Comfortable Cars For The Elderly

Spacious seats, a dashboard with visible buttons and a large trunk are some of the characteristics of comfortable cars for the elderly. At the so-called ‘third age’, there will be many physical changes that we will have to adapt to for good driving.

Just because a car is good for an elderly person does not mean that the car should look like a historical relic. There are new models that perfectly meet the expectations of these users.

What drivers who are over 60 should know is to find a model adjusted to their difficulties. Manufacturers are aware of this need and also create lines adaptable to this type of consumer.

Comfortable cars for the elderly: large dimensions and comfort

A young person can perhaps adapt to the tight design of their sports car, but a mature person should not. In the case of older people, it is best to acquire spacious models, with a good distance to stretch the legs.

This arrangement meets two specific objectives: driving comfort and maneuverability. On the one hand, comfort will prevent back pain and medical complications. On the other hand, having space allows you to maneuver in a less demanding way and using less effort.

In the same way, it is advisable to have a fairly spacious trunk to be able to transport things. This will be very useful, for example, in an elderly couple when one of the two must use a wheelchair.

Cars with driver assistance systems

The more help a man over 65 has with driving, the better. We must remember that, with old age, we will have less visibility, probable hearing difficulties and less mobility.

To have the maximum help, the right thing to do is to buy cars with digital assistance systems: anti-lock braking equipment, parking assistants and traction control, are the most important.

Currently, there are mechanisms that even prevent us from being tired when driving. All these technological accessories will ensure safer travel; the next step will be to take the time to learn how to use all these help tools.

Dashboards with large buttons

Perhaps small will always be synonymous with style, elegance and aesthetics. But when we get to a certain age, it is best to buy a car with large, visible buttons. Only in this way can we react well to any operation that we have to do.

These buttons really shouldn’t just be big; also easy to handle and understandable with regard to its functions. Nor should we forget the importance of being attractive. That is, they do not lose their aesthetics due to their size.

Checking out these elements and some market research, Costumer Reports has compiled a list of the 25 ‘best vehicles for older drivers’. We will analyze this document a bit below.

The list of the 25 best vehicles for older drivers

According to the Costumer Reports study (United States), the top five cars for seniors are the following: The Subaru Forester, Subaru Outback, Kia Soul, Subaru Legacy and the Kia Sportage.

As we can see, this list recommends cars from Asian manufacturers to the elderly population. Other models that are also considered are the Nissan Rogue, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Santa Fe.

These recommendations are not made because older drivers are the most dangerous. In analysis of road accidents, according to world statistics, young people continue to be the most prone to generating accidents .

In reality,  driving from the age of 70 can have risks for the driver himself. In this way, the idea of ​​buying comfortable cars for the ‘third age’ entails a contribution of guarantees.

 Some statistics on the topic of ‘Senior driving’

According to the Cetelem Observatory , in Europe the average age to buy a new vehicle is 52 years. Following this study, young populations have a different consumption pattern and opt more for alternative means of transportation.

In Spain, the General Directorate of Traffic estimates that there are three million drivers over 65 years of age. Currently, this population only represents 18.2% of the vehicle fleet, but it is expected that by 2064 they will be 38.7% of the total.

With all this data, Europe is planning appropriate measures to educate and protect older drivers. The best way to drive safely is precisely to buy comfortable cars that make driving easier.