decision. When you begin to see what is available, you’re likely to consider the safety features of the vehicle, the storage space and gas mileage. There are some terrific options on the market that you may want to consider as your daily driver.
Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Plug-in
You can find hybrid, electric vehicles and plug-in electric options in the Hyundai Ioniq, but you will especially want to consider the hybrid plug-in. The 1.6-liter engine and the electric motor offer a combined 139 horsepower, which is plenty to get you in and out of traffic. The front seat of this model is spacious, and Hyundai has made many of the interior elements of composite sugar cane and volcanic rock composite materials. A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system helps ensure that you can easily read your text messages, listen to your music and follow navigation in unfamiliar areas. Charge this option in about two hours using 240-volt electricity or about nine hours using 120-volt electricity.
Ford Mustang GT
You will love the way that the Ford Mustang GT handles your daily commute thanks to a multilink rear end and its front strut suspension. Choose between a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine or a 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine. Most options will have a Getrag six-speed manual transmission. You will love the safety features packed into this model, like the four selectable driving modes, including a special one for commuting on snow and ice. This vehicle can go from 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds, and it does a quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.
Hyundai Tucson
The third generation of the Hyundai Tucson has room to seat five passengers, so it may be the perfect family commuter vehicle. The Tucson comes in four different trim levels, with the base level having a 2-liter engine and six-speed automatic, while the other levels offer a 1.6-liter turbo engine and a seven-speed transmission. You can choose between front-wheel and all-wheel drive. Consider models with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot detection, lane departure warning system, lane keeper assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and backup warning sensors. This crossover is very quiet on the road because of its stiff suspension.
MINI Countryman
Choose between the 1.5-liter turbo-three engine offering 134 horsepower and 162 pounds per foot torque or the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 189 horsepower and 207 pounds per foot torque in the MINI Countryman. Most come with a six-speed manual transmission, but you can find options with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles are both available. You will love the upscale interior of this vehicle, and it features an easy-to-use touchscreen with knob and button controls. This vehicle has a longer wheelbase than most crossovers, which helps provide a smoother ride.
GMC Terrain
Anyone can appreciate the comfortably firm bucket seats in the GMC Terrain. If your daily commute often involves hauling other adults or teenagers, they will have plenty of room in the rear seats. Woven sound-deadening materials in the interior help ensure that people can carry on a normal conversation. A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four and nine-speed 0 transmission power this choice. This model comes with an all-wheel-drive system, allowing the driver to disengage the rear drive when desired.
Toyota Corolla
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the budget-friendly Toyota Corolla a five-star safety rating. This model that is available as a sedan or hatchback has a 1.8-liter I-4 engine. Options are available with a manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission. The cabin insulation is outstanding, so riders can easily continue a conversation. This car offers lots of storage, thanks to a 13-cubic-foot trunk as well as a rear seat that folds down to provide even more storage.
Subaru Outback
The all-wheel-drive system in the Subaru Outback gives you confidence that you can tackle any road conditions. The Institute for Highway Safety has named these vehicles built after October 2019 as a Top Safety Pick+. If you frequently haul stuff in the rear cargo space, you will love the optional powered tailgate. This model comes with an all-wheel drive. It also received a good from IntelliChoice for its resale value, insurance costs and maintenance costs.
Honda Civic Sedan
Honda claims that the Civic is the top-selling model among Millennials and Gen Z, and it is easy to see why they are falling in love with this model as their daily driver. Make your life easier by considering options with a passive push-button start and an automatic locking system. This model comes with a generous 15.1-cubic-foot trunk. Consider vehicles with HondaSensing as they come with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and road departure mitigation. Most come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission.
Mazda3
You will love the heads-up display on the Mazda3 that clearly shows you the most vital information on your windshield. Handy knobs for the infotainment system sit on the steering wheel, and they all operate in the same way so that you can keep your concentration on the road. The driver’s seat has extra thigh support built into it so that you enjoy a smooth ride, even on pothole-filled streets. This model is available with a six-speed automatic transmission on the sedan, and six-speed manual transmission is available for the hatchback. Both options come with a 2.5-liter inline-four engine.
Toyota Rav4
You can choose between all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive on the Toyota Rav4. This model’s base engine is the 2.5-liter I-4, and you can find a hybrid option with three electric motors. A six-speed automatic transmission comes in all Rav4s except the hybrid model, which gets a continuously variable transmission. If your daily driver needs to carry a load, you will love this crossover as it can carry up to 1,750 pounds and tow up to 1,500 pounds. Many year options received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Chevrolet Cruze LT Diesel
If you want a diesel vehicle as your daily driver, consider the Chevrolet Cruze LT powered by a 1.6-liter turbodiesel I-4 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The transmission is specially tuned to improve this vehicle’s fuel economy, and you can expect to get about 45 miles per gallon on the highway and 34 miles to the gallon in the city. This car was able to go from 60 to a full stop in 116 feet, which is outstanding even in the small-car class. This vehicle comes with the Watt’s linkage rear suspension, so it stays ultra-comfortable on rough roads.
