The best commuter cars from a used car dealer

Best Commuter Cars for Any Budget

It is hard to live out of Indianapolis without a reliable and comfortable vehicle if everyday drives downtown are in your daily routine.  Our guide will help you make the right decision and choose the best commuter car at our Indianapolis dealership.

What Is the Best Commuter Car to Buy?

According to several research articles, the most preferable commuter cars for 2021 shoppers are the following:

• 2017 Chevrolet Cruze (2WD 1.4L) . This model will delight you with the MyLink infotainment system, which supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The standard display is 7″, with an additional 8″ available. Chevrolet Cruze in the new body can be equipped with OnStar 4G LTE for Internet access, a wireless charging system for smartphones, and a heated steering wheel and rear seats.
• 2019 Ford Fiesta (2WD 1.5L). You can find a Ford Fiesta equipped with adaptive cruise control, a car park operator, and tracking systems for lane markings and blind zones. The modernized automatic braking system recognizes pedestrians and sees 130 meters ahead.
• 2018 Honda Accord (2WD 1.5L). The characteristic features of the 2018 Honda Accord model year are an attractive appearance, a new platform, a modern automatic with 10 steps, a magnificent interior, and turbocharged engines. For the most comfortable drive, the driver’s seat can be adjusted in 12 directions.
• 2018 Honda Civic (2WD 2.0L). The standard equipment includes a complex of Honda Sensing safety systems, including adaptive cruise control with auto braking function, tracking systems for lane markings and road signs, as well as the Agile Handling Assist stabilization system. On the top versions, adaptive shock absorbers are installed.
• 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Diesel. This pickup truck is full of advanced technology. The most interesting feature is the Multipro Tailgate. This is essentially another door in the tailgate. It consists of three main parts and can be operated in six configurations. GMC also did a good job of filling the cockpit with smart storage pockets and a large center console. Several USB ports are also scattered throughout the interior.

Considerations for choosing the best commuter car for Indianapolis

With an average low temperature of 46 degrees Fahrenheit (8° Celsius), Indianapolis is one of the cooler cities in the U.S., so keep this fact in mind when choosing your next vehicle. In addition, its population is growing at a rate much higher than the national average, meaning there are more people on the road with you. For these reasons, you’ll need a car that’s comfortable enough and has safety features to handle Indy’s unpredictable weather. A convertible will allow you to enjoy the warmer temperatures while driving — but only if you’re willing to sacrifice some protection from the elements!

If you are moving to Indianapolis, IN, and are looking for a new ride, then get yourself a car from Indy Auto Man! We offer free pick-up from Indianapolis International Airport, 7-Day Exchange, and 30-day Price Match guarantees, so you can feel good about the purchase from our car dealership. We strive for a 5-star customer experience!

How to Choose a Commuter Car?

The best commuter car is mostly a matter of individual preferences and needs: best cost of ownership, technology, more weekend fun, or the whole package. However, we can specialize the main criteria to pay attention to when choosing a vehicle for an everyday drive.

• Engine . The optimal engine capacity for a commuter car is up to 1.6 liters. This determines the efficiency: the smaller the volume, the less the fuel consumption. Engines up to 150 hp are enough to keep up with the traffic and go for a safe overtaking. You can also consider hybrid cars , in which an electric motor and an internal combustion engine work together. According to various estimates, hybrids consume 15-50% less fuel than gasoline and diesel cars. At the same time, you don’t risk stopping in the middle of the route with a discharged battery .
• Transmission. The automatic transmission is preferable. Comfort in a modern commuter car is one of the most important criteria. Read more about manual transmission .
• Maneuverability. Maneuverability depends mainly on the turning radius. This radius should be in the range of 4.5 to 5.6 meters to provide the car with sufficient resourcefulness for urban conditions.
• Security systems. Car safety systems can be: active( ABS, it is also anti-lock braking system; traction control system; exchange rate stability system; brake force distribution system; emergency braking assistance system; pedestrian detection system; blind-spot monitoring system, etc.); auxiliary (Adaptive cruise control; parking assistance systems; sign recognition system; descent and ascent assistance systems; driver monitoring system, etc.); passive (belts and airbags).
• Salon. The more options, the better: a multi-wheel to control multimedia without being distracted from the road, a good climate system and an infotainment system with navigation.
• Luggage space. Luggage capacity is important only in case of an urgent need to take everything you need onboard and a little more on top. For the rest, our recommendations are the same: the commuter cars are compact. If you need a small but roomy car, we advise you to choose a hatchback.

Best Commuter Cars from Indy Auto Man

Here is our list of the best commuter cars, which was made according to the experience and opinion of our mechanics, sales managers and clients preferences:

1. Ford Focus
2. Volkswagen Golf
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Chevrolet Volt
5. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Ford Focus

At the heart of the Ford Focus engines are the most modern technologies. They not only provide power and productivity, but also reduce operating costs and harmful emissions.

A 1.5-liter EcoBoost petrol 150 hp has been added to the engine lineup. In addition, the 1.6 engine is still available in two power ratings, 105 and 125 hp.

The third-generation Focus has acquired many innovations: a driver fatigue control system, an automatic parking system, a low-speed collision avoidance system, a robotic transmission with two clutches PowerShift, a Ford SYNC voice control system.

The streamlined body design improves aerodynamics. The manufacturer paid great attention to the safety of the car. This is evidenced by the use of high-strength steel in production and the corresponding conclusions of crash tests .

Volkswagen Golf

The Volkswagen Golf is distinguished by good ergonomics and laconism. Everything is balanced, and the necessary options are available as standard. You will get a wide range of additional options, which increase the comfort and functionality of the compact hatchback.

Volkswagen Golf has about 12 engine variations, and each of them can be considered optimal for any driver. In addition to gasoline and diesel, an electrically powered variant (production model) and a plug-in hybrid appeared in 2014.

In 2016, VW revised the Golf 7 and in early 2017 released an updated Golf 7 for two- and four-door versions, as well as the Golf GTI, Golf GTE and Golf Variant. These models get an innovation previously only seen in luxury BMWs: gesture control for the infotainment system.

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is a compact class C car. The 11th generation of the Toyota Corolla model has been produced since 2012 in Japan. In 2013, Corolla debuted on the American market. The models are represented with two 1.8-liter petrol engines – 132 hp. and 140 horsepower. Together with them, a four-speed automatic, a six-speed manual and a variator are offered.

Inside, the Corolla looks very restrained, but the interior is stylish and comfortable. The high-quality materials and a perfectly readable dashboard are only minor parts of the elements widely loved by drivers. The LED headlights, handles and mirrors painted in the color of the body, eight airbags, power windows, air conditioning, and central locking go as standard equipment. More expensive versions offer rain and light sensors, dual-zone climate control and a powerful multimedia system.

Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt is an innovative commuter car with a modern appearance, smooth body lines, an elongated silhouette and a swift front end design. Inside you will find a lot of ingenious systems designed to make your trip comfortable and safe.

The Chevrolet Volt has a hybrid powertrain consisting of two electric motors and an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is used exclusively for recharging the batteries, and the car is driven by electric motors. The second-generation Volt has an inline petrol atmospheric four power unit with a volume of 1500 cubic centimeters, delivering 101 horsepower at its peak.

This car has good dynamics; the hybrid will pick up a hundred in 8.5 seconds. The power reserve was also increased on some batteries. The sedan will travel 50 miles, and if you fill a full tank, charge all the batteries, and use an internal engine, it will be able to cover 400+ miles.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Thanks to the hybrid engine, the Toyota RAV4 is energy efficient and has low fuel consumption. It is driven by 196 horsepower generated by electric and gasoline engines. The maximum speed of the SUV is 112 m/h. The electric motor is located under the hood lid and interacts with the internal combustion engine, has a capacity of 68 hp.

No need to charge the battery. It is filled from the operation of the car itself (for example, when braking). The manufacturer guarantees that the battery life is limited only by the period of vehicle operation. The SUV is highly efficient. The tank volume is 56 liters. The fuel consumption of the vehicle is 3.3 gal/100 mi (city).

The interior of the hybrid Toyota RAV4 is similar to the traditional version of the SUV. But it has a distinctive feature – an instrument cluster with a hybrid drive indicator instead of a tachometer. Otherwise, they have full parity: the architecture of the front panel with a two-story layout, solid materials and comfortable seating on both rows.

FAQ

What is the best car for long-distance commuting?

When traveling for long distances, the main parameters of the commuter car is its safety and comfort. Look for a car equipped with all the necessary safety features – ABS, active head restraints, panoramic cameras, etc.

As for comfort, you need to choose the winner by yourself. Test drive is the best option to create your own list of the best commuting cars for long travels.

What is the best cheap commuter car?

The choice of cars in the cheap segment is quite wide. You may consider such models as Mazda 2, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Prius, Smart Fortwo or Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

Buy your Commuter Car Today

At Indy Auto Man, we have a variety of brands and models of different years. Choose the commuter cars you like on our website and come for a test drive to compare them on the road!

With the broadest selection of used cars in Indianapolis, the matter of choice is the only difficulty a buyer can face at our dealership. Fortunately, our qualified staff is always here to help you make a well-informed decision and choose the commuter car to provide you with the most comfortable drive.

We also take care of the paperwork and provide comprehensive support in finance issues. Save your time at the dealership and get pre-approved for a car loan right now!