We've all had to do it. Whether it's a regular drive across the country for work or an extended tour of Northern Italy, long-distance driving comes to all of us at some point in our lives.
Not all cars are geared up to handle those journeys in the same way. Ride comfort, fuel efficiency or electric range, and overall practicality can make the difference between a smooth, enjoyable drive and a tiring slog.
This article covers the best cars for long-distance driving, breaking down the models that excel in real-world driving conditions, taking into account the range or fuel economy, comfort levels, and size, delivering a comprehensive guide to highlight some of the best cars that fit your lifestyle, and make covering many miles as effortless as possible.
- Peugeot 208
- Renault 4
- Citroën ë-C5 Aircross
- Skoda Fabia
- Leapmotor B10
- Audi A3
- Peugeot E-5008
- Chery Tiggo 9
- DS No8
- MG Cyberster
Peugeot 208
Small and efficient, the Peugeot 208 is ideal for those who want something to nip about the city but can handle itself on the motorway for longer road trips. Inside, it’s reasonably comfortable, with Peugeot's infamous i-Cockpit up front to make the driver's job much easier. It consists of a smaller, square steering wheel, digital display and a 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen, which all work in harmony to keep key information clear and within easy reach.
Where the Peugeot 208 really sings is its great fuel economy, making it a popular choice if you want to make your tank last longer. The best engine to achieve this is the 1.5-litre BlueHDi, which officially returns up to 73.6mpg, as long as you don't have a lead foot. If a hybrid is more your thing, then the 1.2-litre petrol mild hybrid delivers a real-world fuel economy of around 66mpg.
There are bigger cars with bigger boot spaces and backseats, but the Peugeot 208 makes up for it in impressive efficiency with a relaxed cruising ability, meaning you can comfortably stretch longer journeys without constantly worrying about filling up. Plus, the boot is big enough to fit a couple of mid-sized cases in.
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Now we could have easily brought the fantastic Renault 5 E-Tech into the mix as a small EV, but its sister car, the Renault 4 E-Tech, just pips it at the post for space inside, comfort, and practicality over long distances.
The Renault 4 E-Tech is a small all-electric crossover that takes slices of retro styling from the original. It has a slightly bigger wheelbase than the Renault 5 and is more of the boxier persuasion, making it more functional for carrying passengers. Inside is comfortable, making it an excellent choice for relaxing during road trips. And thanks to its square-ish silhouette, you get plenty of headroom and a usable 420-litre boot space, making trips away with enough space for luggage or weekend gear without having to play Tetris every time you pack the car.
Being a smaller-framed car, the battery isn't huge; that being said, its official range is around 250 miles in certain conditions, but realistically it's 200 to 220 miles. That puts it in the sweet spot for driving, offering enough range for longer trips without compromising its easy-going nature around town.
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For families who need a comfortable, all-electric crossover for long-distance travel, the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross may fit the bill. Although the Citroën C5 Aircross is available as a mild hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, the focus is on the all-electric model due to its long range.
Arriving in several trims, the long-range version is worth looking at, delivering an impressive WLTP range of 420 miles on a single charge. Perfect for maximum distance road trips, plus you'll be able to stop off and fast charge from 10 to 80 percent in around 35 minutes. Even on entry-level trims, you get a not-to-be-scoffed-at official 322 miles of range, making it an option if your budget won't stretch to the long-range version.
For families, the car is quiet and smooth, with little wind noise, even on the motorway, while its practical boxy frame offers lots of interior space, and its styling is aimed to look like your living room, according to Citroën. A strong contender for a smooth ride in plush comfort, the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross blends both exceptional range with the brand’s trademark comfort-focused setup.
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For those who need a keenly-priced small car that's not too heavy on fuel and offers a decent level of ride and interior comfort, you should have a closer look at the simple Skoda Fabia. It may not be a flashy seven-seat EV, but the Skoda Fabia is a solid contender for new, younger drivers who want to go out and explore.
The best powertrain option if you're taking regular road trips is the simple turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. It produces a subtle 95bhp, which is enough for long motorway drives, but where it really lands is the 56.5mpg, allowing you to travel far without stopping for fuel as often.
Other advantages of the Skoda Fabia include being extremely comfortable, with space for taller drivers and folk in the back. It also offers a large boot space of 380 litres, making it perfect for summer festival trips and weekend getaways. What's more, insurance premiums can always be a concern for young drivers, and while factors such as age and location play their part, the low-powered Skoda Fabia is a good choice from an insurance perspective.
Search Used Skoda FabiaLeapmotor B10
If you're covering a lot of miles per week, and you need a smooth-riding practical purchase, then a Chinese-made Leapmotor B10 might be the answer.
This mid-size EV is surprisingly spacious inside, offering tall adults plenty of headroom and legroom for comfortable rides. The suspension is nice and soft, so you won't feel bumps and lumps in the road, while the interior, although simple, is clean and neat-looking.
For long-distance journeys, you get features such as a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, and a 12-speaker audio system for music and podcasts. For the passengers, there is a giant panoramic roof that lets in lots of light in, so they can watch the world go by on longer road trips. The range is good, offering an official 270 miles, and it has plenty of space in the boot, as well as a frunk.
With all that standard tech and the exceptional range, you get a really value-for-money car that delivers on long journeys, making the Leapmotor B10 a strong choice as a keenly-price EV for long distance travel.
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For those who love Audi’s styling and want one that'll do distance, then an Audi A3 might be the place to look. Its sharp exterior styling and excellent handling are strong draws for many Audi A3 buyers, with a prominent front grille and pointy headlights that give it that distinctive Audi profile.
Inside is pure German indulgence, offering excellent ride position for driver and passenger comfort, plus all the bells and whistles you'd expect from an Audi of this calibre, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen paired with plenty of physical buttons.
If you opt for the plug-in hybrid variant which is only available in the Sportback profile, the standout feature is its 88-mile electric-only range, which is an exceptional feature for a car in its class. What this means in the real world is that most short trips, such as commuting and city driving, can be completed on electric power alone, with little or no fuel used.
This combination gives a total range of over 600 miles, making the Audi A3 an efficient long-distance car well suited to daily commuting and longer trips, where low running costs and electric flexibility come together in one sleek-looking package.
Search Used Audi A3Peugeot E-5008
The three things that make the Peugeot E-5008 a strong contender on this list are: Comfort, range, and seven seats. A seven-seat electric SUV that can comfortably carry up to seven adults is rare and impressive.
What makes this a rarer option is that its official range is up to 414 miles with the larger battery option (310 miles with the standard battery). This is truly impressive, making this an excellent all-electric option for those who want to tour with the whole family. Plus, charging the Peugeot E-5008 from 20 to 80 percent takes only 27 minutes. The 5008 is also available as a hybrid to ease the transition to electric.
Inside, you get the usual big SUV comforts, including plush, roomy seats for all, ambient lighting for passengers, and a large panoramic roof that lets in natural light. And even if you don't need the full seven seats, dropping the back row gives you a roomy 916 litres of boot space, which makes this even more desirable for long-distance driving and holiday adventures.
Search New Peugeot E-5008 Search Used Peugeot E-5008Chery Tiggo 9
If seven seats are still desirable but you're not quite ready to fully step into the world of EVs, then perhaps the Chery Tiggo 9 is one to check out. Chery has been making waves in the UK market since landing in August 2025, and, alongside other Chinese brands, including its sister brands OMODA and JAECOO, it's giving the usual suspects a run for their money.
The Chery Tiggo 9 is a family-oriented SUV that can house up to seven people in executive comfort, thanks to its detailed, plush interior. Not only is this great for long tours, but it'll also give you 91 miles of all-electric range, which is one of the highest for an SUV hybrid on the market. The other is its sister-brand model, the OMODA 9 at 93 miles, but that only has five seats. An option if seven is just too many.
Being the flagship model of the Chery brand, the Chery Tiggo 9 comes with lots of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and standard equipment, which includes luxuries such as a 14-speaker Sony stereo with speakers in the front headrests, cameras everywhere, a large panoramic roof, and a 50-watt wireless phone charging pad. The list is extensive, and you'll struggle to find all of this with another model of this calibre.
It's also one to go for if outdoor living is your thing, thanks to its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, which lets you plug in a camping stove, lights, or even a coffee machine for fresh coffee when parked up in the middle of a field.
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Offbeat and opulent, the DS N°8 is for those who want something a little left-field compared to the regular SUV and saloon shapes. Speaking of which, the DS N°8 has a kind of saloon-crossover profile that will appeal to those who love unique car styling and want something different from your usual German executive offerings.
Where it really stands out is its range. Choosing the larger 97.2kWh single-motor option gives you a staggering 466 miles of WLTP range, which places it among the longest-range electric vehicles currently on sale. Twin 97.2kWh motors reduce it to a decent 427 miles, while the smaller 74kWh single-motor version claims 341 miles WLTP. Whichever one you go for, they all offer a solid range, but you'll need to factor in the extra 120 miles if you opt for the smaller single-motor version.
The Parisien executive brand has really gone to town with its interior. Premium seating all around, lots of standard equipment, and some contemporary design details that and some contemporary design details that make it stand out in the saloon-crossover market. All this makes the DS N°8 a serious contender for those who love unique, high-quality engineering and design and like to travel, then this car might be one to consider.
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If passenger space and boot space aren't on your list when it comes to long-distance driving, and you're after something a little more fun on winding country roads, then an MG Cyberster might be right up your street.
MG has embraced its heritage with this sporty number, bringing a convertible two-seater into the electric age. And boy did they do it well.
With two powertrains available, the one to go for if you're intending to tackle the French Riviera anytime soon is the single-motor option, which gives a WLTP range of 316 miles. But don't be dismayed by a single motor, as it'll still sprint from 0 to 62mph in 5.2 seconds, thanks to its 335bhp. If that isn't quick enough, the twin-motor version delivers a chilling 496bhp and a silly 3.2-second acceleration. However, you will lose a few miles, dropping the range to around 276 miles.
It's a surprisingly comfortable ride for you and your fellow passenger (only one), and there is even a 'comfort' mode for relaxed motorway cruising. Perfect for long holidays and touring around Europe with the top down. Expect to travel light, though, as the boot space is a tiny 249 litres. And it doesn't have a frunk. But that’s not really the point with the MG Cyberster; it’s not about luggage space. It’s about the freedom when the roof drops, the road opens up, and you’re gliding on electric power without compromise.
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Whether driving long distances is a dream or a necessity, it's good to do it in a comfortable, capable vehicle. The suggestions above are just a fraction of what's available for long commutes or weekend adventures, and it's a good idea to research and chat to an expert if you're unsure what to choose.
At Evans Halshaw, we can match you with a car that meets your lifestyle and driving needs whether you are looking for new or used. Just drop into your local Evans Halshaw retailer and talk to one of our team members. We’re here to help you find the right fit and get the most out of every journey.
