The 10 Most Comfortable New Cars and Crossover SUVs for Less Than $40,000
Comfort and serenity can be automotive virtues, too.
As cars inch closer and closer to automated driving, people are going to be doing a lot more sitting in cars and a lot less actual driving. As much as we love to wax poetic about high-powered sports cars and exotics, thrilling performance, and lap times, those aren’t the sorts of things that matter when you’re sitting in traffic on the 405. Comfort and serenity can be automotive virtues, too, so we compiled a list of 10 vehicles that allow you to stay in your comfort zone on the road. To avoid getting too indulgent and picking the obvious choices like a Mercedes-Maybach and a Rolls-Royce, we limited the list to vehicles under $40,000. None of these entries are capable of driving themselves just yet, but they can make the journey considerably less stressful.
Lexus NX
Base price: $36,260
Lexus’s reputation for serenity extends into the company’s smallest crossover, despite what the NX’s extreme looks might suggest. It’s commendably quiet at highway speeds and features cosseting front seats that make long journeys a piece of cake. Only the turbocharged NX200t falls within our price range, as the more efficient NX300h hybrid starts at $40,695.
Lexus NX
An F Sport version of the NX200t has sportier intentions—and even better seats—and slips under the $40,000 threshold with a base price of $38,360, but even that more aggressive model was the luxurious cruiser of the bunch in its most recent comparison test, where it placed second behind the BMW X1. Review, Pricing, Specs
Audi A4
Base price: $35,850
Known for being classy, competent, and composed, the A4 has been Audi’s bread-and-butter sedan for more than two decades now. The latest (B9 generation) car is arguably the best A4 yet. It’s remarkably quiet, for starters, with our testing showing that, at 70 mph, the A4’s cabin is even more silent than that of the Mercedes-Benz S-class and Audi’s own A8.
Audi A4
That cabin also uses high-quality materials and features lots of technology features, all of which are integrated cleanly into the modern-looking dashboard. If you want to keep the price under the $40,000 mark, you’ll have to pass on the optional Quattro all-wheel-drive system and stick with the front-drive A4. Review, Pricing, Specs
Toyota Avalon
Base price: $34,185
Toyota’s largest sedan is luxurious enough to make us wonder why you’d pony up the extra cash to buy the closely related Lexus ES. With a nicely trimmed interior and enough space in the rear seat to cross your legs, the Avalon is more premium than its badge and price suggest.
Toyota Avalon
The smooth power delivery of the 268-hp 3.5-liter V-6 adds to the luxurious experience as well; there’s also a less powerful (200 horsepower) hybrid model if you put a priority on fuel efficiency. No matter the powertrain, either Avalon is a cosseting conveyance for you and up to four friends. Review, Pricing, Specs
Chrysler 300
Base price: $33,435
Big American rear-wheel-drive sedans are a dying breed, especially at non-luxury price points. In fact, the Chrysler 300 and its Dodge Charger stablemate are the only such cars on sale today for less than $40,000. It’s hard to beat the old-school cool of the 300, which has aged gracefully and still goes down the road with an unbeatable sort of swagger and solidity. Its rear seat is expansive as well.
Chrysler 300
Even a V-8–powered 300 comes in at just under 40 grand to start, meaning you can enjoy the effortless power and pleasant soundtrack of the 5.7-liter Hemi with its 363 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque. Review, Pricing, Specs
Buick LaCrosse
Base price: $32,990
As much as Buick is trying to change its reputation these days, GM’s long-standing premium division isn’t quite ready to abandon the sorts of big, comfy sedans that have defined it for decades. The new LaCrosse is a perfect example. Although more stylish than Buicks of yore (thanks to a dose of inspiration from the Avenir concept), the LaCrosse still puts a priority on a comfortable driving experience and loads of space inside for front- and rear-seat passengers.
Buick LaCrosse
Opting for the 20-inch wheels and sportier suspension setup brings a bit more athleticism to the Buick’s handling, but those who prefer to cruise lackadaisically should stick with the standard 18-inch setup that makes for a plusher ride overall. Review, Pricing, Specs
Kia Cadenza
Base price: $32,890
The silky and smooth Kia Cadenza is the latest in a string of vehicles that give credence to the Korean brand’s push upmarket. Its attractively detailed exterior is impressive enough on its own, but the Cadenza’s interior has some real wow factor. In its top Limited trim level (which admittedly crosses our $40,000 threshold), it boasts beautiful quilted nappa leather seats and tasteful faux-wood trim.
Kia Cadenza
Luckily for more miserly shoppers, the Kia’s lower trim levels are nicely appointed as well and come well equipped for the money. A 3.3-liter V-6 mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission is the only powertrain choice and provides smooth power delivery; in our testing, it took the Cadenza from zero to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds. Review, Pricing, Specs
Ford Flex
Base price: $30,920
Conceived as a modern take on the classic station wagon, the Flex has retro styling and a unique sort of appeal, even eight years after its debut. All three rows are remarkably cushy, with even third-row passengers enjoying a decent amount of space.
Ford Flex
The soft ride meshes well with the Flex’s relaxed character and, despite its age, Ford has kept it somewhat current with its optional Sync 3 infotainment system that enables features including Apple CarPlay and (coming soon) Android Auto. One other option we’d spring for is the powerful 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that’s offered on the top Limited trim level (although that version does surpass $40,000). Review, Pricing, Specs
Nissan Murano
Base price: $30,680
Nissan’s Zero Gravity seat design is one of the few automotive gimmicks that lives up to its billing. Although the seats are offered in numerous Nissan models, the Murano mid-size crossover does the best job of backing up the plush chairs with a comfy and composed ride. Its 260-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine mates with a continuously variable automatic transmission to make for smooth, if not thrilling, acceleration.
Nissan Murano
We conducted a 40,000-mile long-term test of a 2015 Murano Platinum AWD and found the Nissan to be a splendid road-trip companion thanks to its plentiful interior space and highway-friendly ride quality. Review, Pricing, Specs
Chrysler Pacifica
Base price: $30,090
It’s hard to beat a minivan as a road-trip companion, and the Chrysler Pacifica is on the cutting edge of the van curve. Chrysler’s long experience with the minivan genre shows in the Pacifica’s overall competence and family friendliness. It earned our 2017 10Best award as best van, largely on the strength of its attractive, practical, and highly configurable interior.
Chrysler Pacifica
There’s little to complain about with the chassis, either, as the Pacifica rides and handles with poise belying its size. A remarkably stylish exterior that gives us space-shuttle vibes is just a cherry on top of a sweet overall package. Review, Pricing, Specs
Volkswagen Golf
Base price: $20,715
If you’re wondering what an inexpensive compact hatchback is doing on this list, then you’ve never driven a Volkswagen Golf. With a feeling of solidity that’s unmatched in its class, the Golf drives as well as or better than some luxury cars costing twice as much. The no-nonsense interior also punches above its weight with comfortable seats, a logical dashboard layout, and top-notch materials. Review, Pricing, Specs
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
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