Choosing the best car for seniors can depend on their needs and preferences. Some seniors want to have a vehicle that is small or compact and has a great fuel average. On the other hand, some adults want a rugged vehicle so that they can travel easily in extreme weather conditions. In the current time, seniors are having more options than before. The two categories that best fit seniors are SUVs and Sedans.
While choosing the best car for seniors, the safety feature should a priority.it should have more space for carrying a walker or scooter. Also, the vehicle should be having features for disabled seniors. Talking about comfort, the design of the car should make it easier for the senior to enter or exit the car.
Best Cars for Seniors
Sedans
Sedans are having four doors with a separate closed-off trunk. Talking about compact size, the sedans are small than SUVs. Also, they are more stable with smooth-riding. It is easier to park a sedan and maneuver it in traffic than an SUV. The fuel efficiency of sedans is more than SUVs with a low-price tag.
The main drawback of the sedan is that they are lower to the ground. Hence, it can cause problems while getting in or out of the car. As they are lower to the ground, the interior design of some sedans makes it problematic for seniors to have a clear vision of the road. Also, the interior space and cargo space are less than an SUV.
SUVs
SUVs are heavier and taller than sedans. The design of an SUV is made for rugged or mountainous terrain with better handling. If you live in a region where there is a lot of rain or snow, then SUV with traction control can be the best option for seniors. As compared to a sedan, they are higher off the ground and provide clear visibility to the seniors while driving.
Talking about interior space and cargo space, then that is a lot. The two downsides of owning a sedan are that they are not fuel-efficient and the purchasing price is more than a sedan. Also, they require more maintenance than sedans. So, SUVs are costly than owning a sedan.
Crossovers
Crossovers, a mixture of sedan and an SUV are built on a sedan platform. The SUVs are built with a body-on-frame approach to join the two separate pieces. Just like sedans, crossovers are made as a single unit of body and frame. Hence, it makes crossovers light, agile, and fuel-efficient than full-size SUVs. Also, it provides higher seating and more interior and cargo space than the sedan. Hence, a crossover can be a great option for seniors.
Features to Consider
Before you choose the best car for the seniors or adults in your home, make sure that you are considering the features that are the best fit for their daily use. Older people are having dexterity and mobile challenges, so make sure that you choose the best-fit car for the older people.
Safety Features
Safety feature consideration is not only for older people but also for all ranges of age. But talking about older people, they are more prone to injuries and fragile. Hence, a vehicle with safety features will be the best option for a senior.
Backup Camera: While backing up the car, the rear-view mirror or side mirrors might not be helpful to view the area behind the car. Instead, a backup camera gives a clear vision of the area behind the car.
Automatic Emergency Braking: Older people are not having quick reflexes as compared to young people. When a crash is fast approaching or close to the vehicle, this safety feature stops or slows down the vehicle. Also, it stops the car if a driver has not reacted in time.
Blind Spot Warning: This safety feature prevents the driver from sideswiping the other car while switching lanes. It alerts the driver about the alongside the vehicle in an area where they cannot see it in the side mirrors.
Lane Departure Warning: If the driver is switching the lane without the signal, then it sounds to keep you in the lane.
Lane Keeping Assist: If you are switching the lanes without signaling, then the steering will bring back the car in its lane.
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: When you are backing up the car, it notifies the incoming or crossing vehicles at the back of the car.
Adaptive Cruise Control: On highways, it maintains the safe and constant distance between your car and the car ahead of you.
Driver Attention Warning: It monitors the driving patterns and sounds an alert if the driver is having fatigue or drowsiness.
Controls
On aging eyes, the large and easy-to-read dashboard controls are easier to read. The touchscreens can be difficult and confusing the older fingers. On the other hand, older people can try using a touchscreen with large fonts, high contrast screen, and intuitive graphics. These days, voice control is becoming handy. If older people are having a dexterity problem, then voice control will be the best option for them.
Visibility
Not just older people but every driver needs to have a clear vision while driving the car. The driver has to look from every angle such as front, back, and side. The big windows provide a clear vision to a driver. SUVs are having better sightlines than sedans because of higher seats. The higher seats provide a clear vision of the car’s front and sides.
Accessibility
It is difficult for an older person to squat and move sideways to get into the car’s seat. For older people, the best-fit car should be having wide-opening doors, a tall roofline, and low step-in height. On the other hand, a vehicle with lower height and step-in height, then it makes it difficult for an older person to get in or out of the car. For this purpose, SUVs are better than sedans because of their better accessibility.
Comfort
A comfortable ride for seniors is an important thing to consider. If the car is not comfortable, they will get a sore body or fatigue within no time. For example, the heated seats can be a good option for cold sensitivity, lower back pain, and stiff hips. Also, a car with an option to set the temperature of the seat back and seat bottom separately is another comfortable option for seniors.
For different situations, the multiple adjustments of seats make it comfortable for older people. For example, an old person needs more space while getting in or out of the car, the exit memory seat can be helpful. Also, different memory seat options make it comfortable for the driver.
The adjustable steering columns and pedals can be a good option for everyone. It makes sure that you are driving the car in your best posture. Also, it makes you feel comfortable while holding the steering wheel or using the pedals.
Cars For Seniors – Safety and Comfort Features
Choosing the best cars for seniors can be a tricky thing to do but in the current time, nothing is impossible. There are various options in the market for seniors. The foremost feature that you should be looking for in a car for seniors should be a safety feature. Due to old age, they are not having the best reflexes, so the car should be having automatic braking, lane-keeping assist, and other safety features.
Some technophobe seniors will not like the option of high-tech vehicles. They consider it as a threat so they might look for an old-school or low-tech car for their use. Hence, you should be choosing a car with comfort, safety features, accessibility, and visibility for the seniors. It might be a hard thing to convince them of such a high-tech car.