With more and more of us swapping the office for the spare bedroom, remote working is at an all time high worldwide. In the U.S. alone, a 2021 Gallup Poll reports that 45% of full-time employees worked from home either all (25%) or part of the time (20%). And in most workforce trend projections, even post-pandemic employees are being told they can expect to be working at home at least part time–the hybrid model.
So “home work” is here to stay. While you might miss the occasional break room birthday cake and seeing at least a few of your co-workers, what about the perks? Your new commute from home office to kitchen is measured in feet, not miles. Regular trips to the grocery store, mall, or even nearby restaurants, have been replaced by regular deliveries from Amazon, DoorDash, and Instacart.
You can see where this is headed. While you might not be a shut-in exactly, it’s clear that home workers will spend a fraction of the time behind the wheel than they once did. Why not take this opportunity to reconsider your car needs? Does your next vehicle match your new lifestyle? Could you save money by downsizing or electrifying your ride? Maybe you find yourself wondering about a larger car now that you have more time to take your kids to their school and sports appointments.
Wherever your head is, we’re here to help you get the most out of your new work from home reality.
You’re plugged in for work, why not your ride?
If it’s not obvious already, the future of the automobile industry is electric. Adoption is already ramping up, but there are two primary concerns for drivers still pumping the brakes on their purchase decision. First, only the more expensive electrics can be driven as far as the average gas powered vehicle before requiring a recharge. Second, when electrics do run low on charge, the network of fast chargers available away from home is fractional compared to the network of nationwide gas stations.
Guess what? You, the @home employee, are practically immune to these pesky inconveniences. Most of the day your EV can stay plugged into your home charger while you move between Zoom meetings. And that time you used to spend commuting is now time you can use to top off your charge.
Here are our suggestions for home workers ready to go electric.
Nissan Leaf – From $27,400
Nissan beat Tesla to market when it debuted the Leaf in 2010, making it one of the most road-tested and reliable EVs available. Super practical and super affordable, the Leaf is a great choice for buyers eager to cross the chasm between gas and electric for the first time. It’s 149 mile range would cause commuters to think twice, but like we noted earlier, you’re not a commuter anymore!
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Volkswagen ID.4 – From $40,760
The ID.4 is our most spacious and largest EV recommendation with cargo volume that beats some smaller SUV models. Well-appointed and modern interior, great features, and solid handling reflect VW’s commitment to becoming the next great name in EVs.
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Tesla Model 3 – From $44,990
The only luxury brand on our EV list, it’s no surprise that the Tesla sits atop our price range for electric vehicles, but it’s also the sportiest and most fun to drive car in our picks. As a home worker you may not be driving as much, but when you do, wouldn’t it be nice to have fun?
From Road Warrior To Home Warrior
This one is for those of you who drastically cut your drive time in the last few years. You don’t work in the office even one or two days a week. You don’t have a large family that requires shuttling. You may even, heaven forbid, walk or ride your bike when you do pop out for a break from the home office. In fact, you’re so infrequently behind the wheel, you no longer care about anything other than finding a car that will afford you the occasional weekend road trip and still let you run local errands with ease.
Chevy Spark – From $13,600
This great little hatchback will put $$$ in your pockets and a smile on your face. The Spark has better than expected handling, good exterior looks, and predictably great gas mileage. For the home worker, this may be the most economical and wisest vehicle choice out there.
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Kia Rio – From $16,250
This subcompact sedan (also available in hatchback form for about $1K more) has more power, space and better drive characteristics than any other vehicle in its class.
Toyota Prius – From $24,625
The opposite of sexy, the Prius has been seducing drivers who don’t care about cars for decades. It’s legendary reliability and gas mileage have translated to millions of cars sold, so you won’t be standing out from the crowd. However, you will be making a choice that is perfect for someone who has cut their driving miles dramatically.
Compact SUVs, Anyone?
Not everyone is thinking small when it comes to their new work-from-home vehicle. The phrase “commuter car” immediately conjures up images of nondescript, fuel-saving, poorly-styled boxes on wheels. It’s not a thought that inspires much passion or love from their owners. Instead, it’s a practical choice for frequent drivers whose trip to work and back is usually an hour or more.
But what happens when you’re not a commuter? Now that you’re free from that highway grind, you might be thinking about something a little roomier. Sure you’re not on the road as much, but when you are, you’ve got kids and groceries to haul.
Our suggestions for those of you looking to up your cargo game are smaller size SUVs that fit into that compact, easier to drive, sweet spot. We’re not talking about giant and cumbersome full-size SUVs. Rather, we’re talking about the mighty mini segment–SUVs that fall on the smaller and typically cheaper side of the SUV spectrum.
Chevy Trailblazer – From $21,600
Slotted between the Trax and the Equinox, the Chevy Trailblazer is the goldilocks compact SUV for the modern era home worker. Space, features, and drivability are all “just right” for drivers who may be ditching their commuter sedan for something a little bigger and a lot more fun. Even the base trim comes with the inclusive Chevy Safety Assist system and an excellent infotainment system.
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Volkswagen Taos – From $23, 295
We dare to call the Taos exterior beautiful, but even those who disagree on aesthetics give it points for great handling, ample interior space, and a thoughtfully-designed dashboard cluster.
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GMC Terrain – From $27,900
The Terrain provides more creature comforts and a higher safety rating than similarly priced vehicles and we think first time SUV buyers will love its extra space and comfortable handling. If you are intimidated by the thought of driving a larger car, don’t settle for a wagon or subcompact before trying out the Terrain first. It looks bigger than it feels, and that’s a good thing.
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Cadillac XT4– From $35,795
There are competing compacts with more features and power in the luxury realm, but they often come with disproportionately higher price tags. We choose the XT4 for its overall value. Take one look at this compact’s premium interior and its exhaustive list of features that includes both comfort and safety-minded attributes and you’ll be sold, too.
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Infiniti QX50 – From $39,150
If you have a long commute (and your budget allows), the QX50 is a luxury SUV that makes for a supreme daily driver. Feature-full and as posh as any European competitor, the Infiniti’s cabin is a place you’ll actually want to spend more time in. From our view, it’s also the best looking vehicle in its category.
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Remote In Review
Whether you choose to plug in, go minimalist, or even upgrade your ride to something more suited to your family’s needs, the remote worker has plenty of choices when shopping for a new car. Think of this as an opportunity to reconsider what your vehicle means to you and whether you can find a car that compliments your new lifestyle. After all, your garage has become a gym, your wardrobe emphasizes tops over bottoms, and, unrestricted by commute times, you might have even moved. With so many other exciting changes afoot, now could be the best time ever to update your transportation!