What's Your Daily Commute Must-Have? Here Are Ours

Seventy-seven percent of commuters get to and from work each day by driving their own car, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Citi Thank You Premiere card. The study concluded that Americans' commutes were getting longer and costlier, and it calculated the varied ways people pass the average 200-hours-a-year drive time.

Related: Bad-Driving Habits That Drive Us Mad

Roughly three-quarters reported seeing their commute as a time to relax, with 85 percent listening to music, 40 percent enjoying their favorite snack and 27 percent calling friends and family. Meanwhile, the other quarter use it to be productive by emailing (hands-free, we sincerely hope) or preparing for meetings.

This got us to thinking: With the rise in travel times, what are our absolute must-have features and creature comforts to help us both ease the misery of commuting and get stuff done during our daily drive? Here's what the members of our editorial team need, want and recommend:

• Joe Wiesenfelder, executive editor: I vote for satellite or internet radio, and/or music or podcasts. If we're translating that into equipment, it would be a mobile device and anything from an analog aux-in cable to Bluetooth for connectivity, and as ambitious as app compatibility incorporated into the car. And let's not forget a generous data plan to go with it.
• David Thomas, managing editor: I think a map app like Google Maps or Waze that can tell you the travel time of your commute and offer alternate routes is a big one. It is a "pre" commute must, I guess. During the commute I just think you need to have some form of music handy, whether that's an old-school "book" of CDs or a good playlist on your phone.
• Joe Bruzek, road test editor: Good ride quality: A harsh suspension wears you out and doesn't make for the best morning energy after an hour-and-a-half commute into work. The softer the suspension, the better. Adjustable firmness suspensions or air suspension are two good types of suspension to look out for in luxury cars. Also, a good stereo. Nothing's worse than [expletive] sound quality when you have to be in the car for almost two hours.
• Kelsey Mays, consumer affairs editor: Satellite radio allows me to stay updated on morning business news as I head in, but the real gem is all-speed adaptive cruise control. It keeps you properly spaced behind the car ahead, and most of today's versions come all the way down to a complete stop. Most systems aren't perfect; if a car cuts you off, for example, you'll want to intervene. But they ease a lot of stress in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and they're now available from brands as mass-market as Subaru.
• Evan Sears, photo editor: Sugar-free Red Bull. Bluetooth/USB connectivity. Streaming radio/satellite radio. Sunglasses.
• Kristin Varela, senior family editor: For my morning commute, my Contigo Autoseal Stainless Travel Mug is a must! I load up my morning almond-milk latte, and it stays hot the whole morning commute (and green tea for the afternoon commute). I can lock the lid and toss it in my tote, or it can tumble around the car without spilling a single drop. It's amazing!
• Mike Hanley, research editor: Remote start and a heated steering wheel. Both significantly improve comfort at the beginning of the commute on extremely cold days.
• Bill Jackson, senior editor: Steering-wheel audio controls, preferably on the left of the steering wheel so that I can use my right hand to shift gears.
• Matt Schmitz, news editor: Truth be told, my daily "commute" to Cars.com headquarters comprises all of two elevator rides and 130 paces each way. But if I had to drive to work downtown in the Chicago gridlock I frequently get stuck in while in test cars, my first priority would be a well-positioned cupholder for my coffee in the middle console/armrest area that allowed effortless retrieval and return, followed by heated seats with good lumbar support and an at-the-ready music queue full of indie alt-rock, outlaw country, Prince and Elvis.