10 best cars for long-distance driving

Whether you have a long commute or regularly visit family miles from home, if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel here are 10 great cars you should consider.

With engineering and technology so advanced in cars these days, even the smallest of superminis are typically perfectly liveable for a long-distance journey. Impressive when you consider it wasn’t all that long ago that the thought of a cross-country journey in a city car would probably have you writing the whole thing off.

Some cars are much better at the task than others, though. Here, we’ve put together 10 cars that combine impressive efficiency with exceptional comfort, useful technology and spacious interiors to make light work of long drives.

1. Skoda Superb

• Exceptional refinement and lots of practicality
• Diesel and hybrid options available
• Excellent value for money

Forgive the cliche for the moment, but the Skoda Superb is just that: superb. The Czech manufacturer’s biggest saloon combines trademark space and practicality with a supremely smooth ride and excellent refinement that keeps out harsh wind and road noise.

It’s also a rare new car that’s still available with a diesel option, which will be your best bet if you’re regularly crunching through motorway miles with a quoted efficiency of around 55mpg.

Plug-in hybrid models are also a safe bet if you’re able to charge at home regularly, though it’s worth considering that opting for this version will cut the cavernous 645 litres of boot space in the saloon to 510 litres. There’s an estate available which will help alleviate that, at least.

2. Mercedes CLA Electric

• One of the longest-range EVs on sale today
• Backed up with a wonderful interior and great tech
• Winner of the Carwow 2026 Outstanding EV Award

The days of range anxiety are almost behind us, as proven by the Mercedes CLA Electric, which is one of the longest-range EVs on sale today.

Go for the 250+ Sport, and that comes with a mighty quoted range of 484 miles on a single charge. Our real-world testing returned 357 miles across a mix of roads, which is very impressive, and a 320kW charging rate means you can (in theory) add 124 miles in just 10 minutes at a compatible charger.

There’s so much more in the CLA’s arsenal than range, too. It’s refined and very comfortable, and it’s absolutely loaded with technology inside. We even named it as our 2026 Outstanding EV Award winner.

3. Hyundai Ioniq 9

• Incredibly spacious and practical SUV
• Huge battery with impressive range figures
• Winner of the Carwow 2026 Comfortable Cruiser Award

If you need to carry a lot of people over a long distance, nothing does it better than the Hyundai Ioniq 9. This enormous seven-seater SUV is hugely practical, has lots of space throughout the interior and rides well. Perfect for those big family holidays, then.

It’s not exactly efficient, which doesn’t come as a surprise for a near three-tonne electric SUV, but its gigantic battery pack ensures it’s not lacking in range. Hyundai quotes its most efficient version at 389 miles, but expect around 270 miles in the real world.

With 350kW rapid charging support, it won’t take too long to charge back up during a service station stretch, although it could be a bit costly to run. Despite that, it’s a worthy winner of our 2026 Comfortable Cruiser Award.

4. Range Rover

• One of the most refined cars ever built
• Beautiful interior and loads of tech
• Diverse range of engines

You may need deep pockets for a Range Rover, but there’s a reason it’s one of the most popular cars for the UK’s wealthiest people.

It’s one of the most comfortable and refined cars ever built, to be quite frank. That’s matched with a luxurious interior and a wealth of tech, including noise-cancelling speakers to isolate you from exterior sounds, as well as a very strong range of engines.

Right now, you can have it with powerful petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid options, with a long-awaited electric version now deep into development.

5. Mercedes E-Class Estate

• Comfortable air suspension as standard
• Huge boot space
• Incredibly efficient diesel available

While the Mercedes S-Class may be the ultimate Mercedes to be driven in, you’re only going to make the most of it as a back-seat passenger. Driving yourself? Its smaller sibling, the E-Class, is the one we’d go for.

The Estate is the pick of the range as it comes standard-fit with air suspension on the rear axle, which does a fantastic job of absorbing bumps in the road to create one of the smoothest-riding cars on the market. It helps you get a gigantic boot, too.

For mile-munching, we’d look at the E220d, which is easily capable of hitting over 60mpg on the motorway and could come close to 1,000 miles from a single tank.

6. Honda Civic

• Quirky but efficient hybrid engine
• Excellent comfort and refinement
• Sensible interior layout

We think the Honda Civic deserves more love. As buyers move away from traditional hatchbacks to higher-riding SUVs, the Civic still remains one of the most compelling cars at its price point.

You can only have it with one engine in, which is a particularly quirky hybrid setup, but the most important thing is that it will comfortably return over 55mpg.

It can be accused of being a little dull inside, but the interior ergonomics are fantastic, and refinement is exceptional. Standard-fit adaptive cruise control will be a welcome feature for big motorway miles, too.

7. Volvo XC90

• Old, but still gold
• Updated in 2025 with new looks and tech
• Winner of the Carwow 2026 Adventurer’s Choice Award

The Volvo XC90 feels like it’s been around forever, but a recent facelift has kept this iconic SUV at the very top of the game.

With a fresh look and revised tech, including a brilliant new Google-based infotainment system, it remains one of the most compelling cars on the market and a worthy winner of the Carwow 2026 Adventurer’s Choice Award.

While it’s a little uncomfortable over bumps at low speeds, it comes into its own when cruising on a motorway, where the XC90 feels almost Range Rover smooth. Combine that with a spacious interior and a strong range of hybrid engines, and it’s a strong choice for buyers taking on big miles.

8. Tesla Model 3

• Exceptional range is among the best-in-class
• Access to Tesla’s Supercharger network
• Tonnes of technology to play with

Although the Tesla Model 3 has been on sale for years, with its most recent significant update back in 2024, it has firmly cemented itself as a go-to family car.

It continues to offer an impressive range despite newer rivals catching and passing the Tesla, with a quoted figure as high as 421 miles. In the real world, expect that to dip under 350 miles, which is still an impressive figure. Plus, you’ll have access to Tesla’s reliable and widely-available Supercharger network.

Getting used to its buttonless interior can be a pain, but master it, and you’ll fall in love with the level of technology offered.

9. Citroen C5 Aircross

• Exceptionally comfy
• Efficient plug-in hybrid available
• Winner of the 2026 Carwow Family Values Award

The Citroen C5 Aircross carries the torch for the brand’s reputation of building very comfortable family cars. Its strongest selling point is its supple suspension, which makes both town and motorway driving a relaxing experience.

Although not brisk, its plug-in hybrid option is a great choice for an efficient engine, especially so if you’re able to regularly charge at home. An electric version is available in the form of the e-C5 Aircross, but its range isn’t much to shout about.

It’s spacious inside, too, which will be handy for ensuring the kids don’t start squabbling in the back too soon into a long journey. It took a well-deserved Family Values Award during the 2026 Carwow Awards.

10. Skoda Fabia

• Small but smart
• Excellent refinement
• Smooth-shifting dual-clutch gearbox

Although smaller than anything else on this list, the Skoda Fabia deserves its place here. Despite its stature, it’s an exceptionally smooth-riding car that does a brilliant job of isolating tiring road noise from the cabin.

Engine choices are limited to a handful of petrol options, but a smooth-shifting dual-clutch automatic comes as standard on higher power output cars, which are the ones you’ll want for covering larger distances.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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