Mercedes E-Class review – a smooth and refined executive saloon
Top 10 best motorway cars 2025
Need a car that can tackle serious motorway miles with ease? Look no further than our list of the best cars for long-distance driving
If you spend a lot of time driving on the motorway, you’ll know how important it is to have the right car for the job. A good motorway car can make those long drives fly by, keeping you comfortable, relaxed, and safe on every journey. But what should you look for when shopping for a motorway car?
First and foremost, refinement is key. A quiet cabin, supportive seats, and a smooth ride all help to reduce fatigue on extended trips. Performance also matters – whether it’s the effortless pull of a diesel engine or the instant torque of an electric motor, you’ll want enough power to overtake confidently. And let’s not forget fuel efficiency; opt for an economical car and the savings can really stack up over big mileages.
Diesel cars have long been the choice for efficient, long-distance cruising, but some of the latest EVs have enough range to go the distance using no fuel at all. The expansion of the UK’s public charging network means that topping up on the go shouldn’t be an issue. Motorway service stations also have some of the fastest rapid chargers in the country, so you could be back on the road with a full battery in under 30 minutes.
The best motorway cars also come with advanced driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. These can take some of the stress out of stop-start traffic or endless stretches of motorway, with the latest systems able to overtake and change lanes automatically.
Of course, we could fill this list entirely with luxurious limos and SUVs, but we’ve instead included 10 cars across a range of price points. Their motorway finesse is better than others in their respective classes, so you’re not short of choice, no matter your budget.
Best motorway cars on sale today
Here are our picks for the best motorway cars on the market today. You might also be interested in the best hybrid cars and the best executive cars in 2025.
- Priced from around £55,000
While we’d argue that the latest BMW 5 Series is the best big saloon for keen drivers, the Mercedes E-Class is undoubtedly the better motorway cruiser. It’s set up with a clear focus on comfort over sportiness, which makes all the difference on long motorway drives. The air suspension system soaks up the worst of our British roads, the automatic gearbox is unobtrusive and there’s little in the way of road or wind noise. Even as you build up speed, the E-Class doesn’t lose any of its refinement or composure.
Motorway drivers will probably be most interested in the entry-level diesel E-Class, the E 220 d, which returns up to 60.1mpg thanks to a great mild hybrid 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Performance is decent, too, with 0-62mph completed in 7.6 seconds. The E 300 de plug-in hybrid is also worth a look because it’s one of the few PHEVs to use a diesel engine; the result is a handy official electric-only range of up to 68 miles and decent fuel economy when the battery has run out. It gets an official fuel economy figure of over 700mpg and will get up to motorway speeds quickly thanks to a 0-62mph time of under seven seconds.
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- Priced from around £36,000
A long-standing Carbuyer favourite, the Superb is seemingly the car that can do no wrong. It’s hugely practical, very well built and powered by a range of eager, economical engines. What’s more, it’s good to drive and one of the best-value cars in its class. It will come as no surprise, then, to learn that the Superb is a fantastic motorway cruiser, too.
Chosen with one of its diesel engines – preferably the 148bhp 2.0-litre TDI – the large Skoda sips fuel with an official fuel economy figure of just under 58mpg, and offers sublime levels of comfort and quietness, with enough power in reserve to make overtaking a breeze. If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate do-it-all family car, the Superb is the obvious choice – especially if you have big distances to cover.
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- Priced from around £98,000
The latest Mercedes S-Class boasts leading-edge technology and one of the most refined cabins of any car on sale, making it one of the world’s best motorway cruisers. The plug-in hybrid option can achieve up to 68 miles on a charge, so it can cruise silently through the city before heading onto the motorway. Every model gets air suspension and lots of sound deadening, so it’s always quiet and comfortable inside, and before too long it’ll be able to drive itself for periods of time (where allowed) thanks to advanced self-driving features.
Starting from just under £100,000, the S-Class is an expensive car, so it won’t be a motorway cruiser for everyone. The plug-in hybrids boast the best on-paper fuel economy, but long-distance drivers are likely to see much higher figures from one of the diesels. The entry-level S 350 d is rated for 44.9mpg, which isn’t so bad for a big saloon.
Still, we doubt many S-Class buyers will be worried about saving pennies on their fuel bill – this is a car that’s all about opulence and comfort. While the front seats are some of the best in the business, the S-Class is best enjoyed from the back on a long journey, where the experience is most civilised and luxurious. Rear-seat occupants can entertain themselves for those miles with a screen each, while the back seats can also be set up like a mobile office if you need it.
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- Priced from around £40,000
You might think that electric cars have no place on a list of the best motorway cars but the latest ones are more than capable of sitting in the fast lane for relatively long distances. One of the most impressive is the Tesla Model 3; it’s Tesla’s cheapest model but offers up to 436 miles of range and acceleration to shame most sports cars. The minimalist interior is airy and tech-filled, so there’s plenty of gadgetry to entertain on a long motorway trip.
When you need to recharge, you’ll find fantastic Tesla Superchargers at most motorway service stations, which Tesla owners can use at a discounted rate. Following its major update in 2024, the Model 3 also picked up acoustically-laminated glass to help keep the cabin even quieter, which long-distance drivers will certainly appreciate. That’s all before we get onto Tesla’s cutting-edge Autopilot driver assistance system, allowing the Model 3 to take over much of the hard work on a long motorway haul.
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- Priced from around £27,000
The Skoda Octavia proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune on a luxury car to have a pleasant motorway driving experience. Sure, it’s not the most exciting choice there is, but there are very few other cars on the market that can match it for motorway refinement at this price point.
The Octavia always used to be the budget alternative to its sister car, the Volkswagen Golf, but we don’t think that holds true anymore. Nowadays, the interior quality is pretty much on par with its German twin, and the Octavia offers so much more space, too. The Octavia is one of the most economical cars for motorway driving on our list, thanks to its frugal diesel engines.
We recommend the entry-level 2.0-litre TDI engine. It may only have 114bhp, but it’s perfectly happy to sit at motorway speeds with little more than a quiet murmur from under the bonnet. Importantly, this engine will return up to 66mpg – a number that proved accurate during our testing. The base SE Technology trim is the one to go for if you prioritise comfort, as it rides on 16-inch alloy wheels with high-profile tyres that soak up bumps effortlessly.
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- Priced from around £43,000
The Audi A5 arrived in 2024 to replace the old A4 saloon and we’re pleased to report that it’s just as good a motorway cruiser as its predecessor. In typical Audi fashion, its interior is the star of the show and could be enough to win over motorway drivers who will be spending hours behind the wheel. Build quality is rock-solid and it has all the gadgetry you could wish for, including adaptive cruise control and a pair of big screens as standard.
Ride comfort sits somewhere between the sporty BMW 3 Series and the comfortable Mercedes C-Class, and we think most buyers will find this a good balance. It’s cosseting enough on long journeys, but it doesn’t fall apart when you chuck it along a twisty road, either. We think the entry-level Sport model makes the most sense for motorway drivers, as its smaller 18-inch wheels help to improve ride quality.
The engine range might look a bit old fashioned compared to some rivals, but the mild hybrid petrol and diesel units are still effective for motorway driving. The diesel is a bit pricier than the petrol, but it has loads of low-down torque for overtaking and will return up to 57.6mpg.
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- Priced from around £40,000
BMW puts an emphasis on making cars that are good to drive, and the 3 Series is no exception. Whether you’re pootling along a country lane or cruising on the Autobahn, the 3 Series’s sense of refinement and surefootedness can’t be shaken. It’s firm, yet comfortable, and the petrol engines return respectable economy figures on a long run. It’s just a shame that BMW has discontinued the diesel 3 Series – die-hard diesel fans will have to look at the Audi above.
Being a BMW, you can expect the interior to have a premium quality feel about it, and the 3 Series’ cabin is particularly beautifully designed – in fact, you get the impression you’re sitting in a scaled-down 5 Series. The Infotainment system is impressive thanks to a crisp 14.9-inch central screen which blends seamlessly into the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The rear seats are particularly roomy, with back-seat passengers getting more space than in rivals, so you can rest assured your occupants will be comfortable on a long motorway slog.
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- Priced from around £47,000
While we think the Tesla Model 3 is the best electric saloon for motorway drivers, not everyone will get on with its minimalist interior. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 provides an alternative, offering sleek looks and a more conventional cabin. That’s not to say the Ioniq 6 lacks tech – it has all the bells and whistles you could need, including a pair of sharp screens, adaptive cruise control and even a pair of digital camera mirrors, although we’d argue these aren’t worth the £1,000 premium.
The Ioniq 6 is also spacious enough, thanks to plentiful legroom for the front and rear seats for most passengers. It’s an enjoyable car to drive on a motorway given that it’s so effortless, and yet once you do reach the B-roads closer to home, it’s rather satisfying, weaving through bends in a secure and planted manner. Range stands at 338 miles, which is some 100 miles off the cheaper Tesla, but that’s not quite the whole story. The Ioniq 6 can be recharged using a 350kW rapid-charger, meaning a 10 to 80% top up could be over in as little as 18 minutes – there are few EVs today that can match that.
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- Priced from around £31,000
The Citroen C5 X earns a spot on this list for one simple reason: comfort. Forget sporty steering and driving engagement – the C5 X is set up to smooth out every bump in the road using its ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension and seats, and we reckon it works a treat.
There are three engine options for car buyers to choose from, although the entry-level 1.2-litre petrol is best avoided for high-mileage drivers as it can feel strained at higher speeds. The mild hybrid 1.2-litre is a worthwhile step up as it’s more efficient, more powerful and gets a smoother dual-clutch automatic gearbox. There’s also a 1.6-litre plug-in hybrid, although it’s quite expensive so we only recommend it if you plan to make regular use of its 38 miles of electric range.
The C5 X isn’t as exciting to drive as some rivals, although this will be less important to those covering most of their miles on motorways. That said, it doesn't roll through corners as much as you’d expect and there’s plenty of grip on offer. It’s one of the more affordable cars on our list, although its £31,000 starting price quickly rises as you move up the range.
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- Priced from around £75,000
Few SUVs feel more at home on the motorway than the Range Rover Sport – well, other than the full-fat Range Rover, perhaps. While that car starts at over £100,000, the Sport can be had for nearly £30,000 less, and you’ll be sacrificing hardly any motorway-cruising capabilities. It’s big, heavy and powerful, so it’s no surprise that the Sport feels solid as rock at motorway speeds.
All Range Rover Sports get clever air suspension that delivers excellent ride quality without sacrificing body control. The seats are excellent, too, with 20-way adjustability as standard so you can find your ideal position for a long journey. There’s very little wind noise on the move thanks to the masses of sound deadening, while the cabin is as opulent as we’ve come to expect from a Range Rover. Material quality is top notch and wouldn’t feel out of place in its more expensive sibling.
A car as big as the Range Rover Sport is never going to be particularly economical, but the new plug-in hybrid models could cut your fuel bills if you make use of the 76-mile electric range. For motorway drivers, the mild hybrid diesels make the most sense; the P250 and P300 six-cylinder diesels return nearly 40mpg.
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Best motorway cars: price and score list
Below you’ll find a table of our best motorway cars. We’ve included their starting price as well as their Carbuyer score.
| Best motorway car | Make and model | Priced from | Carbuyer rating (out of 5) |
| 1 | Mercedes E-Class | £55,000 | 4.4 |
| 2 | Skoda Superb | £36,000 | 4.3 |
| 3 | Mercedes S-Class | £98,000 | 4.5 |
| 4 | Tesla Model 3 | £40,000 | 4.4 |
| 5 | Skoda Octavia | £27,000 | 4.7 |
| 6 | Audi A5 | £43,000 | 4.0 |
| 7 | BMW 3 Series | £40,000 | 4.4 |
| 8 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | £47,000 | 4.3 |
| 9 | Citroen C5 X | £31,000 | 4.0 |
| 10 | Range Rover Sport | £75,000 | 4.4 |
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