Three Pre-Owned Vehicles That Are Perfect For Shelbyville Commuters

Living in a small city like Shelbyville means you likely travel out of the city for work. Many of you will likely travel throughout Indiana for work, so driving on Route 421 might be your daily ritual. Being a commuter means a few things, including an extensive need for efficiency and comfort. A used car dealer near Shelbyville, like our team here at DriveHubler Certified Pre-Owned, conveniently located in Greenwood, will help you with all your commuting needs by matching you with a used commuter vehicle at the right price based on the features you want, including the comfort features mentioned earlier, as well as exceptional fuel efficiency and innovative safety features to look out for you during your daily drive.

What’s our goal today? Today, we’ll give you some invaluable insight into what we at DriveHubler Certified Pre-Owned believe are the best pre-owned vehicles for commuters like yourself who live in Shelbyville, Indiana. We’ve curated a list of five vehicles that are the missing puzzle piece to your regular commute. Those who are perhaps fed up with your vehicle costing more in gas than you’d like, those who need their first vehicle to get to their job, and everyone in between can find value in what we’ll be discussing, so read on and find out which commuter vehicle is the greatest choice for you.

The Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion makes for a great pre-owned commuter. What makes it one of the better pre-owned Ford vehicles? Although this model is discontinued, this works to its strengths in the pre-owned market because the Fusion continues to get less expensive. The Fusion isn’t a vintage car, so it’s not like collectors are dropping everything they own to buy one; so if you’re shopping for a Fusion, look for one of the last models released, like the 2020 Fusion, or, as far back as the first model in 2006. Car models lose most of their value within the first five years after driving off the lot once the initial buyer is handed the keys and the registration. The Ford Fusion was always one of the more cost-friendly vehicles in Ford’s lineup, so you can find a used model at a great price, but the savings don’t end there.

Aside from the Ford Fusion being more affordable than ever because of its discontinuation a few years ago, it’s such a great purchase for commuters who travel out of Shelbyville every day because of its excellent fuel efficiency when driving on the freeway. Driving out of Shelbyville will find you traveling up or down Route 9, East or West on Route 44, or most city commuters will use Route 74 day in and day out. Let’s look at the last Fusion model: the 2020 Fusion. This sedan has three available powertrains, including a 2.5L I-4 engine and two turbocharged engines: a 1.5L I-3 and a 2.0L I-4 engine.

The base engine gives drivers fuel economy ratings of 31 MPG on the highway, while the turbocharged 1.5L I-3 engine earns 34 MPG on the highway. AWD is available with the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine, which gives you 29 MPG on the highway, while the FWD variant earns 31 MPG. Traffic won’t eat up your fuel either because later Ford Fusion models include Auto Start/Stop, so the engine turns itself off when the vehicle is at a complete standstill, as you likely will encounter in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Traveling in traffic is also safer with the Fusion than your older vehicle because some Fusion models, like the 2020 model, include the standard Ford Co-Pilot 360 for various advanced safety features and driver-assist technology.

The Chevy Malibu

The Chevy Malibu is one of the more interesting pre-owned vehicles to recommend to commuters because many drivers may prefer the older Malibu models to the newer ones. What makes us say that? The 2017 Malibu introduced an improved turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, which made the Malibu a compelling offer for anyone who wanted more than what the base 1.5L turbocharged engine had.

Comparatively, the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine outputs 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the base 1.5L engine creates 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, an immediately noticeable 56.25% and 41% difference in horsepower and torque, respectively. Commuters were especially pleased because they could feel the difference, while their wallet would barely feel any of the effect of a stronger engine because it still retains an impressive 33 MPG on the highway over the 36 MPG on the highway the base turbocharged engine has. You may have noticed this doesn’t explain why these models are better than the new models.

From 2017 through 2022, Malibu’s turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine performed identically, but the engine was removed from the Malibu altogether, starting with the 2023 model, leaving the familiar turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine as the only option, along with a price increase. Both powertrains are great for commuters, but the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine performs much like the one we mentioned in the Ford Fusion, meaning it’s beneficial for people living in Shelbyville because traveling to Indianapolis won’t destroy your wallet as quickly. The Malibu’s turbocharged I-4 engine manages better highway mileage in addition to a horsepower increase; 33 MPG on the highway against the Fusion’s 31 MPG on the highway.

Aside from fuel efficiency, another portion of the Malibu that makes it a great buy for commuters is its comfort features and quality-of-life improvements. Depending on the trim, pre-owned Malibu models can have a power-adjustable leather driver’s seat, a power sunroof, and heated seats, which are perfect for those frigid and snowy Indiana winters.

The Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is one of the most popular Honda vehicles, and that’s because it’s one of the most reputable sedans on the market. You can trust the Honda Accord to get you to and from your destination with ease while being efficient, affordable, safe, and comfortable. Everyone knows about the Accord, and if you don’t consider the first incarnation of the Malibu, which was discontinued in 1982, the Accord is the longest-running sedan out of the three we’ve spoken about here.

If the Accord ends up on the top of your want list, you have plenty of cars you can look at, especially with over 11 generations of the Accord released. The most recent Accord was initiated with the 2023 model, so the pre-owned market will slowly see these vehicles appear more in the next few years. The prior generation of the Accord started with the 2017 model, and if you have a long commute every day, it doesn’t hurt to buy a vehicle from around that model year because the engine will have less wear and tear thanks to fewer miles on the odometer. Many of these models have comfort features for long drives, like power-adjustable heated seats, ample interior room, and more. The Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistance suite also started coming with the Accord at no extra price, starting with the 2017 model.

The 2017 Honda Accord has either a 2.4L I-4 engine or a 3.5L V6 engine. Commuters may not want the V6 engine, although it produces 278 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque with a manual transmission; fuel efficiency is notably downgraded over the 2.4L I-4 engine. However, if you work in Shelbyville and don’t need to take the freeway every day, plus you want to bring a sporty feel to your daily commute down Washington Street or Michigan Road, it’s always an option, as is a hybrid model option for peak fuel efficiency.

A New, Affordable Era Of Commuting Is Here

The modern era has brought us more than a fair share of pre-owned vehicles that make commuters’ lives that much better. Within the last decade, commuting has taken on a new form, and it’s with sedans like the Fusion, Malibu, and Accord where some of the more budget-friendly vehicles in a manufacturer’s lineup aren’t only about saving money on the vehicle but for the duration that you own and drive it too. It’s a better time than ever to be a commuter with so many choices, including turbocharged engines, hybrids, PHEVs, and many more, so Shelbyville drivers should take our word for it and browse around to see what you can find, including the vehicles you just read about.

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