What is the most comfortable fast economy car?
Discussion
Question as per title really.
Just wondering... if you wanted a car that could return a reasonable MPG at 70 to 80 mph whilst being quiet and comfortable what would you go for?
I tend to rule out a lot of modern cars for comfort as far too many of them have 17, 18 or 19 inch wheels and it's the exception rather than the rule to get comfort and enormous wheels on the same car. In exception circumstances they do exist...
Speed is the other thing. Most cars get good MPG at 55mph but if you have to rev them high the economy tails off.
Noise is worth thinking about as well. If a car is too noisy that impacts the comfort.
What are the choices.
Just wondering... if you wanted a car that could return a reasonable MPG at 70 to 80 mph whilst being quiet and comfortable what would you go for?
I tend to rule out a lot of modern cars for comfort as far too many of them have 17, 18 or 19 inch wheels and it's the exception rather than the rule to get comfort and enormous wheels on the same car. In exception circumstances they do exist...
Speed is the other thing. Most cars get good MPG at 55mph but if you have to rev them high the economy tails off.
Noise is worth thinking about as well. If a car is too noisy that impacts the comfort.
What are the choices.
Fuel economy drops off drastically above 70mph. I can only imagine something like a 1.4TDi Polo or something similar for outright economy, but I used to have a Merc E320DCI on 16s, that was very comfy, quiet, effortless at 70-80mph, and would return high 40s MPG at 80mph. When it worked, the most unreliable POS I've ever had, and I've had V6 Alfas.
My old 2000 model Mondeo V6 Ghia X wasn't fast or economical...but it was lovely and comfortable though, a brilliant cruiser I thought. Small wheels and comfortable seats were a treat in it.
I've had a few quick(ish) diesels over the years that have been good on fuel(around 40mpg), but with them being modern cars they weren't especially comfortable because of their big wheels though.
I've had a few quick(ish) diesels over the years that have been good on fuel(around 40mpg), but with them being modern cars they weren't especially comfortable because of their big wheels though.
Back in 2013 I had a brand new Audi A4 2.0TDIe SE "Technik", on a run from Cheshire to North Devon it would return mid-70s MPG if driven carefully (not sticking to truck-drafting speeds), and with it being an SE not an S-Line, it had 55 profile tyres on 17" wheels and softer suspension, thus comfortable. It was also well specified (for the time).
If I needed another long-distance slogger I'd consider something similar again.
If I needed another long-distance slogger I'd consider something similar again.
Without a budget and a steer on how you define reasonable mpg it is difficult to give a response.
For me, an S Class such as this one would be ideal. Supremely comfortable, and 40mpg on the motorway - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209089...
For me, an S Class such as this one would be ideal. Supremely comfortable, and 40mpg on the motorway - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209089...
Best car I ever had for this was an E90 320d "Efficient Dynamics". Very comfortable for its size, had a 60 litre tank that would give me over 800 miles in motorway driving. I can only assume that BMW have improved the economy of this model in the last 11 years, although I personally wouldn't go back to a Diesel for anything.
I'm currently driving a VW Golf 1.5 TSI auto and getting high forties MPG on long 70mph GPS accurate speed road trips.
It's a quiet & comfortable car, the sound insulation being better than a 11 Lexus IS250 I had.
I'm running 16 inch wheels rather than the low profile option ones.
MPG is the same as a 21 Honda Jazz hybrid or a 2014 Volvo V40 D4 auto I used to drive.
The Jazz would get 60-70 mpg on country roads but as soon as you went on the motorway above 50mph MPG wasn't any better than a normal car.
It's the same for the Toyota Auris hybrid I used to have.
Also on the Toyota I had, the speedometer was out by 10% (loan cars were too) - so people boasting about how good their economy was at 70mph were actually only doing 63mph.
It's a quiet & comfortable car, the sound insulation being better than a 11 Lexus IS250 I had.
I'm running 16 inch wheels rather than the low profile option ones.
MPG is the same as a 21 Honda Jazz hybrid or a 2014 Volvo V40 D4 auto I used to drive.
The Jazz would get 60-70 mpg on country roads but as soon as you went on the motorway above 50mph MPG wasn't any better than a normal car.
It's the same for the Toyota Auris hybrid I used to have.
Also on the Toyota I had, the speedometer was out by 10% (loan cars were too) - so people boasting about how good their economy was at 70mph were actually only doing 63mph.
Edited by Whataguy on Tuesday 27th September 09:18
davek_964 said:
Surely you're describing an electric car? Tesla is quick, quiet and I assume fairly comfortable - and as long as you charge at home on a cheap overnight tariff, not too expensive to run.
No desire to own one myself but I'd think electric cars match the requirement far more than ICE.
I can't speak for all versions of electric cars, but my Model 3 Performance isn't particularly great on uneven surfaces. The tyres have a very low profile, are 20", and the suspension is pretty firm.No desire to own one myself but I'd think electric cars match the requirement far more than ICE.
The seats are comfortable enough though.
ghost83 said:
Old cars aren’t as efficient so you must look at newer
I’d honestly say either a bmw 320d/520d or 330d/530d
Or a Mercedes e class coupe, dads got one and he’s getting 60mpg without trying and it’s comfortable
I have had a 325i before but it had 18-inch wheels which whilst very well damped and fitted with exceptionally quiet tyres seemed a little fatiguing to drive, specially with the smaller seats typical in a 3-series. My experience with the car got me thinking about the 5-series as "similar... but better" - potentially... I've not driven one. E-class sounds like a good suggestion as well. I’d honestly say either a bmw 320d/520d or 330d/530d
Or a Mercedes e class coupe, dads got one and he’s getting 60mpg without trying and it’s comfortable
davek_964 said:
Surely you're describing an electric car? Tesla is quick, quiet and I assume fairly comfortable - and as long as you charge at home on a cheap overnight tariff, not too expensive to run.
No desire to own one myself but I'd think electric cars match the requirement far more than ICE.
They're about £500 a month to run plus charging costs. i.e. you have to pay for the cost of the vehicle which makes it really expensive. No desire to own one myself but I'd think electric cars match the requirement far more than ICE.
FA57REN said:
At the lower end of the scale you can still specify a Focus with 16" wheels and big thick sidewalls and the 1.0 Ecoboost engine will knock out 50mpg
Gonna be high revving at motorway speeds though isn't it. No way a 1.0 litre engine can cruise at 75mph without screaming. Bannock said:
Citroen C5 Exclusive 2.0HDi.
I reckon that would be a good contender. It is one of the few times I'd consider a Frenchy. Edit: combined MPG of around 40. 0-60 time of 12+ seconds. What are you getting for that lack of fuel economy!
Edited by ingenieur on Tuesday 27th September 10:41
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