The 8 Best Cars for Seniors
Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash
Aging happens. Whether you hate it or embrace it with open arms, getting older is an inevitability that we all have to face at some point in our lives. Even the fittest and most youthful among us will experience changes to our brains and bodies—reaction time slows, eyesight changes, and mobility won’t quite be the same as when we were first learning to drive. Everything changes, including what we look for in a vehicle during our golden years. The best cars for seniors forefront safety and accessibility in their design and comfort and easy-to-use technology. This may conjure images of bland sedans or boxy SUVs, but in today’s market, there is a huge range of options to choose from that will fit every senior citizen’s unique lifestyle and individual needs.
Subaru Forester
This iconic station wagon has been a favorite of senior citizens since it first entered the market in 1997. Subaru takes safety seriously and makes an effort to meet ever-tightening safety standards in their design. The 2020 Forester is one of only 3 vehicles to earn the Top Safety Picks Plus title from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, making it an ideal car for senior drivers. Other important features that make this number one in our list include big windows that provide all-around maximum visibility and large, easy-to-enter doors that require minimum effort when getting in and out of the car.
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Nissan Maxima
For aging drivers who want passers-by to think there might be a bond villain piloting the vehicle. This super-stylish 4 door sedan is another IIHS top safety pick packed with features that make it an easy and comfortable ride for seniors. The 2020 model comes standard with running daytime headlights, blind-spot detection, and lane departure warnings. Forward-collision technology monitors up to two cars ahead for sudden braking to keep the driver a safe distance behind other vehicles in even hazardous road conditions. It also has an automatic braking system specifically designed to detect pedestrians – safe for those inside AND out.
Honda Civic SI
For seniors who value safety but still want to take on the youth at the drag race down the street. This sporty Honda received a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA AND top marks from the IIHS. (Make sure you go for the SI or Touring models post-2019, as other versions received a poor safety rating based on excessive headlight glare.) It includes a standard lane-departure prevention system and multi-angle rear-view cameras to assist in safe and easy reversal. It also has up to 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, so drivers can easily fit a small mobility device in the back if they need one.
Audi A6
From new, the Audi A6 is the most expensive on our list of best cars for seniors. Still, the unique set of specialized assistive technology makes this luxurious vehicle worth every penny. One standard system watches traffic while exiting, so you don’t accidentally step in front of another moving vehicle. And headlights and windshield wipers are automatically activated by rain or low lighting conditions. To top it all off, the plush leather interior promises a comfortable ride, and a customizable infotainment display means seniors can set up an easy-to-navigate layout if they so choose.
NEARLY-NEW CARS AT SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS
A new car loses value the second you drive it off the lot. Luckily, many used models sport the same great features as their new counterparts. Here’s where you can find nearly-new cars at significant discounts off MSRP.
Honda CRV
A roomy interior, big doors, and lots of cargo space make this Honda a super-accessible vehicle for senior citizens. The CRV comes standard with safety technology like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning at no increased cost to the buyer. The low rear tailgate has also been praised by senior owners, as this makes loading groceries, pets, and mobility devices into the back relatively easy. High seats and reduced cabin noise make this compact SUV undeniably comfy. And unlike most other tech-forward vehicles of today, the CRV has manual infotainment controls, which older drivers will find more intuitive and easy to use.
Toyota Highlander
This Toyota is the perfect vehicle for seniors with lots of grandkids to cart around. Or, you can be the designated driver on an outing with all of your friends. 8 accessible seats make this the ultimate carpool-mobile, and when all those seats aren’t in use, you can fit up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo in the back. While some of the more high-tech safety features aren’t standard with the base model, Toyota offers a bevy of special deals, including discounts for senior citizens, making the Highlander more affordable.
Tesla Model 3
This one’s for the tech-enthusiasts in the audience who just can’t wait to see the next big scientific advancement. Tesla is often marketed as a marvel of modern innovation, praised for its genius integration of design and technology. And it IS that, but Tesla’s are also incredibly safe and reliable, making them ideal vehicles for futuristic seniors. This all-electric vehicle is another IIHS 2020 Top Safety Pick, earning a 5-star rating in crash tests. Assistive features include standard automated emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. And despite its out-of-this-world reputation, the Tesla Model 3 has a relatively simple interior and intuitive tech controls, so less tech-savvy seniors who still want to try out this marvel of technology don’t need to worry about getting lost in the wires.
Ford Escape
This vehicle is the most affordable on our list of best cars for seniorsbut still comes standard with all of the safety features boasted by even the more high-end cars in this lineup. Automatic wipers, blind-spot monitoring, rear-view camera, adaptive cruise control, and voice-activated navigation make this economy car super safe and easy to drive. High seats and a small step up also make the Escape easy and painless to enter and exit. A maximum 65.4 cubic feet of storage allows ample room for mobility devices or other cargo.
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THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
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