I was absolutely blown away by the 2020 Corolla LE we had as a rental for two weeks in the US this Christmas/New Years. The adaptive cruise control was better at braking at just the right time and amount in suburban highway traffic than I was, and the gas mileage when I left it to its own devices was 40-45 mpg. The trunk fit two large suitcases, two roll-aboards and various groceries and backpacks.
When our 2008 Fiesta ceases to be economical to keep using, it’s at the top of our list for a replacement, especially as it’s available in Germany as a station wagon with enough towing capacity for my husband’s glider. Impressive little car.
If you have a mega-commute, you should be buying the cheapest efficient, reliable car possible. You do not need a $30k+ car; you need a car that gets good gas mileage. Buy a Honda Fit and you'll get configurable storage and fun handling as a free bonus. Worst case scenario, you buy a ~$20k Corolla/Civic/Mazda 3. (The horror!)
EDIT: OK I just looked at the 2020 Honda Fit. Don't buy that. It's just too ugly.