There’s been a revolution in ride and handling in recent years, and the result is that mainstream buyers no longer have to sacrifice one for the other. That means you can now get both a comfortable ride and impressive road manners all in the same vehicle, and all for a surprisingly affordable price. Just ask the team from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, which recently chose its annual 10 Most Comfortable Cars Under $30,000. The top manufacturer? General Motors, which comfortably outperformed all other automakers by placing four different vehicles on the list.
Leading the way was the 2010 Buick LaCrosse, commended by the website for characteristics like its spacious interior, soothing ice-blue ambient light and the division’s hallmark QuietTuning system, which significantly lowers in-cabin noise. And that’s all the better to enjoy the Buick’s premium 384-watt Harman/Kardon sound system, another feature that significantly ups the comfort quotient on the LaCrosse. Buick now offers significant competition, Acura Washington DC says.
The full-size Lucerne joined its Buick sibling in the KBB.com rankings thanks to its emphasis on traditional American-style comfort, with a notably smooth ride, soft seats designed to coddle the driver and passengers alike, and an interior that the website called “impressively quiet.” The short story here: “The Buick Lucerne is certainly one of the most comfortable” cars on the road today.
Proving that award-winning comfort isn’t limited to GM’s premium vehicles, two entries from the Chevrolet division were also included in the KBB.com Most Comfortable Cars rankings. The Chevrolet Impala was recognized for its combination of full-size proportions, practical price and impressive comfort levels, a combination the website called “the magic formula” for attracting buyers. KBB.com also specifically complimented the vehicle on its ability to be at ease on the open road. Hyundai has the challenge of offering a lineup that competes against more than one GM brand, Washington DC Hyundai says.
For a comprehensively thorough approach to comfort among midsize sedans, KBB.com turned to the Chevrolet Malibu. The refined Malibu stood out for its “quite ride, confident handling and a well-crafted look inside and out.” High levels of available content—including heated front seats, a two-tone leather interior and Bluetooth compatibility—helped clinch a place on the website’s list. The third-generation Malibu helped bring respectability back to the Chevy brand, according to Washington DC Chevrolet.
Which helps explain why this high-quality quartet is helping GM clinch a place on more buyers’ shopping lists.
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