We list the best cars for motorway driving
Find your next car that can cover long distances
We test and rate the contenders
Diesel cars might be getting a lot of bad press right now, but they still rule the roost when it comes to motorway driving, many offering long distance economy along with comfort and refinement.
Spend any time on Britain’s motorways and you’ll see plenty of TDI, dCi and HDi badges. The best hybrid cars may be cleaner, but if you’re covering more than 15,000 miles a year and most of them are on the motorway, a diesel is still the way to go to keep running costs down.
While diesel might be the default choice for long-distance motorway miles, modern petrols are able to combine performance with economy that makes them genuine alternatives. With unleaded costing less at the pumps and no worries about DPF problems, petrols still have appeal, even for long distance drivers.
Here then are the best cars for motorway driving, with options for those looking for either diesel or petrol cars depending on their needs.
If you're looking to save money on a good motorway car, check out the best new and used car deals we've found online.
Year launched: 2016
If you want a refined and classy motorway car, we can think of none better than the high quality Mercedes E-Class. A car designed for covering vast Autobahn distances in serene comfort, it has a superbly comfortable interior, excellent ride quality and feels reassuring Teutonic from behind the wheel.
There’s a wide range of engines available but the E220 d is our choice for covering motorway miles effortlessly. You’ll see close to 51mpg in real-world driving a figure that would be impressive even if the engine clattered like the generator at a budget campsite. But it doesn’t. In fact the not only is the E220 d incredibly quiet at speed, but it’s actually quite pacey and extremely composed.
This is a board-level car with factory floor running costs. It’s also well equipped and all models come with navigation, climate control, Bluetooth, LED headlight, radar cruise control and Mercedes Artico fake leather (but actually very good) upholstery.
Year launched: 2019
Whereas once upon a time the ubiquitous car you’d see on every street corner and supermarket car park was likely a Ford Mondeo (or Ford Sierra/Cortina depending on your age..) the modern-day equivalent is the BMW 3 Series.
Yet despite selling in huge numbers, particularly here in the UK, the 3 Series appeal hasn’t been dented by its popularity. Indeed, it continues to sell like garlic-flavoured crosses at a vampire hunters weekend retreat.
The latest BMW 3 Series really does lay a strong claim to being able to hold the title of ‘all the car you’ll ever need’ it’s that good. BMW hasn’t done anything revolutionary but has refined the formula that made the previous 3 Series so good. The 318d and 320d are the best choices for motorway driving and you can expect to average around 52mpg. You can also add four-wheel drive with an xDrive model.
Year launched: 2016
Okay, so we know the Toyota Avensis is pretty dull. Okay, very dull. If we were cruel we’d say it’s the automotive equivalent of temazepam, but we’re not so we won’t. Let’s stick to ‘sensible’ instead. This is definitely a car you buy with your head rather than your heart. No one ever got excited by an Avensis. But if you want reliability, solid engineering and a car that will last, few things can match the Avensis.
That ability to rack up huge mileages without any issues is what makes the Avensis so appealing, making this an ideal motorway car. The Tourer is more practical and better looking than the saloon (plus more sought after used) so is definitely the one to go for.
The smooth 1.8-litre V-Matic engine is not exactly quick, but it is economical and you can expect a realistic 41mpg while choosing the CVT automatic won’t see this drop too much.
Year launched: 2015
Understated, bordering on anonymous it may be, but the Skoda Superb remains a car that offers what few other rivals can. It’s specialities are comfort and space. The Superb may not be the most dynamic of models, but it’s supremely comfortable and cosseting making it an ideal long-distance car.
True, it may not have a BMW badge on the bonnet, but no BMW this size can offer the amount of space in the back the Superb can. In fact nothing this side of an Mercedes S-Class matches the Skoda Superb for rear space. There’s acres of legroom for those in the back even with both front seats moved all the way back.
The 1.6 TDI Greenline will average more than 60mpg making this incredibly cheap to run, but we’d suggest going for the 2.0 TDI 150 which will still do more than 55mpg but has a lot more get up and go when needed. The Superb is available with petrol power too. The 2.0 TSI is great but thirsty so we’d go for the 1.5 TSI which works surprisingly well.
Year launched: 2015
The Ford Mondeo may not be the company car favourite it once was - in fact it’s becoming quite an uncommon sight these days in car parks awash with SUVs - but it still has something to offer. For starters, it’s a big car which means a huge boot and lots of space for everyone, both those in the back and the front. And while the interior is starting to look dated, it still boasts a great driving position.
The cabin is refined too and the high levels of standard equipment on the latest models (built from 2018 onwards) mean you don't have to raid the options list to get things like touchscreen navigation, dual-zone air-con or a centre armrest for the rear seats.
Consequently, it's an ideal motorway cruiser helped by economical engines, low road noise and a supple ride quality. Our choice is the 2.0 TDCi 150 Econetic which will return 52mpg yet still gives you decent performance when needed.
Year launched: 2018
It’s a toss up here between the excellent Volvo V90 and the smaller V60, but we’re plumping for the latter here, due its cheaper price tag and better economy. The V60 may not have the boot space of the V90 but it echoes its bigger sibling in crucial areas such as comfort and refinement.
And like its larger counterpart, the V60 has the best seats around. Volvo has long been renowned for having brilliant seats which is no surprise when you learn that Volvo works with orthopaedic surgeons to design them. It means that even after long stretches at the wheel, you won’t get out full of aches and pains.
The D3 manual model is the most economical in the range and 54mpg should be achievable in real-world driving. It’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel with 150PS but pulls strongly and never feels like the poor relation to the D4.
Year launched: 2019
Think ride quality and traditionally, you'd think Citroen. The French brand may have changed a lot over the years but it has never lost its tradition of making cars that ride well. And that tradition is certainly alive and well in the C5 Aircross. For our money this is the best riding crossover or SUV (call them what you will) on sale right now. And with Citroen abandoning big cars and traditional saloon, this is now its flagship model.
It may not have the handling prowess of others, we’d say the Peugeot 3008 and SEAT Ateca are much better in corners, but the C5 Aircross trades that in place of a serene and extremely forgiving ride. It makes this the perfect choice of crossover for motorway driving.
The most economical model is the 1.5 BlueHDi 130 which may not be a ball of fire but will happily return 50mpg all day long. The C5 Aircross also comes with Citroen’s excellent 1.2 Puretech petrol engine that delivers far more performance than its size would suggest with respectable fuel economy in the mid-30s.
Year launched: 2018
When it comes to onboard tech, few cars can match the latest Audi A6. This thing has so many systems that we could fill a page explaining what all the different abbreviations and initialisms mean. Audi says it has 39 driver assistance functions - from clever adaptive cruise control which slows down and accelerates using data from the navigation, to parking pilot, which lets you stand outside the vehicle while it parks itself.
But perhaps the A6’s best feature is its interior. It’s been brought thoroughly up to date compared to the outgoing model.
While the 50 TDI with its 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine may have more appeal on paper but we’d avoid it. Not only is it going to be expensive, but its gearbox is frustrating and the car feels noticeably heavier than the four-cylinder diesel. The 40 TDI is actually the better choice and also more economical, expect to see 49mpg.
If you're after a petrol, check out the 40 TFSI as it's a real gem. It may only be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder but with 250PS it has plenty of power in reserve for effortless performance when needed.
Year launched: 2018
The estate version of the Kia Ceed may stand out a bit like a sore thumb alongside the likes of the Mercedes E-Class, but there’s a good reason the Ceed Sportswagon makes an appearance here - fuel economy. The 1.6 CRDi version is incredibly frugal and you can expect to see a genuine 60mpg without having to drive as if you’re on a milk round.
But there’s more to the Ceed than just an economical diesel. The latest Ceed shows Kia at its best. There may be those who still dismiss Kia as a cheap budget make, but spend a few minutes sitting in the Ceed and they will quickly change their mind. The quality inside is top-notch with a finish to match.
True, it’s hardly a barrel of laughs to drive, the Ceed majors on comfort and reassurance rather than fun, but its quality and ability will undoubtedly surprise you.
Year launched: 2016
We could have listed the Passat here but instead we’ve gone for the Volkswagen Tiguan because a) everyone buys SUVs these days and b) the Passat is really boring. Like the Passat though, the Tiguan isn’t cheap and you pay a premium for that Volkswagen badge on the bonnet compared to the similar SEAT Ateca or something like a Kia Sportage. But behind the wheel, the Tiguan feels every inch the Volkswagen.
Reassuringly solid, comfortable on the move and with a top quality interior, it’s not a car that feels built to a budget. And it makes for effortless and smooth motorway progress, helped by the raised driving position and that elevated view out,
The engine line-up is like a ‘Best of Volkswagen’ compilation but the clear choice for motorway miles is the 2.0 TDI 150 which will return 50mpg if you stick to the manual two-wheel-drive model.
If you want refinement, ride quality and economy, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class with a diesel engine is probably the best car for motorway driving.
Toyota has a reputation for making the most reliable cars, with its Avensis, RAV4 and Auris well renowned for being some of the more reliable diesels around.
For economy, a 1.6-litre diesel is the best such as the 1.6 TDI used by numerous Volkswagen, SEAT, Skoda and Audi cars. The 2.0-litre diesel engine from BMW which is popular in the 5 Series and X3 among others, is the best diesel in terms of performance, economy and refinement.