High Seating Cars: The Best Cars for Seniors

A good overview is now important to many people and you can also easily get into models with a high seating position. This is particularly beneficial for older people who can no longer move so easily. We have compiled the best cars for seniors for you.

What makes senior cars special?

Seniors should be able to easily get in and out of their cars, sit comfortably even on long journeys, load the trunk without any problems and be able to operate the infotainment and assistance systems intuitively. That's why we used the following criteria to choose the best cars for seniors:

• Entrance
• Loading sill
• Position
• Overview
• Vehicle size
• Service
• Assistance systems
• Achievement
• Transmission

In addition, many seniors no longer want to or can no longer close themselves off to the growing range of electric cars. That's why we also take a look at the best electric cars for seniors separately. Perhaps some of the upcoming electric off-road vehicles would also be a good choice.

 

Which is the best car for seniors?

As already mentioned, it is important for older people to get started easily, to have a good overview and to be easy to understand. All in all, just a car without a lot of frills but with a lot of comfort.

The table below shows the best cars for seniors in terms of the criteria mentioned in the first point:

Honda Jazz – Small space miracle

In terms of seniors, the Honda Jazz cuts a fine figure: Thanks to its manageable dimensions, the Japanese mini-van is a true miracle when it comes to parking maneuvers, and shines with its remarkable fuel economy. Regardless of the fact that the Jazz is not exactly the prime example of a particularly spacious van in the style of a 7- or even 9-seater, up to five people travel extraordinarily comfortably inside the small space miracle. The van dwarf indulges in a mere 3.6 to 3.8 liters of Super – of course, it also has the level-headedly purring 1.5-liter four-cylinder to thank for that.

Besondere Beachtung sollte darüber hinaus der wahrlich niedrigen Ladekante geschenkt werden: So artet nicht jede Einkaufsverladung in eine Art ungewolltes Rückentraining aus. Auch der fidele Vierbeiner freut sich über die niedrige Ladenkante – befindest du dich im rüstigen Rentneralter und hast einen Hund, ist der Jazz ebenfalls eine Überlegung wert. Um einen bequemen Einstieg für Seniorinnen und Senioren zu gewährleisten, hätte die Sitzhöhe noch eine Spur großzügiger ausfallen können, aber wie heißt es immer so schön? Man kann nicht alles haben!

Ein dickes Plus heimst der japanische Van im Kleinformat darüber hinaus mit seinem geschmeidigen Automatikgetriebe ein. Wo wir ja schon im Innenraum sind: Wohl selten wird man in der Automobilwelt auf ein derart aufgeräumtes Cockpit treffen. Klar, auch hier hat die Digitalisierung Einzug erhalten, aber wer auf Knöpfchen und Drehschalter für die Bedienung der Klimaanlage steht, wird im Jazz eine wahre Offenbarung erfahren.

Wer seinen geschärften Blick über das Datenblatt und die Assistenzsysteme des Honda Jazz wirft, erkennt recht schnell, dass bereits ab der niedrigsten Ausstattungslinie eine vortreffliche Auswahl an Fahrassistenten zur Verfügung steht. Sofern du bereit bist, ein paar Scheine mehr über die Ladentheke zu schieben, kannst du ab der zweiten Linie namens Elegance bereits von einer Einparkhilfe vorne wie auch hinten Gebrauch machen. Bei Carwow kannst du den Honda Jazz ab 25.028 € kaufen.

VW Tiguan – Der Klassiker

Wer es beim Ein- und Aussteigen besonders hoch mag, der liegt mit dem Kompakt-SUV namens VW Tiguan richtig. Die Sitzhöhe liegt bei richtig hohen 70 Zentimetern. Die Ladekante befindet sich leider ähnlich hoch, ist für ein Seniorenauto aber noch in Ordnung. Folglich hat man im Tiguan auf jeden Fall einen sehr guten Überblick und kann es dank bequemer Sitze auch bei längeren Fahrten problemlos aushalten.

The driver's seat is adjustable and very ergonomically designed, and also has excellent upholstery. You only have to make compromises here in terms of lateral support, where the Wolfsburg car leaves a little feather. For this purpose, the rear seats are also equipped with adjustable backrests - excellent!

The comfort is also impressive. In the interior, you hear little of the surrounding driving noise, the suspension is also passable and the chassis is balanced and well tuned. If you have a bumpy road ahead of you, you don't have to expect back problems as an inmate. The brakes are also strong, react quickly and are resilient. However, you need a little sensitivity, but that's quickly learned. Those who are lazy to shift gears will be provided with a smooth automatic transmission with the 7-speed DSG.

There are also some assistance systems here. The parking aid is standard, if a reversing camera is also desired, a surcharge must be paid. The same applies to the automatic cruise control system ACC. The emergency brake assistant is again on board free of charge. A lane departure warning system is also included. For particularly environmentally conscious drivers, the car is also available as the VW Tiguan eHybrid. From a Carwow price of €31,012, it can be yours.

Nissan Qashqai – Nissan’s Bestseller

With the Nissan Qashqai, seniors can look forward to generous entry openings through which they can get in and out comfortably. Although the Qashqai does not have entry-friendly sliding doors, the conventional doors can boast a wide opening angle. The seat height is optimal, but you have to accept the downer that the high loading sill of 77 centimeters represents. This means that the Qashqai scratches the upper limit, which we would still classify as senior-friendly.

The seats are suitable for long distances and generously dimensioned. The ergonomics are good, the steering wheel can be adjusted sufficiently.

When it comes to driving comfort, opinions differ, because the noise insulation in the interior is not quite as good. The Nissan reacts somewhat hesitantly to throttle commands, which requires a little sensitivity when starting off. The suspension is somewhat firm, which means that one or two bumps are passed on to the backs of the occupants. Unfortunately, the steering seems a bit spongy and could be more direct. Fans of the automatic transmission will get their money's worth here with the optional 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, called DCT. The Qashqai is equipped with mild hybrid technology as standard – good for drivers who want to save fuel and don't want to leave so much coal lying around at the pump.

Just compare Nissan Qashqai deals and save money – especially because the most important assistance systems are available in the Qashqai, but at an extra cost and sometimes only in higher model variants.

Mercedes B-Class – Practical and comfortable

The B-Class is particularly popular with seniors, because the large door cutouts, the comfortable seat height and the comfortable entry are well suited for older people. In contrast to SUVs, which often have problems due to the wide sills, there is nothing to worry about in the B-Class. Thanks to the good overview, you no longer have to fear curbs, scratches on the rim are virtually a thing of the past. The tailgate can be operated electrically and sensor-controlled on request. Since the B-Class is more of a van than an SUV, the height of the loading sill is also in the lush green range: at 65 centimeters, it is perfect.

Etwas verbesserungsbedürftig ist allerdings die Sitzhöhe, für ein Seniorengefährt dürfte sie gerade noch hoch genug ausfallen. Wer sich für die optionalen Komfortsitze entscheidet, sitzt äußerst bequem und kann auch lange Reisen problemlos aushalten.

Positiv fällt auch der Fahrkomfort auf, denn die B-Klasse ist gut gefedert und legt ein stabiles Fahrverhalten an den Tag. Eine präzise, aber unaufgeregte Lenkung sowie beherzt zupackende Bremsen sagen während der Fahrt zu. In Sachen Bedienfreundlichkeit muss die B-Klasse aber ein paar Abstriche machen, denn das MBUX genannte Multimediakonzept hätte etwas weniger komplex ausfallen können. Einige Funktionen dürften Verwirrung stiften und vom Straßengeschehen ablenken. Dafür hat Mercedes an ein hervorragendes Automatikgetriebe gedacht – natürlich aufpreispflichtig.

Sicher kann man sich in der B-Klasse auf jeden Fall fühlen, vorausgesetzt, man leistet sich die Assistenzsysteme. Es gibt alles, den neuesten Stand der Technik aber eben zu recht hohen Preisen. Wer sein Ruhestandsgefährt mit modernder Motorentechnologie aufwerten will, bekommt bei der B-Klasse selbstverständlich die Möglichkeit, einen Plug-in Hybrid zu fahren, gar in Kombination mit einem Dieselmotor – das gibt es wahrlich selten.

Audi Q2 – Sportlich und kompakt

Im Ingolstädter Kompakt-SUV fühlen sich Senioren ebenfalls recht wohl. Sitzhöhe und Ladekante sind für ältere Menschen passend, auch wenn sie im Vergleich zu unseren anderen Seniorenautos doch beide recht hoch ausfallen. Aufgrund des schnittigen Designs büßt allerdings die Übersicht etwas ein, weshalb der Kauf der Parksensoren oder – besser noch – der Rückfahrkamera ratsam ist.

Natürlich kostet das zusätzlci, diese Extras lohnen sich aber und machen das Fahren gefühlt deutlich angenehmer und sicherer. Mit Carwow sparst du beim Kauf eines Audi Q2 bares Geld, das du wiederum in die Aufwertung der Assistenzsysteme stecken kannst.

The operation and connectivity are good and user-friendly. In the basic version, there are quite conventional instruments, of course also a Virtual Cockpit on request, but due to its digital nature, it could initially cause some overwhelm for seniors. The Q2 can also be optionally equipped with the sporty S tronic automatic transmission.

Speaking of sporty, this attribute also applies to the suspension. Bumpy roads sometimes turn into marrow and bone, but when the speed is increased, the Q2 rolls more comfortably.

BMW 2 Series Active Tourer – Modern van

Like the Mercedes B-Class, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is a van and shines in advance with a decent amount of space. The Active Tourer is suitable for senior citizens because the values for seat height and loading sill are in the good midfield. The seat height of 60 centimetres in particular can be described as optimal. As you are used to from BMW, comfort is already quite high in the basic model. If you often drive long distances or are plagued by back problems, the optional sports seats are recommended. These are very well padded up to the shoulders and offer enough lateral support without constricting.

It's easy to get in and the overview in the BMW van is also good. Nevertheless, a few assistance systems are recommended. Most of them can actually be ordered for the basic model. Of course, this is not available for free with a premium manufacturer like BMW, after all, you have to dig quite deep into your wallet.

Beim Fahren fühlt man sich wohl und äußerst sicher, Abrollgeräusche werden erst bei hohem Tempo präsent und auch dann erst gibt das recht straffe Fahrwerk ein paar Unebenheiten an die Personen im Fahrzeug weiter. Du kannst dir deinen BMW 2er Active Tourer nach deinen Wünschen zusammenstellen und bis zu 7.104 Euro sparen.

Die Bedienung des 2er Active Tourers, welche hauptsächlich über das iDrive-System erfolgt, ist nicht optimal, aber die Mischung aus Knöpfen und Touchflächen dürfte nach kurzer Eingewöhnung auch für ältere Menschen keine Probleme darstellen. Seniorenfreundlich ist außerdem die sehr gute Automatikschaltung namens Steptronic. Auf Wunsch kann der BMW 2er Active Tourer auch aus der Kraft des Steckdosensaftes schöpfen: Wer ihn als Plug-in Hybrid ordert, verbraucht nicht nur weniger Sprit, sondern spart langfristig bares Geld.

Renault Captur – SUV on small car platform

The almost ideal seat height of 56-63 centimeters in the Renault Captur deserves to be mentioned right at the beginning. The Captur does a very good job here. However, the loading sill could be a few centimeters lower for seniors: 73 centimeters is already relatively much, but still okay. The rear seat, which can be moved by 16 centimetres, and the height-adjustable load floor are also particularly practical. This makes it easier to overcome the loading sill.

The feel-good ambience seems to have truly incarnated in the Captur, because in the interior the occupants can expect a homely atmosphere, high-quality materials and a driver-oriented cockpit. The central operating system, which is played out via a large touchscreen in the middle, is largely logically structured.

However, it also contains a lot of functions that you have to remember first. The hard-to-find detail settings and the lack of speed selection keys also make it difficult for older people to internalize the operation.

Of course, Renault also has a convenient automatic transmission on offer: This bears the name EDC and makes life easier for those who are lazy to shift. Every now and then, however, there are jerks in the transmission, which somewhat cloud the smooth driving experience.

Is the green thumb itching? Fans of the more economical plug-in hybrid drive will get their money's worth with the Renault Captur: Because in the Techno and Iconic equipment variants, you get the car with an additional battery.

Hyundai Tucson – Desirable SUV

Very spacious, easy to get in and out of the car and also with a modern design – that's the Hyundai Tucson. With its 4.5 meters in length, it could possibly be a bit too long for one or the other older person, especially since its suitability for cities decreases with increasing length. Nevertheless, the Tucson is and remains a clear and extremely manoeuvrable SUV. Legs and head have a lot of freedom in the rear and front, at least 546 liters fit in the trunk, and if you fold down the rear seats, it is even 1,725 liters - the Tucson is characterized by real practical qualities.

If you sit in the Tucson, you can know that you are comfortably bedded in your seat. There is actually no reason to complain while driving: The suspension is good, the steering is smooth and those who opt for the optional all-wheel drive get a little more safety and good traction to prevent skidding even in bad weather conditions.

In fact, the loading sill rises to slightly loftier heights at 72 centimeters, but is unlikely to cause major problems for older people. The seat height is similarly high but much more practical, because at just under 70 centimeters, it is at a really comfortable level.

However, the operation must be described as a small drop of bitterness. In the Tucson, virtually everything is controlled via the central touch display. Some functions can only be found with a little search, and there are no easily accessible haptic buttons for important controls – so you have to laboriously press the touchscreen. A separate climate control unit is available, but if basic settings are to be changed, the touchscreen must be consulted again.

On the engine side, the Tucson is literally available in all colors and shapes: From a pure gasoline engine to some combinations with mild hybrid engines to plug-in hybrids, Hyundai's flagship SUV has everything your heart desires.

Senior cars of certain vehicle types

When it comes to choosing a specific type of vehicle, it is probably compact SUVs, small cars and vans that are most recommended for seniors. Whether as a used car or e-car - everyone can decide for themselves here.

Used cars for seniors

Pensioners often have to pay attention to money, so it makes sense to also take a look at used cars. However, you should keep the following in mind:

• Warranty only when purchased at the dealership
• Be sure to have a used car check done
• Pay attention to the mileage

There are more tips for buying a used car, but these three are probably the most important.

The VW Tiguan and the Toyota Yaris are particularly recommended as used cars.

E-cars for seniors

The same criteria apply to electric cars as to combustion engines, so electric SUVs in compact format are at the top of the list. The battery life of the models should normally be good enough for seniors. Feel free to take a look at our guide to e-cars for seniors and find suitable models.

Small cars for seniors

As already mentioned, small cars are often popular with seniors because they are compact, easy to drive and inexpensive. The Honda Jazz or the VW Polo are popular models here.

Tips for buying a new car for seniors

Whether you decide to buy a new car or a cheap one-year-old car, there are a few things you should look out for before buying:

• Be sure to take a test ride/seat test
• Make sure you have a good overview
• It is best to choose an automatic transmission
• Do not select an engine that is too powerful
• Pay attention to insurance costs
• Order only individually useful assistance systems
• Choose an easy-to-use infotainment system
• Keep an eye on maintenance intervals
• Will a disabled-friendly conversion be necessary in the foreseeable future?