Have you been spending a significant amount of time on the road just to get to and from your workplace? According to government statistics, the number of people spending more than 2 hours getting to and from work each weekday has gone up by almost a third since 2011.
If you are part of the statistics, you will definitely want to be driving a car that is not only reliable and comfortable, but most importantly, does not feed on fuel like nobody’s business.
Not every car is well-suited to a long-distance road trip. Driving unsuitable cars may result in a stiff-riding roadster that may lead to a wrenching backache for the both driver and passenger alike. Keep in mind, just because a sedan has a bigger back seat doesn’t mean that it will deliver efficiency and comfort!
The good news is there’s no shortage of used cars that fit the bill in terms of performance and emissions, so here are 10 of the best cars (ranging from most affordable to pricier cars) for long commutes.
10. Honda Jazz 1.5V
The petrol-powered Jazz might have been old but gold. With style and a sparkling personality to match, Jazz attracts the young and youthful-at-heart to live life to the fullest. Even in fuel economy, the Jazz does not disappoint as it is EEV certified!
It comes with safety features such as emergency stop signal (ESS) to alert other drivers to stay clear, hazard lights flash automatically on sudden braking as well as vehicle stability assist (VSA) that helps to reduce understeer or oversteer around tight corners. Best of all, it is one of the most affordable car in the list!
9. Toyota Yaris 1.5G
Toyota Yaris 1.5G comes with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) that stabilises the Toyota Yaris to prevent understeering or oversteering when turning corners as well as Traction Control (TRC) that detects wheel spin on slippery road surfaces and helps adjust braking force and engine power to regain traction.
You can also enjoy improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions with a quieter and smoother engine in the Toyota Yaris by switching to its ECO mode. Toyota Yaris is considered Jazz’s closest rival. Albeit slightly higher price, it has a smoother CVT transmission and a better ride, plus an even more impressive fuel consumption figures! Yes, more fuel savings!
8. Volkswagen Vento
The Volkswagen Vento is the most compact sedan in Volkswagen Group Malaysia’s line up. Formerly known as the Polo Sedan, it competes with the likes of the Ford Fiesta Sedan, Mazda 2 Sedan, Honda City, Nissan Almera, and Proton Persona.
There are 2 variants available of Vento: 1.6L Comfortline and 1.2L Highline, with the latter being more fuel efficient as it consumes one litre less (5.5L) per 100km compared to the 1.6-litre unit. Being very fuel efficient makes it one of the best features of a suitable long-distance car.
7. Honda City 1.5 Hybrid
Under the bonnet lies a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that does 110 PS and 134 Nm, hooked up to an electric motor that contributes another 30 PS and 160 Nm. It has spacious cabin with generous leg and shoulder room, giving both driver and passengers a comfortable ride over the long journey. On the move, the engine is quiet enough, aided by electric motors.
You may enjoy improved fuel efficiency with the push of the ECON button. Honda City Hybrid consumes 5.7-litre/100 km, making it a relatively fuel efficient car. The current City and its hatchback brother Jazz feature a hybrid powertrain but we’ve got to give more credit to the one with the booty. The Honda City Hybrid is one of the most affordable hybrid cars in Malaysia, making it a definite decent buy!
6. Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Jetta is an affordable car for long distances as it is rated to achieve 30 mpg city/40 mpg highway with its 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The base S model comes with some very useful features, like LED headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, and VW App Net Connect.
The Jetta can also store up to four driver profiles, remembering your personalization preferences for a wide variety of different settings and systems. You can expect a quiet, smooth, composed ride from the Jetta while you cover long distance, definitely one of the more affordable cars that goes a long way, in both distance and period of ownership!
5. Honda Civic
Inspired by Honda’s Man Maximum Machine Minimum philosophy, Civic features an ultra-spacious interior. Its generous headroom and legroom makes riding in the Civic an absolute pleasure. Its thoughtful features give you an exceptional experience on the road.
Stuck in a jam? Drive on in fuel‑saving mode with just a push of the ECON Button. Honda Covic’s fuel‑efficient smooth and stepless transmission heightens the driving experience, while a leather gear boot adds a touch of luxury.
4. Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai Tucson is a mid-size 5-seater SUVs like the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi ASX, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan. The Hyundai Tucson range of engines is probably the widest in the segment. The range topping variant is the turbocharged diesel 2.0-litre R-series CRDI engine. It delivers 178 PS and 400 Nm, driving the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic.
The new Tucson connects your senses with an advanced Human machine interface (HMI) for your ultimate driving pleasure. It also comes with a spacious interior for your driving comfort, as well as being quiet and refined on the highway. A button on the centre console conveniently offers a choice of 3 driving modes – normal, Sports, and Eco to match your mood and driving conditions.
3. Mazda CX-5
CX-5 features Mazda’s signature Kodo design inspired looks and various Skyactiv technologies. The range-topping CX-5 in Malaysia is the 2.2-litre Skyactiv-D four-cylinder turbodiesel mill that churns out 175hp at 4,500rpm and 420Nm of torque.
The flagship of the CX-5 model, the 2.2 Skyactiv-D comes with the full i-Activesense advanced driving assistance system which are lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, drowsiness detection, and Smart City Brake Support with reverse protection. It is one of the best looking SUVs that has a smooth powertrain and is fuel saving too!
2. Honda Accord
Today’s 10th-generation Accord is the best in a long line of excellent Honda vehicles. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and 10-speed automatic transmission ensures that you will have an efficient, smooth, quiet highway machine. It also comes with Honda Sensing and LaneWatch to keep you aware if you start to go off-track, in case you are too tired or doze off after crawling through the jam for extended time.
The rear seat has plenty of space, and the 16.7-cubic-foot trunk can handle luggage like a full-size car. The Accord is a nice place to sit while you soak up the miles with your loved ones, making it one of the best cars for family road trips.
1. Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry is built on Toyota’s latest TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform that promises better ride and handling, and easier integration of advanced driving aids. It promises to be the safest and best handling Camry ever, while being fuel-efficient as well!
The all-new Camry comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense, which includes the full suite of advanced driving aids systems such as the Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with Steering Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), just to name a few. With such a high level of active safety systems, vehicle stability control (VSC) and seven airbags is a given.
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