Commuting can be a headache. Between the bumper to bumper traffic, the long hours in the car, and the daily highway grind, it is easy to see why commuting is often the worst part of going to work. Metropolitan areas like the highways and byways surrounding the Atlanta metropolitan area can become swamped with traffic during rush hour. That said, commuting through rush hour traffic doesn’t have to be the worst part of your day, especially if you’re behind the wheel of a car designed for this kind of driving. Of all the manufacturers out there that create commute-worthy vehicles, Chevy is certainly one of the best. They offer a plethora of vehicles in their lineup that is specifically designed to remove stress from the driving equation and are tooled with the latest in automotive tech to make even sitting in bumper to bumper traffic as seamless as possible. However, before you race down to your local Atlanta Chevy dealer to pick up the latest and greatest Chevy commuter car, we recommend you check out some of our favorites in the lineup.
What Makes a Great Commuter Car?
Commuting isn’t easy, and unfortunately, a lot of us do it. According to Business Insider, 77% of Americans commute to work on a daily basis. That is a huge number, considering just how many cars end up clogging stretches of pavement across the country. So, before we delve into what Chevy cars fit the commuter lifestyle, let’s focus on what makes a great commuter car, to begin with.
The average American commute is 26.1 minutes, which rounds out to 4.35 hours a week if you commute every day. That’s a huge chunk of time in your car, equivalent to half of a typical workday. So, we should expect our commuter cars to offer plenty of comforts and luxuries that may be less essential in other vehicles.
To start, having a substantial infotainment system is a must. Sure, you can get by with a simple AUX jack or radio, but after so many minutes and hours spent behind the wheel, these simple pleasures can become stale. For this reason, when we search for a great commuter car, we look for something that has all the infotainment bells and whistles. So that means, a sizeable infotainment screen, Bluetooth connectivity, and of course Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
What is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay? Well, these smart features allow for seamless connection with your smartphone to your infotainment system, giving you access to some of your favorite phone applications.
We also expect great commuter vehicles to have substantial fuel economy. Commuting daily with a vehicle that earns under 20 miles per gallon can become expensive quite quickly, worse if you have a 20+ mile commute. For this reason, anything below 25 miles per gallon is less than favorable in our opinion, and hybrid vehicles that bump up to the high 30s and 40s are certainly ideal.
Finally, one of the main things we look for are features that make driving easier. Automotive technology has transformed dramatically over recent years. Nowadays, vehicles can pilot themselves to an extent. With features like adaptive lane control and automatic emergency braking, some of the driving is done on its own, which can remove a lot of the strain associated with long commutes.
So, how does the Chevy lineup of commuter cars stack up based on these expectations? Well, we’ll take a look at some of their leading commuter vehicles to help you find the ultimate commuter car.
The 2019 Chevy Volt
First on our list is the 2019 Chevy Volt. When somebody says modern sedan, this is exactly what we picture. The 2019 Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid meaning its equipped with an electric battery giving it a substantial boost to its overall mileage. The battery inside the Chevy Volt has a range of 53-miles, but the combined range of fuel and electric bumps up to 420 miles. As a result, the EPA-rated fuel economy of the Chevy Volt is a remarkable 42 mpg combined.
But how does the Chevy Volt stack up in terms of infotainment and safety features? Well, the 2019 Chevy Volt is certainly cutting-edge when it comes to technology. The hybrid sedan offers an 8-inch diagonal touch-screen which is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. The Chevy Volt also meets our expectation of safety as it offers up adaptive cruise control and even lane-keep assist. The latter feature, helps you stay within your lane without even touching the wheel, bringing your commute to the next level.
The 2019 Chevy Volt is certainly a car from the future, and we’re only scratching the surface as to what this vehicle offers. While this Chevy sedan is certainly a contender as an ultimate commuter, it isn’t the only vehicle on our list.
The 2019 Chevy Cruze
Not all commuter cars need to be hybrids, and the 2019 Chevy Cruze is evidence of that. Starting with fuel economy, the 2019 Chevy Cruze earns a considerable 31 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway, making it a worthwhile pick for the daily commuter. When it comes to infotainment, the Chevy Cruze is on par with its hybrid counterpart, offering a 7-inch diagonal touch-screen display which is compatible with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
Much like the Chevy Volt, the 2019 Chevy Cruze also offers intuitive smart safety features such as automatic emergency braking and active lane control. Unfortunately, the 2019 Chevy Cruze falls short by not offering adaptive cruise control, a feature that can truly make any commute seamless. However, other features like remote start, save the Chevy Cruze somewhat. While the Chevy Cruze may not be the perfect commuter car, it certainly deserves some recognition in terms of offering a still comfortable and cutting-edge driving experience.
How Chevy Stacks Up
If you step foot into an Atlanta Chevy dealership, chances are you’ll spot these two vehicles gracing their showroom floor. They both offer a considerable amount of curb appeal, and once behind the wheel will certainly impress even the staunchest of drivers. That said, the Chevy lineup has some worthwhile competition. Sure, the 2019 Chevy Volt offers a driving experience that is equipped with the bleeding edge in automotive tech, it isn’t the only vehicle on the market breaking the mold. Comparing the Chevy Volt against other industry leaders can feel like splitting hairs, but these details are important when purchasing a new car. On the other hand, the 2019 Chevy Cruze offers a fairly middling commute experience. While it can certainly outrank other ‘commuter’ vehicles, it doesn’t quite make the mark as an ultimate commuter car.
So, does Chevy make the cut? The Chevy Volt is an incredible drive, and if that is the direction Chevy is going in, then our answer is an absolute yes. Sadly, Chevy is no longer making the Volt after 2019, but they will be moving onto newer and more exciting electric vehicles for all commuters. That said, there are still vehicles in the Chevy lineup that still feel a little trapped in the past. We urge our readers to head down to their local Chevy dealership to see for themselves if these vehicles live up to the title of ‘ultimate commuter.’ Moving forward, we’re excited to see what Chevy has in store for us, and how their vehicles can stand out and revolutionize what we expect from the traditional commuter car.
