10 best comfortable cars on the market of 2024

Having a car with racy suspension and body hugging sports seats may sound like a lot of fun, and it is. However, sometimes all you want is something which will gently waft you home from the office in comfort. With this in mind, here are the top 10 most comfortable cars on sale today.

Here are the most comfortable cars on sale:

1. BMW i5
2. Mercedes S-Class
3. Citroen C5 X
4. Mercedes E-Class
5. Audi Q5
6. Volvo XC90
7. Nissan Qashqai
8. Lexus UX
9. Skoda Fabia
10. Honda Civic

1. BMW i5

• Starting price: £74,105
• Recommended trim: M Sport
• Recommended engine: eDrive 40
• Wowscore: 9/10

The all-new BMW i5 is the first all-electric 5 Series ever made, and it’s sublime suspension earned it the Carwow Car Of the Year Award in the Comfortable Cruiser category. It glides over bumps with little to no fuss, and the lack of an engine under the bonnet makes it serenely quiet as well.

There’s plenty of tech on board to take the strain out of motorway slogs. You get adaptive cruise control which can keep you a safe distance from the car in front, steer to keep you in lane and even bring you to a stop in traffic. You can choose between a single motor model with rear-wheel drive and 340hp, or there’s the bonkers all-wheel-drive M60 version with 601hp. If all you want is a big, wafty motorway cruiser, the rear-wheel drive model will be more than adequate.

2. Mercedes S-Class

• Starting price: £93,920
• Recommended trim: AMG Line
• Recommended engine: S580e plug-in hybrid
• Wowscore: 9/10

You can’t talk about comfort without mentioning the Mercedes S-Class. This luxury limousine is absolutely packed with technology to make sure it glides over even the biggest of imperfections with no fuss, and it’s extraordinarily quiet as well.

It may not be quite as striking as something like a BMW 7 Series, and the interior quality isn’t quite as good as that car’s either. It’s still a stunning place to spend time though, and there’s more than enough entertainment tech on board to keep you and your passengers happy on the move.

3. Citroen C5 X

• Starting price: £28,695
• Recommended trim: Max
• Recommended engine: 1.2-litre petrol
• Wowscore: 8/10

Moving on to something a bit more down-to-earth, the Citroen C5 X is outrageously comfortable for a car at this price. There are much more expensive premium models which could learn a thing or two from this car, with Citroen’s clever Advanced Comfort Suspension soaking up all the imperfections.

This is why the C5 X was highly commended in the Comfortable Cruiser category at the 2024 Carwow Car of the Year Awards. The trade-off for the comfort is a car which tends to lean a bit through the bends, and the distinctive styling may not be for everyone.

4. Mercedes E-Class

• Starting price: £55,290
• Recommended trim: AMG Line
• Recommended engine: E220D diesel
• Wowscore: 9/10

Another highly commended Comfortable Cruiser in the Carwow Car of the Year Awards 2024, the new Mercedes E-Class is a fantastic car for covering long distances. It’s refined, smooth to drive and you have plenty of driver assistance tech on board to take the strain out of daily driving.

The E220 diesel offers a great blend of performance and economy, however the 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid is quieter on the move. It’s also a shame that the super-comfortable air suspension is an optional extra.

5. Audi Q5

• Starting price: £48,175
• Recommended trim: Sport
• Recommended engine: 2.0-litre diesel
• Wowscore: 9/10

The Audi Q5 is a great jack-of-all-trades family SUV. It feels beautifully built inside and out, is great to drive with immense stability and accurate controls, and is a relaxing place in which to spend time. Optional air suspension adds another string to the Q5’s bow by letting it absorb even the biggest bumps while also smoothing out cracked and rough road surfaces. It’s also pleasingly hushed on the move with its diesel engines being among the quietest currently on sale.

There’s plenty of toys available for the Q5 to make life easier behind the wheels, such as the Tour Pack which can steer, accelerate and brake for you on motorways and in traffic. It’s just unfortunate that this, along with a lot of the tech on this car, is a pricey optional extra. Still, at least the engines on offer are quiet and refined, with the 2.0-litre diesel being the pick of the range. If you want a taste of EV motoring however, there are two plug-in hybrid models available as well.

6. Volvo XC60

• Starting price: £47,570
• Recommended trim: Plus
• Recommended engine: 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid
• Wowscore: 8/10

If it’s a bit of Scandinavian flair you’re after, the Volvo XC60 is a properly stylish Swede with a boat load of safety tech on board. It’s also got a plush interior, and it’s a very relaxing SUV to drive.

It may not be the most exciting to drive, and it’s not got the biggest boot either. The XC60 makes up for this though with a roomy interior and seats which are more akin to armchairs.

7. Nissan Qashqai

• Starting price: £27,120
• Recommended trim: Acenta Premium
• Recommended engine: 1.3-litre petrol
• Wowscore: 8/10

The Nissan Qashqai practically invented the crossover SUV segment when it debuted back in 2008, and it continues to be a competitive offering today. It manages to be very comfortable over the bumpiest of roads, even when fitted with the largest 20-inch alloy wheels. The Qashqai is easy to drive in town too, thanks to good visibility and light controls, however the infotainment system isn’t the best on the market and smartphone mirroring is only available on higher spec cars.

The higher powered 1.3-litre petrol engine is the pick of the range for its blend of performance and economy. You’ll also want the CVT automatic gearbox for the most relaxing driving experience. There won’t be any stress when it comes to loading your luggage into the car either, as the Qashqai has a decent sized boot.

8. Lexus UX

• Starting price: £34,770
• Recommended trim: Standard
• Recommended engine: 2.0-litre petrol
• Wowscore: 7/10

If you want a small SUV with a funky look, the Lexus UX might be the one for you. To sweeten the deal, it’s also one of the most comfortable cars in this sector. This is mainly thanks to the excellent seats, something Lexus is pretty well known for getting right, and the excellently judged suspension setup. It doesn’t judder or shake over bumps and the road and wind noise is kept to a minimum. However, it doesn’t lean or roll in the corners and it generally handles itself very well.

It stands out in a carpark as well thanks to Lexus’s signature spindle grille and the myriad of sharp creases. The interior is a nice place to be as well thanks to the metallic trims and and angular design. You also get adaptive cruise control as standard to take the stress away from day-to-day driving.

9. Skoda Fabia

• Starting price: £19,170
• Recommended trim: SE Comfort
• Recommended engine: 1.0-litre turbo-petrol
• Wowscore: 9/10

If you want something thats comfortable and great value for money, the Skoda Fabia ticks these boxes. It’s a cheaper alternative to it’s stablemate the Volkswagen Polo, and it’s a great all-rounder with decent equipment levels and decent practicality. It may not be the most exciting car to drive, but it handles well enough and it copes with bumps in the road brilliantly. The large windows make for great all-round visibility as well.

You have a choice of three petrol engines, two of which are turbocharged. The higher-powered 110hp turbocharged unit is the one to go for because it can be optioned with an automatic gearbox and it has enough power for day-to-day life.

10. Honda Civic

• Starting price: 34,970
• Recommended trim: Sport
• Recommended engine: 2.0-litre petrol hybrid
• Wowscore: 9/10

The Honda Civic is one of the best all-rounders on the market thanks to its efficient engine, large boot and solid interior. It’s also properly comfortable as well, while also managing to be a fun car to throw down a country road.

It’s not the most exciting thing to look at, and it’s a bit pricey compared to something like a Volkswagen Golf, but you do get a lot of kit for your money.

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