The Best Cars For Older Drivers
When it comes to purchasing a vehicle, every driver has their own preferences and needs. This is also true across different age groups. For instance, some older drivers want a rough and tough vehicle that can carry more cargo and handle extreme weather conditions, whereas others might opt for a small vehicle with good gas mileage that can move very quickly around town. Fortunately, today's senior drivers have a wide range of options available when they're buying a car. Slide through to learn about the best cars available on the market for senior drivers.
The 2019 Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is a great car that comes in a hatchback body style. It has plenty of cabin room, making it a good option for senior drivers. Not only that, the Honda Fit features large doors for comfortable entry and exit, wide and supportive seats, and a user-friendly infotainment system that makes it easy for the driver to focus on the road.
In addition, this car also offers ample safety features, including lane departure warning, forward collision warning, Honda LaneWatch (a blind-spot monitoring system), and HondaSensing (collision avoidance features). All in all, the Honda Fit is a combination of both value and quality.
The 2020 Kia Forte
The 2010 Kia Forte is one of the best compact cars available on the market. It boasts supportive and comfortable front seats, and a tilt & telescoping steering wheel, which makes it easy for the older drivers to find a comfortable seating position. The Forte car also features an easy-to-use infotainment system that is placed on the dashboard — right in line with the driver’s view. This makes it easy for the driver to access the controls.
In addition, the 2019 Kia Forte delivers safety features, such as driver drowsiness monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and forward-collision warning. Furthermore, this sedan has impressive fuel efficiency, plenty of trunk space, and a high predicted reliability rating.
The 2020 Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a fantastic midsize car. It comes with comfortable and roomy seating in both rows, both manual and touch infotainment controls that make it easy to change audio and climate settings, and good visibility throughout the cabin. Along with ample standard technology features, this car also boasts a Toyota Safety Sense-P system that has features like automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and more.
The Toyota Camry has a wide opening and low liftover, which makes it easy for senior drivers to unload and load cargo. Older drivers will also like the excellent fuel efficiency, smooth ride quality, and agile handling of the car.
The 2020 Subaru Legacy
The Subaru Legacy is among the best midsize cars for older drivers. It has a classy cabin with premium materials, as well as comfortable and roomy seats. The Legacy also delivers a smooth ride and great driver visibility. Not only that, this car comes with a standard all-wheel-drive that provides a great grip on both dry and wet roads.
The only drawback of this car is that it has a small trunk space. However, the low liftover height makes up for that, making it easy for seniors to unload and load cargo. For further cargo flexibility, the Subaru Legacy features split-folding rear seats, which is a great place to keep a wheelchair or a walking cane.
The 2020 Buick LaCrosse
The Buick LaCrosse is an impressively large car. It boasts ample space all across the cabin and power-adjustable seats, adding more comfort for older drivers. Even though the LaCrosse has some soft-touch plastics, its interior resembles several luxury cars. Furthermore, the buyers do not have to pay a high price to purchase the vehicle.
In addition, the LaCrosse offers well-arranged controls and intuitive infotainment system. Also, its comfortable ride is ideal for senior drivers, and it even has an outstanding predicted reliability rating. Lastly, the Buick LaCrosse provides a lot of safety tech features, such as Safety Alert Seat that produces vibrations on the driver’s seat when it senses that a collision is about to happen.
The 2020 Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental is one of the most affordable large luxury cars available on the market. This car is loaded with a lot of standard features, including a user-friendly and quick-to-respond infotainment system with manual controls for volume, tuning, and climate. In addition, the Continental comes with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control.
Also, the Continental offers heated and power-adjustable front seats with leather upholstery, making it convenient for senior drivers to find a comfortable seating position. Other facilities like power-adjustable 30-way multi-contour seats with massage ability are also available.
The 2020 Kia Soul
The 2020 Kia Soul is a subcompact SUV that is excellent for senior drivers. The large windows and high seating position of the car offer great visibility. Also, its wide doors make it easy to step into the vehicle. The seats of the Kia Soul are roomy and provides comfort and support with plenty of leg and headroom.
This car’s infotainment system comes with useful physical controls and crisp graphics, and is easy to use and learn. The Soul also boasts a rearview camera and ample safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, driver drowsiness monitoring, and rear parking sensors.
The 2020 Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona is an affordable subcompact SUV. It has plenty of space for the driver and an upscale cabin. The Kona also comes with the best infotainment system with simple controls and quick menu responses.
In addition, the Hyundai Kona features a driver attention monitor, a rearview camera, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. All in all, the Kona delivers excellent performance with an all-wheel drive and composed handling.
The 2020 Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a well-rounded vehicle and ranks on the top amongst other compact SUVs. This car offers a superior view of the road and wide-opening doors that allow easy ingress and egress. It also has roomy seating that provides comfort and convenience to the senior driver. Additionally, it has a lot of cargo space, power-adjustable liftgate, and handy one-touch rear seats.
Apart from easy-to-use infotainment controls, the Subaru Forester also comes with a rear seat reminder — this feature comes in handy, especially when you are driving with your grandkids. It reminds you to see the back seat for a pet or child before leaving the car. Overall, the Forester delivers outstanding performance and it's the only vehicle in its class that comes with an all-wheel-drive.
The 2019 Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a stunning compact vehicle that's great for older buyers. The key features of the CR-V include massive cargo capacity and comfortable and spacious seats. This car also has a low liftover height in the cargo area, making it easier for senior drivers to load or unload a scooter or walker. The Honda CR-V boasts both hands-free and a power liftgate.
When it comes to entering and exiting cars, it is easy and painless. Also, it has easy-to-operate infotainment controls. Plus, the CR-V offers several safety features, including lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation. All in all, it’s a great blend of value and quality.
The 2020 Nissan Rogue
The Nissan Rogue is an impressive compact SUV for senior drivers. It features a comfortable cabin with high-quality materials, plenty of cargo space, and ample interior space. The Rogue also has an easy-to-use infotainment system and an optional all-wheel-drive. Not just that, this cruiser has excellent fuel efficiency and sufficient power.
The Nissan Rogue boasts loads of standard safety tech features like a rearview camera, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. There is also a ProPilot Assist System available in the Nissan Rogue that helps to keep a consistent speed and allows you to brake or steer the vehicle.
The 2020 Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride is a great car for older drivers. It delivers a comfortable ride, relaxed seating, and ample space in the first two rows. This car is perfect for a large family with kids. Furthermore, the Telluride offers a convenient ride both in the city and on the highway with its composed handling and the robust V6 engine.
The key highlight of the Kia Telluride is that it provides a long list of safety tech features, which incorporates safe exit assist, pedestrian detection, and driver attention monitor. The safe exit assist prevents children from opening the rear doors, especially when bikes or other vehicles are approaching.
The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe earns a top spot among midsize SUV class and is one of the best options for senior drivers. It comes with a number of safety features including Safe Exit Assist, which stops passengers from getting out of the car when other vehicles are coming from behind.
In addition, it has plenty of space inside the cabin and also a large amount of cargo space, which is appropriate for any extended or day trip you want to go on. The large door openings make it more convenient to get in and out of the car. All in all, there is a lot to like about this midsize vehicle.
The 2020 Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey is a decent minivan that boasts a lot of family-friendly features. It provides power-sliding doors for the second-row seats for improved cargo flexibility. Also, there is ample space available in all three rows of the Odyssey, making it easy to carry around a scooter or a walker.
Not only that, the Honda Odyssey delivers a number of features, including a zippy acceleration, a user-friendly infotainment system, and a comfortably smooth ride.
The 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
If you are someone who’s looking for a comfortable and safe drive, then you should definitely consider the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. This car delivers an excellent EPA-estimated 38 mpg on the highway and 41 mpg in the city, while also offering good road grip and quick acceleration.
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has comfortable seating for both passengers and the driver. Also, you can go for the 8-way power adjustments available. The RAV4 hybrid has an overall good predicted reliability rating and comes with abundant active safety features.
The 2019 Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento is a comfortable and spacious three-row SUV that comes with several amenities including user-friendly controls, low step-in height, decent visibility, and expansive windows. This car can fit up to seven passengers and the kids can pop-up in the third row, which is best suited for children.
The Sorento also comes standard with an easy-to-use infotainment system that incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Besides, the base model of this car gets an excellent fuel economy. There are also advanced safety features available on higher trims.
The 2019 Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is a midsize vehicle that drives and looks like a station wagon. This car delivers a quiet and smooth ride, fantastic visibility, comfortable seats, and a spacious cabin. The wide-open and large front makes it easy for the senior driver to get in and out of the car.
Also, its power-adjustable seats offer a lot of comfort. All trims of the Subaru Outback have safety features like rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and blind stop warning. This car's base price ranges from $26,345 to $38,995.
The 2019 Honda Insight
If you are looking for a hybrid sedan that offers responsive handling, outstanding fuel economy, and zippy acceleration, you should definitely consider the Honda Insight. Designed on a similar platform as the famous Honda Civic Sedan, the Insight delivers a pleasant and smooth ride.
This car also has a spacious cabin, well-marked controls, and wide door openings which makes it easy for the older drivers to exit and enter the vehicle. Additionally, the Insight has an assistive technology package which is known as HondaSensing. The base price of this vehicle starts from $22,930 and goes up to $28,190.
The 2019 Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is one of the most comfortable vehicles for long trips, thanks to its quiet cabin, smooth ride, and nicely padded seats. It also offers a more spacious cabin and much more massive trunk space than most of its rivals. The infotainment controls of the car are easy-to-operate, and the cabin features are also decent.
All in all, the 2019 Chevrolet Impala is a good value within the class. It starts at a base price of $28,000, which is among the lowest in the large car category. Also, with Impala you get loads of standard features.
The 2019 Mazda CX-3
The Mazda CX-3 is a joy to drive for seniors. It delivers agile handling, sharp steering, and is one of the most comfortable rides when compared to other small SUVs. The CX-3 provides a spacious and stylish cabin, decent fuel efficiency, and good visibility.
Even the base model of Mazda CX-3 includes rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning. It has less cargo and passenger space than most of its rivals, but that is not much of a big deal, especially when considering the convenient and abundant features it provides.
The 2019 Kia Rio
The Kia Rio is a wallet-friendly and well-built vehicle for senior drivers. It is available in two body styles — the five-door hatchback that has much larger cargo space, and a four-door sedan. Its spacious front seats, animated performance, straightforward infotainment system, and attractive interior makes it stand out among other subcompact vehicles.
Not only that, but this car also boasts advanced safety features and above-average predicted reliability ratings. Also, the Rio has a decent back-seat space and a fuel economy rating that reaches 37 mpg on the highway and 29 mpg in the city.
The 2019 Hyundai Tucson
For an SUV, the Hyundai Tucson offers a lot of value in an affordable price range. It's a comfortable and quiet ride, along with smooth handling and classy cabin features. All trims in the Tucson include a driver fatigue monitoring system, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. It also has a good predicted reliability rating.
All in all, the Hyundai Tucson is a great choice for senior drivers or families who do not care much about having a sporty car. Plus, the below-average starting price ($23,350) of the Tucson makes it a solid value.
The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek
The Subaru Crosstrek is a subcompact SUV that provides standard all-wheel drive and higher ground clearance. This car offers adequate cargo space, a roomy interior, fantastic visibility, and a comfortable ride. Not only that, it offers plenty of tech features and a better interior than most of its rivals. However, it does not handle as well as other SUVs in its class.
Furthermore, it has a decent base price, which starts at $21,895 and reaches up to $34,995. Overall, the Crosstrek is a good choice for seniors as it provides a comfortable interior and lots of cargo space.
The 2019 Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is one of the most comfortable SUVs in its class. It boasts a high-quality ride, spacious cabins, adjustable armrests, and well-cushioned seats. Also, the Pilot has three rows of seats and can fit up to eight adults without any inconvenience. Not only that, it has plenty of cargo space, which allows for easy loading and unloading of cargo.
Additionally, all trims of the Honda Pilot include driver-assistive technologies known as HondaSensing. This includes features like lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The base price of the Honda Pilot starts at $31,450 and reaches up to $48,020.
The 2019 Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander ranks the highest among the midsize SUV class. It has a powerful and efficient optional V6 engine and an elegant cabin. Furthermore, the doors of the Highlander open almost a full 90 degrees and its visibility is also excellent. It boasts three rows of seats that can fit up to eight people.
However, due to less space in the third row, it can only accommodate children. The Toyota Highlander has other standard features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. If you want to get impressive fuel efficiency, then go for the hybrid version, which starts at $37,520.
The 2019 Hyundai Sonata
Among other midsize cars, the Hyundai Sonata is an intriguing choice. It comes with a spacious cabin, telescoping steering wheel, and large door openings, which makes it easy to enter and exit the car. As compared to other midsize sedans, the Hyundai Sonata offers more trunk space and handles well. It also boasts an infotainment system that is easy to use.
This car carries a low base price in the class, starting at $22,650, which is quite impressive. All in all, the Hyundai Sonata delivers a high ride quality over most surfaces and is easy to drive.
The 2019 Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks is a good value car and is great for the senior drivers. It delivers a smooth ride, huge cargo hold, and plenty of standard features including non-adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking. At higher trim levels, you get features like rear-cross traffic alert and blind-spot warning. Also, it has enough space in the rear to seat two-average sized adults.
The Nissan Kicks is one of the most affordable vehicles in the class. Its base price is set at $18,640, which is decent enough. Additionally, it features balanced handling and a stellar fuel economy of 36 mpg on the highway and 31 mpg in the city.
The 2020 Acura RDX
The Acura RDX is a luxury compact SUV that offers a tilt & telescoping steering wheel, fantastic build quality, spacious interior, and power-adjustable and heated seats that makes driving a comfortable experience. It also boasts ample space and an above-average fuel economy of 28 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city, which is great for the class.
In addition, the Acura RDX comes with a lot of other features like lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Overall, this car delivers ample standard features and has one of the lowest starting prices ($37,400) in its class.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is an excellent pick for senior drivers. It has a solid lineup of engines and offers a classy cabin along with several features. This luxury compact SUV also has a good predicted reliability rating and is easy to maneuver. Plus, it has outstanding visibility and a low step-in height, which makes it easy to get in and out of the car.
Not only that, but all trims have driver attention warning system and automatic emergency braking. All things considered, the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC is definitely worth a look and it even has a lower base price ($40,700) as compared to the class average.
The 2019 Ford Escape
There are hardly any vehicles out there that can match the Escape’s sporty feel. It combines the versatility of an SUV and the driveability of a sedan. Also, its ideal seat height makes it easy for the senior drivers to get in and out of the car.
Except for the base model, all the other versions come with power-adjustable and heated seats, and keyless ignition. A power liftgate and heated side mirrors are also available in higher trims. Those looking for a livelier driving experience should consider the 2019 Ford Escape.
The 2019 Mazda CX-9
The Mazda CX-9 is another midsize SUV that drives like a sedan. It offers a comfortable ride, a powerful engine, supportive seats, and nimble handling. Also, it has a spacious cabin and doors that open wide for convenient and easier entry. Automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear-cross traffic alert come standard.
With the higher models of the CX-9, you get keyless ignition, adaptive cruise control, power-adjustable and heated seats, lane-keeping assist, and heated mirrors. The base price of the CX-9 starts from $32,280 and reaches up to $45,365.
The 2019 Lexus RX 350
Providing a smooth and quiet ride and supremely comfortable seats, the Lexus RX 350 is one of the best options among other midsize luxury SUVs. It boasts a range of senior-friendly safety features, power-adjustable seats, and keyless ignition and entry.
Additionally, entering and exiting the vehicle is easier because of the elevated seat height and wide door openings. Overall, this car is the best combination of value and quality among its class. When it comes to the price, the RX 350 has a lower MSRP than most of its rivals, making it pretty affordable for a high-end vehicle.
The 2019 BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is one of the best midsize luxury vehicles available on the market. It offers an upscale cabin, with ventilated and heated seats that can be easily adjusted for your convenience. Additionally, this car has one of the largest trunks in the class, its all-around visibility is outstanding, and it has wide door openings for easy access.
Moreover, this car offers plenty of driver-assistance technologies that work exceptionally well. The 5 Series has the best combination of reliability and safety ratings, passenger and cargo space, and superior family-friendly features in its class.
The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica
The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica is a minivan that is worth buying. It incorporates a rich array of features, intuitive infotainment system, high-end cabin, and good fuel economy estimates among many of its rivals — it gets up to 28 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city.
The higher trims of the vehicle also boast hands-free power-sliding doors and a hands-free liftgate, making it convenient for seniors to get in and out of the car. All in all, the Pacifica is an outstanding vehicle for older drivers and delivers an extensive list of features and a plush ride.
The 2018 Ford C-Max
The Ford C-Max is a remarkably efficient vehicle. It has an impressive amount of space inside the cabin and great outward visibility. It also boasts peppy acceleration and refined cabin materials as compared to other rivals.
On the tech front, the C-Max features an optional Sync 3 infotainment system, which is highly intuitive and easily accessible. Besides, the rear seats of the car are roomy enough and can seat up to three adults. All things considered, the 2018 Ford C-Max is an adequate wagon that offers both practicality and fun.
The 2019 Kia Cadenza
The Kia Cadenza is a competent large sedan. It delivers a quiet and smooth ride along with decent acceleration. Not only that, this car is spacious and incorporates easy-to-use controls, which is a great feature for seniors. It also offers secure handling, especially when the car is pushed to its limits. You even get features like lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking with upper trim versions.
All trims of the Kia Cadenza come with a 3.3 liter V6 engine, front-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers who are looking for convenience and safety features in a vehicle should definitely go for the 2019 Kia Cadenza.
The 2020 Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is a sensible choice for senior drivers. It has an upscale cabin, efficient handling, and it rides comfortably. The Sienna also delivers good safety scores and a good reliability rating. The standard features of this minivan include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist.
It also boasts a lively 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces up to 296 horsepower. The Sienna’s LE trim comes with plenty of features, including eight-passenger seating, dual power-sliding rear doors, HD and satellite radio, and upgraded cloth upholstery. All in all, for the quality features it offers, the 2020 Toyota Sienna has decent value and gets the job done.
The 2020 Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is an easy-to-live-with and a very functional three-row SUV. Unlike other rivals, the Ascent offers a four-cylinder turbocharged V6 engine, which delivers a lot of power. This versatile vehicle also delivers an exceptional ground clearance, a high-quality cabin, and a standard all-wheel drive.
Even senior drivers who do not plan to venture off-road will appreciate the long list of features this car offers, along with a peppy powertrain, user-friendly infotainment system, and composed handling. The price for the Subaru Ascent starts at $31,995, which is decent enough for the ample features it offers.
The 2019 Infiniti Q70
The Infiniti Q70 makes an interesting choice for senior drivers. It has a roomy interior and delivers decent engine performance. The Infiniti sedan can seat up to five people. The front seats of the car offer ample support, comfort, and space. The rear seats also have enough room to accommodate tall adults.
For daily driving, this car provides plenty of power with its V6 engine that produces up 330 horsepower, which is pretty impressive. When it comes to the predicted reliability rating, the Q70 has an average ranking. So if you are someone who is looking for engaging performance, then you should definitely opt for the Infiniti Q70.
The 2020 Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a fuel-efficient sedan that receives the highest predicted reliability rating possible. This car delivers lots of active safety features, driver assistance features, and a user-friendly infotainment system. Both hatchback and sedan body styles of the Corolla can seat up to five people. The front and back seats have adequate space for adult passengers.
The Corolla also comes with standard Apple CarPlay features and other advanced safety features like traffic sign recognition and lane tracing assist. Overall, the 2020 Toyota Corolla is a well-rounded vehicle for senior drivers.