For frequent motorway use, stability, seating comfort, sensible gearing, good visibility and predictable running costs matter more than having the smallest possible car.
A motorway car has different priorities
Longer journeys expose weak seats, noisy cabins, poor demisting and tiny fuel tanks quickly. A little extra size and refinement can be worth paying for if the car spends hours at higher speeds.
Do not buy more engine than you need
You need enough performance to join traffic confidently, not a high-powered version that increases purchase, tyre and insurance costs unnecessarily.
Check tyres and history closely
Motorway mileage itself is not automatically bad. A car that has travelled long distances and been serviced properly might make a sounder prospect than another car showing fewer miles car neglected on short trips. Condition and records matter.
For a first first car expected to cover plenty of time on motorways, compare insurance alongside comfort, tyres and fuel rather than looking at engine size alone.
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