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AAA Releases Its Top Vehicle Picks for Commuters
Long commutes have become an increasingly common daily activity for many Americans, and having the right vehicle for those long drives is key not only to saving money and being environmentally concious, but also staying safe and comfortable during many hours on the road.
The average motorist spends about 41 minutes a day traveling about 22.5 miles roundtrip to/from work in personal vehicles, according to the National Household Travel Survey.
AAA Auto Buying’s team of experts, who test drove and reviewed hundreds of vehicles for the AAA AutoMaker vehicle research web site (AAA.com/AutoMaker), have compiled a list of their top vehicles picks for commuters based upon practicality, safety, comfort, fuel efficiency and affordability.
AAA’s Top Picks for Commuter Vehicles
Honda Insight (pictured above): This car is among the ultimate in gasoline fuel economy while being reasonably comfortable for the driver and front-seat passenger. It’s also less costly and more fun to drive than some of its hybrid competitors.
Ford Fusion: Four-cylinder versions offer an appealing combination of power, riding comfort and handling competence. The Hybrid offers even more economy, but the fuel savings come with a major bump in the purchase price.
Volkswagen Jetta TDI: Everything that you ever hated about diesels has been exorcised in this latest version of the Volkswagen diesel engine. It is quiet, with just a trace of diesel clatter at idle; peppy, especially when underway; and every bit as economical as the most miserly hybrids. It also is great fun to drive. Comfortable front seats are a plus.
Hyundai Elantra: The new Blue edition is good for 35 miles per gallon. This fourth generation Elantra also is reasonably accommodating for a driver and three passengers with the interior nicely done. The 10-year/100,000-mile warranty suggests that you could keep this car in the daily commuting grind for years.
Subaru Legacy/Outback: These new models with their horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engines perform very well, and with their redesign for 2010, they now offer much better fuel economy and enhanced rear seat leg room. And for commuters facing snowy rides to work, the all-wheel drive helps ensure they will make it to work every time.
Honda Civic: Affordable, dependable, economical and comfortable, the Civic is one of the better performing compacts for a wide range of uses, including commuting. For drivers who want to enjoy the trip even more, the 197 horsepower Si sedan deserves a careful look.
Chevrolet Malibu: Stylish inside and out, the Malibu also is a competent performer on the road. Four-cylinder models offer more than enough power for the daily commute and promise decent fuel economy. The passenger cabin is nicely finished and roomy, both in the front and rear, making it a good choice for carpooling.
Honda Accord: Good for the commute and good for family transportation, the Accord is roomy, solid and economical when equipped with the four-cylinder engine. It also offers road manners that are beyond reproach.
Mazda3: The body for 2010 may not be to everyone’s taste, but there is no arguing with its crisp handling and above average power for the compact field. Fuel economy also is good. The ride can be a little flinty, so commuters facing long stretches of neglected urban highways may want to look elsewhere. However, for people who enjoy driving, the handling will more than make up for a few abrupt ride motions.
Commuters Vehicles Offering Efficiency and More
Practicality is an important factor that many commuters look for when seeking the ideal vehicle for long commutes. However, AAA Auto Buying experts understand that some want a vehicle that can serve dual purposes such as an efficient commuter vehicle that addresses needs for family or recreation or desires for luxury or fun. Because of this, AAA offers their picks for vehicles that can help address consumers’ secondary needs while still providing a smart choice for long commutes.
Mini Cooper: A premium subcompact, the Mini is both sporty and economical with fuel. Few cars are as much fun to drive. Commuters will be able to take one passenger only and the purchase price is higher than you might expect, based on size alone. However, few cars are as enjoyable on the road or offer as many safety features. Commuters might even choose to take the long way home.
Chevrolet Corvette: Who says the drive to work has to be boring? The Corvette is anything but, and when driven appropriately, it can even return near-compact car fuel economy of around 26 mpg on the highway.
Buick Enclave: Handling the commute for up to eight people, the Enclave combines an exceptionally quiet ride with competent handling and surprising room in all three rows. It makes for a smart choice for those seeking a large family vehicle on the weekends.
Mercedes-Benz GL: Roomy seating for seven, unexcelled refinement, all-wheel drive and the option of a surprisingly economical (for the vehicle size) diesel engine make this a highly desirable commuter for multi-adult carpools.
Volkswagen GTI: Sporty, fun to drive and able to return mid- to upper-20 mile per gallon fuel economy results with the 200-hp turbocharged engine, the GTI is full of surprises. Even the rear seat is good for two adults and the cargo area is surprisingly roomy. Four workers can easily store large laptop carrying briefcases in the rear and then be quite comfortable for the ride to and from work.
BMW 3-Series: The first sports sedan remains the best by many measures. What more enjoyable way to get to work and then return home? The engines are impressive for their power and refinement, the handling is top notch and the build quality is excellent, as would be expected for the price.
Insurance
Watch Out: Uninsured Motorist on Board
A high percentage of vehicles driven on the roadways of the State of Washington are uninsured or underinsured.
What this means is that if you are a responsible Washington insured motorist, with liability and collision coverage, there are holes in your insurance coverage unless you include underinsured motorist cover (UM) as part of your policy. Without UM coverage, if you, a family member, friend or loved one is in a serious motor vehicle collision with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you likely will recover little, if any, reimbursement of your medical bills, wage loss, economic loss and recover pain and suffering or other general damages.
With the summer season of heavy highway driving upon us, it is extremely important to get a check up of your insurance coverage and determine if you have adequate policy limits. The strongest advice anyone can give is for you to call your insurance agent to confirm you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UIM).
Your Washington state casualty insurance statute, RCW 48.22.030(1), requires all insurers, who do business in the state of Washington, to offer you coverage for UM/UIM and PIP coverage. All insurers are mandated by Washington laws to provide this coverage to you unless you affirmatively reject both PIP and UM/UIM coverage in writing. PIP and UIM coverage are some of the cheapest ways you can protect yourself, your family and loved ones against the financially irresponsible and negligent underinsured or uninsured motorist in Washington.
Nearly 20 to 30 percent of the motorists on our state’s highways are either uninsured or underinsured. If you are in a collision, either as a motorist, pedestrian, jogger, cyclist, motorcyclist or in some other manner, the chances are very high that you will be injured by someone who is underinsured. UM/UIM coverage is a simple solution to guard against this risk.
PIP coverage is another very inexpensive way to insure full health care coverage in the event of a collision. Premiums are relatively cheap. If you have PIP coverage included in your automobile policy, PIP insurance is like traditional old time insurance. PIP allows you to select any doctor or health care provider you wish to see without the administrative entanglements of a healthcare gatekeeper as you would encounter in most managed care, PPO or related health care systems.
—By Rob Kornfeld is an attorney living in Washington. Call your AAA Insurance agent at (877) 222-4678 to make sure you have PIP and UIM coverages.
On the road
Get Your App in Gear
With gasoline approximately 55 cents higher per gallon than this time last year and saving money still a top
priority for many Americans, those with an Apple iPhone can use AAA's
TripTik® Mobile application to compare fuel prices at stations close to
home or on the road. AAA TripTik Mobile is the first free app to offer
access to frequently updated gas prices, as well as maps, directions and
AAA travel information.
"For those considering a
road trip this summer, a major expense to account for in a travel
budget is the cost of fuel," said Bill Wood,
managing director, AAA Publishing. "AAA's TripTik® Mobile app will be a
valuable resource by providing the most up-to-date fuel price
information available for free at your fingertips."
The AAA TripTik Mobile
app is a GPS-based, mobile version of AAA.com's TripTik Travel Planner,
and similarly shows fuel prices and spots AAA Approved hotels and
restaurants, attractions, AAA offices and other points of interest near a
user's location. Hotel information includes AAA's Diamond Ratings based
on professional in-person inspections and the option to call for
reservations with the touch of a button.
"Even carefully planned
road trips can incur unexpected detours," said Wood. "As the summer
travel season approaches, AAA is pleased to provide motorists with
reliable travel information on the go to assist them in finding fuel, a
place to stay or updated directions. Armed with this information,
motorists can take the stress out of road trip planning."
As a full-feature
on-the-go application, AAA TripTik Mobile provides maps and directions
to get users to their destinations. The app can calculate and display
the route to a selected AAA point of interest or to a user-entered
address. It provides voice guidance for the next maneuver at the press
of a button or by shaking the iPhone. The app requires uninterrupted
Wi-Fi access for full functionality on iPod Touch devices. AAA TripTik
Mobile uses the latest mapping data from the navigation market leader
NAVTEQ.
AAA TripTik Mobile is
the third free app offered by AAA, preceded by AAA Discounts and AAA
Roadside. The AAA Discounts app, which has been downloaded more than
800,000 times, also uses GPS technology to acquire a user's location and
displays nearby AAA Show Your Card & Save locations. With AAA
Roadside, AAA members requiring emergency service can quickly send their
location, vehicle description and specific breakdown details directly
to AAA. The apps are available for download at the iTunes Store.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure
travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with
travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its
founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a
leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA
clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
Member Advocacy
