If your daily commute requires you to spend upwards of an hour or more on the highway or if you frequently take long road trips, having a vehicle that will make your drive more pleasant can make all the difference. What do you look for when shopping for a car that will cover a lot of miles on the interstate? We’d start with adaptive cruise control to fight driver's fatigue and good highway fuel efficiency to save you pain at the pump. These are our top 5 picks that offer both benefits.
1. Honda Insight
image: Honda
The all-new 2019 Honda Insight is a comfortable hybrid sedan that is based on the Civic but offers more upscale styling and impressive MPG numbers. For those logging hundreds of miles a week, the cost savings of the Insight's fuel efficiency can add up. Depending on the trim, the Honda Insight will offer between 45–49 highway MPG which is competitive with the Toyota Prius. Unlike the Prius, however, the Honda Insight offers a conventionally styled exterior that doesn't scream "hybrid."
In addition to its good looks and impressive fuel efficiency, the Insight offers Honda's Adaptive Cruise Control with Integrated Low-Speed Follow. This helps take the stress out of highway driving, even in heavy traffic. The Adaptive Cruise Control lets the driver set their speed and following interval and the system's camera tracks the distance to the vehicle detected ahead. It then adjusts your speed to maintain the set following interval. Integrated Low-Speed Follow extends the automatic following capability to
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2. Toyota Prius
image: Toyota
The Toyota Prius is a 'love it or hate it' vehicle mostly due to its unique hybrid styling but it's a clear winner in the fuel efficiency category. Anyone that has a long commute to work knows it's painful to watch such a large part of their hard earned money going straight to the Shell station. With a highway MPG between 50-53, the 2019 Toyota Prius will help you justify the commute, no matter how much time you spend on the interstate.
In addition to best-in-class MPG, all models of the 2019 Prius come with Toyota's Safety Sense which offers Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. This advanced cruise control system works by using the front-mounted radar and in-vehicle camera to monitor the speed of the vehicle in front of you and detect your distance. When the vehicle in front slows down, the cruise control will automatically slow you down without deactivating and if a more sudden slowdown occurs ahead, it will alert you and auto apply the brakes.
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3. Volkswagen Jetta
image: Volkswagen
Driving on the expressway for hours a day whether for work or fun can become stressful and costly. To reduce both concerns, consider buying the affordably priced 2019 Volkswagen Jetta. After a long-awaited redesign, the 2019 Jetta boasts a sportier and more refined exterior, increased horsepower and a respectable highway MPG of 40. Plus, its comfortable seats offer a balance of firmness and cushioning which will make the miles and hours fly by with less pain.
As part of Volkswagen's Driver Assistance package, the Adaptive Cruise Control will maintain a preset distance from the vehicle in front of you and can detect when it slows down or speeds up so your vehicle can follow. The top trims of the Jetta including the SEL and SEL Premium come standard with the Adaptive Cruise Control, and it is available on the lower trims to reduce the strain of highway traffic.
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4. Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
image: Hyundai
Choosing the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (non-plug-in) for your daily commute gets you between 44 and 46 highway MPG, a comfortable and stylish interior and new safety features for 2019. After a mild refresh for 2019, the Sonata Hybrid now gets Blind Spot Detection with Rear Traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist standard even in the base SE trim. Upgrading to the Limited trim also gets you Hyundai's Adaptive Cruise Control with start/stop standard.
Hyundai's Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Go includes advanced safety features such as automatic braking. Front radar sensors will detect a slowed down or stopped vehicle ahead and will slow you down and accelerate as needed. If the vehicle stops for over 3 seconds, the driver needs to activate the system.
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5. Chevrolet Equinox
image: GM
If you're looking for something larger than a sedan for the cargo area or passenger space but don't want to sacrifice fuel efficiency for all the highway driving you do, consider the 2019 Chevy Equinox. The available Turbo-Diesel engine gives you 39 highway MPG, beating out most SUVs in its segment. In addition to saving you money on gas, the Chevy Equinox can also save you in repair costs. It has earned the award of most dependable compact SUV from J.D. Power for 2019.
When you upgrade to the Premium trim in the Equinox, you'll get GM's available Adaptive Cruise Control Camera which enhances regular cruise control to allow your vehicle to automatically follow the vehicle in front with a pre-set following distance so all you have to worry about is steering and catching up on the latest episode of your favorite podcast.
