Even seniors love to drive across the cities regardless of their ages. Meanwhile, every driver may have different preferences and needs – you cannot choose a car for seniors without considering every aspect in the first place.
For instance, some older adults need a small car to tame the town, whereas others prefer something rugged with a bigger cargo capacity. The good news is that everyone has the same chance of picking the right car.
SUVs and sedans are the best options older adults can pick. Regardless of choice, consider the essential factors before sealing the deal.
So, what is necessary about SUVs for senior drivers?
Before landing your money on a specific model, the car should provide excellent comfortability and security, be easy to drive, come with low maintenance, etc. Speed might not be the priority in this case. Thus, excellent security and safety features should be part of the standards.
List of The Best SUVs for Senior
As a starting point, here’s a list of the ten best SUVs for senior drivers:
Honda CR-V – Top Pick!
The next name on the list is the Honda CR-V. This car will bring your desire to the next level if you need a compact SUV with excellent versatility. The cabin looks attractive and spacious at the same time.
With plenty of storage solutions, your road trips will be more interesting. You get the upscale aura right after opening the door. The engine might not be the fastest on the lineup, but CR-V has a notable fuel-economy rating.
Taming a road trip with plenty of items to bring will be easier and more fun since the fuel cost won’t bother your trip budget. Its hybrid battery might reduce the cargo volume.
However, if all you look for is versatility, fuel efficiency, and sophisticated tech, the new CR-V is a perfect fit.
Subaru Forester
Subaru’s standard all-wheel-drive and rugged image can be seen on the Subaru Forester. This compact SUV offers better ground clearance and wider windows for better outward visibility. Even though this car is a close type, you can feel the driving experience provided by an SUV vehicle.
Checking the cabin, you would love how sensible this car is. You will get plenty of practical options to boost your driving experience. Coming with a four-cylinder engine, the Forester offers decent fuel economy and adequate power at the same time.
Even though rivals offer more driving engagement and more robust powertrains, the Forester provides a smoother ride and excellent handling. Elderly drivers would love the practicality offered by this vehicle, along with a comfortable cruiser. Also, this has been certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Acura RDX
The latest Acura RDX is the next car that should come to your consideration for senior drivers. Judging from the abundance, Acura RDX might not come with the same luxury cachet as its rivals. Still, this vehicle is highly affordable and stylish too.
You will find a lot of buttons, a large rotary drive-mode selector, and a touchpad. The visual is kind of a bit busy. The cabin is still finished with exceptional build quality, making the Acura RDX stand out in the class. You can lower the seatbacks through its secondary releases for extra cargo space.
This car has earned a five-star crash-test rating. Every model comes with standard driver-assistance technology. However, upgrading the trim would help get other assist packages, including rear-cross traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors for front and rear parts.
Kia Telluride
For senior drivers looking for a three-row crossover, you should also look at the Kia Telluride. This car is excellent for a family haul but looks fancier. Kia has always delivered great experiences and sophisticated features without raising prices.
Many people consider New Telluride’s appearance bold. More importantly, its interior is comfortable and upscale at the same time. The car is more extended than Sorento, bringing seven passengers at the back. It also makes the cabin more spacious and comfortable.
If you need a luxury-looking car with tons of sophisticated tech and a lavish cabin, you should consider the Kia Telluride. On the other hand, the price is an absolute bargain in the first place. The only thing you wouldn’t like about this car is its low fuel-economy rating.
Toyota Rav4 Hybrid
Toyota Rav4 Hybrid is another name for the best SUVs for seniors. It comes with tons of practical features and excellent fuel efficiency. Checking the cabin area comes with a quality build and a nice outfit. The car seems to put practicality over anything without going out of style in the first place.
You will find cubbies and bins inside the car; its cargo allows you to bring anything you need for the trip. The base level comes with many good things, such as a telescoping steering wheel and dual-zone climate control.
Thus, if you are looking for a hybrid SUV with solid acceleration, the Rav4 Hybrid is a good idea. Other than that, the driver-assistance tech comes as standard. You get a roomy cabin that allows you to stash cargo and items for the trip.
Honda Pilot
On the other hand, if you are looking for an excellent car that looks like a minivan but is trendier, you should look at the Honda Pilot. It comes with three rows of seats, which are claimed to be hardly more stylish than the class’s rivals.
Still, this car comes with the all-wheel-drive option that provides a fair amount of ground clearance and lofty seating height – those two things are crucial in crossovers, according to many drivers.
For those looking for a cavernous cabin with spacious cargo space, you should go for the Honda Pilot. Its driver-assist comes as standard, which competes with rivals in the class. Other than that, you can find several spots to store small items.
Even though the appearance comes as dorky, the engine provides an economical fuel rating.
Nissan Rogue
Are you up for a handsome-looking compact SUV? The New Nissan Rogue should be on your list as well, then. The latest model from the Rogue lineup gets redesigned that came out as “nicely done.”
The Rogue comes with a more attractive styling, improved performance, modernized tech, and adept handling. The redesigning project seems to be Nissan’s way to avoid the previous Rogue model’s mediocrity.
Checking the interior part, you will find several improvements made by the maker. It has a squared-off shift knob, a bi-level dashboard, thoughtful storage cubbies, and an irresistible modern flair. This SUV also has a roomy interior, so I also recommend this SUV for tall People.
Thus, if you are looking for a handsome car with sophisticated cabin tech, the Rogue should be on your consideration list. Even though the upper trims are a bit expensive, you are good to go with the base model.
Hyundai Santa Fe
Another car we have of the best cars to drive seniors is the new Hyundai Santa Fe. It would help if you looked at this car as a practical vehicle with an upscale atmosphere.
The newest Santa Fe offers plenty of curb appeal, sophisticated features, and a roomy cabin. This car is also available in a hybrid powertrain. Whether you will go with the front- or all-wheel-drive, the 2023 Santa Fe delivers satisfying to drive and outstanding fuel efficiency.
This car is suitable for seniors because its driver assistance tech is standard and sophisticated. The new Santa Fe interior is edgy and upscale but implements useful features and solid build quality.
You would love the generous passenger space – it makes long trips more enjoyable for sure.
Toyota Highlander – Editor Choices!
The Toyota Highlander is a nearly perfect image of an old-school family station wagon but in modern days. It comes in two options of engines: fuel-sipping hybrid or standard V6 engine. Both options are available with an all-wheel-drive system.
Its three-row cabin is excellent for a family trip. You will also find cubby storage and plenty of infotainment features. Highlander comes with a suite of standard driver assistance to boost safety.
The passenger seats are considered generous, even though some rivals in class can top that generousness. More than anything, Toyota only implements upscale materials for better comfort. You can bring up to four suitcases in its cargo.
Thus, if you are looking for an attractively looking SUV with an optional hybrid powertrain, consider the new Highlander on your list. Even the standard comes with a bunch of essential features.
Hyundai Tucson
This is the new Hyundai Tucson, a compact SUV with a lot to offer, one of the best small SUVs today, including for seniors. The cabin brings tons of luxury features and excellent convenience, not to mention its laid-out vibe.
The car doesn’t finish in the first place for cargo space and fuel efficiency. However, you would love how smooth the riding and handling are. To boost safety, the new Tucson comes with standard driver assistance features.
The New Hyundai Tucson comes with user-friendly controls along with a European-style design. The color scheme tends to be monochromatic without losing its fabulousness. If you hold the rear seats, it can fit up to 22 carry-on suitcases.
The Hyundai Tucson is made with upscale styling. Its simple interior layout only boosts the laid-back vibe even more. If fuel efficiency is not your obsession, you should give this car a shot.
Senior-Friendly Features to Consider
Before choosing the vehicle type, you need to know why SUVs are the best for senior drivers. Even though we’ve mentioned earlier that sedans are also an excellent option for elderly drivers, there are tons of reasons why you better go with SUVs in the first place.
SUVs come with a taller yet heavier figure. Thus, the vehicle provides better traction control in unusual conditions, such as snowy and wet. These cars are also made to handle rugged and mountainous terrain easily.
SUVs are higher off the ground, adding better visibility and easier entry. For those who want a roomier interior and bigger cargo space, SUV vehicles are the proper consideration. If you don’t mind the higher price than sedans, SUVs would please your driving style on so many levels.
Accessibility
The first feature available in a car for senior drivers is accessibility. SUVs provide comfortable accessibility, especially for older fellas. Older adults won’t be doing squats to get into the car. Thus, a vehicle with wide-opening doors, a tall roofline, and a low step-in height would be the accessibility criteria that should be met.
Visibility
The driver should be able to see from all angles. A car that comes with backup cameras and big windows as standard is needed by senior drivers. SUVs come with higher seats, which will provide a better position for every angle while driving. Several cars, such as Honda Pilot, Subaru Forester, and Toyota Highlander, offer excellent visibility, even for short people.
Controls
Senior drivers come with aging eyes naturally. Thus, Giant dashboard controls and an easy-to-read screen would be highly recommended. Even though touch-screen is trendy, it won’t be evident for aging eyes. Vehicles with voice controls are even better, especially for senior drivers with dexterity challenges.
Safety features
Safety features are essential, regardless of the driver’s age. For older adults, this feature is even crucial. Some features that will help older adults include automatic emergency braking, a backup camera, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, and driver attention warning. Not all features mentioned come as standards – at some point, you have to purchase upgraded trims.
Comfort
No one likes catching fatigue or soreness after driving. Thus, comfort is another aspect that should be considered before buying a car for a senior driver. Older adults may appreciate heated and power seats. Adjustable steering columns and pedals would be another interesting point.