The Best Vehicles For Seniors To Drive Into Their Golden Years
Driving style and preferences change with age. As you cross the age of 60, you want a ride that is calm and quiet and takes you from point A to point B with ease and efficiency. Comfort takes the place of thrill, and reliability has more weight than power. We've identified 40 of the best vehicles for seniors-- take your pick from these top-rated SUVs and cars!
Lexus RX - Durability Wrapped in Luxury
If you are a rich senior, not Rolls Royce rich but more than Toyota and Honda rich, and want something that is dependable and luxurious, the Lexus RX can be a good option for you. This midsize luxury SUV is made by the luxury division of Toyota and is one fine vehicle, to say the least.
The RX starts at just over $45,000 and has up to 308 horsepower. There is also a hybrid version for seniors who care about the environment. Driving this car is as easy as it can get and it can tackle almost everything, thanks to the intelligent AWD system Toyota has blessed it with.
Range Rover Evoque - To Make a Statement
If you are a senior who wants to have a seriously cool car that is pretty capable too, the Evoque is what you need. It is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV that is meant to make a statement - and that it does pretty well.
The car does not only make a statement, it leaves its marks on the trail too. There can hardly be any terrain that the Evoque cannot tackle. And if you want to drive it on paved roads, for some reason, it becomes a well-behaved car with decent road manners. Comfort, capability, and style make the Evoque the car we know it to be.
Honda Civic - Goes Without Saying
For the seniors who want to drive in comfort and look cool while they are at it, the Honda Civic is one of the best options. This thing is as reliable as a car can get. Breaking down is not even in the dictionary of this automaker.
The new Civic starts at just over $21,000 and delivers 40MPG on the highway and 31MPG in the city. You get a reasonable 180hp turbocharged engine that is mated to a CVT for smooth delivery of power to the front wheels. The drive is relaxing and the car has plenty of power for any senior driver, except for maybe retired Formula 1 drivers and fighter pilots.
Tesla Model X - Wheelchair-Friendly
Some seniors may not be keen on electric cars and think they are more of a technological gimmick than actual cars, but hear me out on this one. The first benefit of this car is that it is cheap to operate. It runs on electricity and that is cheaper than gas.
The second reason we are recommending this car is that it has really big rear doors and seniors who use wheelchairs can easily put the wheelchair in the car, drive off, take the chair out and sit in it. They can do it all on their own. And that is a huge plus if you ask me!
Toyota Highlander Hybrid - Economical and Dependable
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a very nice vehicle for seniors who want good fuel economy, incredible capability, impeccable reliability, and absolute dependability. The Highlander Hybrid checks all those boxes.
If you picture your retired life as a digital nomad going places with a minimum carbon footprint but you don't want to buy an all-electric boring car, the Highlander Hybrid is the one you are looking for. It has all the qualities you'll need. It can go to any place a senior can reasonably need to go, even the greater Sahara Desert if you bring a tank of gas with you!
Honda Accord - A Complete Package
For the seniors who want a reliable ride with a bit of driving fun, the Honda Accord is the best option. It's a car made to take you from Point A to Point B with all the small luxuries that you might want.
The Accord is not all boring and vanilla. It has a potent 3.5L engine that cranks out a respectable 271hp. The front-wheel-drive car is powerful and quick enough to drive smoothly in the city and overtake on the highway. You still get an EPA rating of 38MPG on the highway and 30MPG in the city, so the car will not put a dent in your retirement money.
Toyota Camry - Can't Break Down Even in an Apocalypse
Another offering from Japan, Camry is a very good option for seniors who want to have a car that is reliable and provides the basic comforts. The reason we are recommending this vehicle is that it is literally indestructible.
There are Camrys with thousands of miles on the road still driving fine. There was even a case of a man driving a Camry without engine oil for a month and the thing hardly gave up. The 214hp 4-cylinder in this car might not be the most potent out there but it is enough for seniors who don't intend to use their car for rally racing.
Kia Sorento - Designed for the Distance
For the seniors who want to go out and about, the Kia Sorento is a viable option. This is a capable SUV, to start with. You can get up to 281hp and 8-speed automatic transmission.
With plenty of power and lots of driver assistance and active safety features, the Sorento is a potent and safe car for seniors. It also comes at a relatively affordable price of $30,000 and if you can get your hands on a hybrid variant, it delivers a fuel economy of 35MPG on highway and 39 in the city.
Toyota Crown - Comfortable and Durable
If you think Toyota only makes rugged off-roaders and boring road cars, think again. They make some seriously luxurious ones too. The Crown is one of them. It is a car made to rival the likes of Rolls and Bentley, and it does a good job at that.
If comfort and reliability are on your car buying list, no vehicle on the market can deliver a better combination of both. Whether you like being driven around by a chauffeur or you enjoy long drives with your partner, the Crown can fill all roles. The best part is that it's as comfortable as a Toyota can get without becoming a Lexus.
Honda CR-V Hybrid - Fuel-Efficient and Reliable
Another dependable, capable, reliable, and cheap-to-operate option on this list is the CR-V Hybrid. For starters, it comes from Honda, the most reliable car brand in the world. That means it's a car you can just go and drive and rarely bother with maintenance. Getting engine oil changed every five or so thousand miles is recommended though.
The other reason this car is good for seniors is that it is extremely comfortable and easy to drive. It has the interior dimensions to easily seat your partner and three of your grandchildren while being externally small enough to drive in the city with ease and convenience.
Bentley Musalane - Luxury at its Finest
If you have worked hard all your life and saved enough money (I mean in seven or eight figures) to live your retired life, Hondas, Toyotas, Fords, and Subarus are not for you. You need a Bentley. The Musalane is a full-size sedan that is perfect to be chauffeured in.
Not that it matters for someone with pockets 8-figure deep, but this thing has a monstrous engine. We're talking 6.8L Biturbo V8 and mannnn this thing hauls. The gigantic limo will zip from a standstill to 60mph in under 5 seconds. These are not your normal seconds, no. These ones are surrounded by the finest materials the interior of any automobile has ever seen.
Rolls Royce Ghost - For Seniors With Chauffers
Nothing can match a retired life where you have a Rolls Royce. The Ghost is a way to spend your retired life in the type of luxury nothing else can offer. For starters, the engine in this thing is a smooth 6.7L V12 that puts out 573 extremely comfortable and luxurious horses.
Comfortable because when you (or your chauffeur) put the pedal to the metal in this thing, you don't feel a jolt of power pushing you ahead. This thing can accelerate from 0-60mph in mere 4.5 seconds but when it does that, it does that cool.
Volvo XC40 - For Eco-Conscious Seniors
This car comes as a plug-in hybrid and an all-electric vehicle. It is not only an environmentally friendly car with very little to no immediate carbon emissions, but it is also made from sustainable materials. The carpeting, for example, is made entirely of recycled plastic.
Being electric does not translate to a boring car by any means. The XC40 can do 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. Overtaking others on the highway and taking off from the stoplight in the city is fast in this car. Plus, you also get driving assistance by various autonomous driving features and integrated Google services for help on the go.
Subaru Forester - The Affordable Off-Roader
The seniors who do not happen to have a lot of money after retirement and still want to have an off-road vehicle to explore all the things their busy work life did not let them explore, the Forester is a good option. This car starts at just $24,000, with Subaru's Symmetric AWD system standard on all trims.
It has a huge 112 cubic feet passenger volume to keep you from feeling claustrophobic while exploring the trail and goes 33 miles on a gallon on the highway. The features that can be especially helpful for seniors include the EyeSight suite and Subaru DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation system that make sure you don't start thinking of the good ol' days on the road.
Hyundai Santa Fe - Reliable Off the Road
Starting at just $27,000 and with up to 281hp and AWD, the Santa Fe is a family car that you can take off-road. The 28MPG fuel economy of the car is good for hauling your grandchildren to the ball game and going fishing with buddies on weekends, or weekdays since you are retired.
If you happen to be eco-conscious, you can get the hybrid Santa Fe. If you want more performance and happen to be a thrill-seeking senior, the turbocharged Santa Fe can satisfy the car enthusiast in you. The interior is nice and the car has all the small bits of luxury to make day-to-day driving easy.
Honda Pilot - A True Family Hauler
Another family hauler that you can take anywhere you want, the Honda Pilot is a nice compact SUV for older folks. It comes with Honda reliability and is a pretty capable vehicle off the road too. Not as indestructible as a Toyota but this car is good for some hundred thousand miles.
The interior is not very fancy but is pretty in line with what you can expect from a car that costs $32,000. Safety and driver assistance features are plentiful and as it is a Honda, it is as fun to drive as a car can be without being a sports car.
Chevrolet Tahoe - To Haul Them All
If you want to buy American and buy a car that you can use to haul all of your grandchildren, the Tahoe is the car you want to buy. With seating for up to 9 adults and maximum available power of 420hp from a pure American V8, the Tahoe has serious hauling capacity.
If you have more grandchildren than can fit in a 9-seater Tahoe, this thing can haul trailers weighing well in excess of 8,000lbs. That means you can take everybody along on a hiking trip if you have a Tahoe and you can proudly say you drive American in a world dominated by boomers flaunting exotics.
Jaguar F Pace - The British SUV
If you want to buy something that stands out from the crowd, the Jaguar F Pace is a good option. In a world where SUVs are becoming economical and minimalist, the F Pace delivers premium luxury and looks great while it's at it.
The F Pace might be the first attempt by Jaguar to make an SUV but it does share its DNA with Land Rover and Range Rover. So basically, this is the SUV that has the best of both worlds - performance, and luxury. Driving this thing is a treat and a trip from New York to LA in one of these will feel like a visit to the local mart even if you are 80.
Nissan Terra Electric SUV - The Most Unsightly Concept Car
People who are so much eco-conscious that they don't mind driving around in a very unique-looking concept car might consider buying the Nissan Terra Electric SUV. It looks like Nissan didn't learn a lesson from the unpopular Juke model and took that same design language further.
Other than looking rather eccentric, the Terra has large doors that open backward, a spacious cabin, captain's chairs for all four passengers, and an electric drivetrain. When this thing comes out, it will be an AWD with some pretty impressive performance characteristics though.
Land Rover Discovery - Comfort and Class
Seniors and retirees who want more space and all of the luxury should take a closer look at the Land Rover Discovery. This vehicle features three rows and can handle the backroads with ease.
Inside there's nothing but luxury and comfort. The Discovery is stacked with an infotainment system featuring the latest technology while the seats boast two-tone leather. Drivers can choose between an entry-level four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged six-cylinder with limited hybrid technology.
Acura RDX - Premium Sports Crossover
A capable luxury SUV that needs minimal maintenance and virtually never breaks down is the definition of the RDX. Made by Acura, the luxury division of Honda, the RDX is meant to reimagine the way people look at SUVs.
The RDX is a suitable car for the seniors who want to cruise around in comfort, knowing that they have 272 readily available V-TEC-powered horses at their disposal. The best thing about this car is that despite being a luxury car, it does not scream luxury. It blends right in with the majority while giving the driver and occupants an exquisite driving and traveling experience.
Ford Escape - Versatile and Capable
The Escape is one of the best American compact SUVs of all time. For one, it is made by Ford, the single most reputable automaker in the US. Second, it costs just over $25,000, and honestly, that is a very reasonable price for a vehicle this capable.
You can take the Escape for groceries and load it up with a month's supply for the whole neighborhood. If you want to go on the trail, the Escape will not disappoint you there either. With Ford's CoPilot, plenty of available color options, and a powerful engine, the Ford has all that a retiree can ask of a car.
Toyota Prius - Because It's For Them
You have grey hair and have lived a life of honor. You have served the world long and faithfully and now it is the time to do the world one last favor: decrease your carbon footprint in the most graceful way. The Prius is a vehicle designed to help you do that.
With an option of various gasoline engines and an electric motor, the Prius is a top choice. Let people call it boring or anything but know this, it is an eco-friendly car that can help you travel in comfort and look respectable while you are at it. The choice is yours, whether you want the internet hatred to keep you away from this amazing vehicle or you want to be an ecologically responsible person in your golden years.
Audi RS6 Avant - To Haul Grandchildren in Style
What can be cooler than you, with your gracefully grey hair, tearing the asphalt in a 600hp performance wagon with your grandchildren chanting "faster!" in the rear seat? That can be possible with the RS6 Avant.
Audi made this vehicle (vehicle because calling it a wagon doesn't do justice) to change the way people think about wagons. They've managed to stuff a massive 4.0L V8 under the hood that makes this thing go to 60mph from a standstill in 3.1 seconds. It is a pretty practical vehicle but if a kid tries to outrun you in an Impala, you can tell them who's the boss.
Genesis G90 - An Affordable Luxury
Everyone likes full-size luxury cars but they are expensive. They easily cost six figures and that is a big amount for someone who has retired. Thankfully, Korean automaker Genesis has a solution for this. And that solution comes in the form of the G90.
While the G90 is still not a cheap car at $70,000, it is an affordable entry point into the full-size luxury car arena. With 365 horsepower and all the small bits that you can expect from a car that has luxury in its description, the G90 is a good deal.
Mazda CX9 - Sophistication and Performance
Another Japanese car that is well prepared to tackle any road that you want to take after retirement is the Mazda CX9. This three-row, seven-passenger SUV has Mazda's class-leading SkyActiv engine that provides effortless acceleration and i-Activ AWD that makes it possible for you to retain traction no matter what surface you are on.
The CX9 also comes with a host of active safety features which are particularly helpful for older drivers. Even though it is a big SUV, it has the driving dynamics of a car and you will have no difficulty driving it around town or on country roads.
Honda Odyssey - The Family Van
The Odyssey needs to be designated as the national family van of the USA. Whether you are a senior or not, if you have a large family, the Odyssey is what you need to have. For seniors, it can be a great way to haul kids around with all of their toys and necessities when they travel.
At the heart of this family van is a V6 engine that makes this vehicle anything but boring. I have seen grannies in the Odyssey overtaking Civics and Accords on the road like a piece of cake. This minivan has the guts and driver assistance features needed to make traveling safe and easy.
Maserati Quattroporte - Affordable Elegance
Elegance, comfort, and style don't need to cost you a small fortune. Even though a brand new example of this Italian automotive piece of art will cost you well above a hundred thousand dollars, you can find slightly used ones for a quarter of that price.
With a very finely tuned Italian V6 that delivers 424 extremely smooth horsepower and a rear-wheel-drive system, the Quattroporte is for the seniors who want to drive something exciting. It has Italian beauty, exotic comfort, and appears quite expensive. Reminder: Don't walk into a Maserati dealership and pay six figures for it. Find a used one.
Tesla Model 3 - Peace of Mind
For the seniors who mostly travel around town and want something that is easy to drive and has all the essentials, the Tesla Model 3 is a complete package. Despite Tesla's reputation for making expensive cars, this one just costs $36,000 and has a range of 263 miles.
Think of it this way, you can charge it at home every night and pay absolutely nothing for gas. It helps you drive and keeps you safe when you are behind the wheel. It takes the stress of driving away and even if you have to go on a long trip, it keeps you from tiring. The benefits are endless if you're satisfied with buying an electric car.
Toyota 4Runner - Dependable On and Off Road
This one is for the seniors who plan on serious off-roading. We are in the rugged body-on-frame territory here. It is not one of those SUVs that are adopted from cars and have a unibody construction. This thing is made for the real stuff.
It comes with a big 4.0L V6, a 5-speed electronically controlled transmission, and a real 4WD, not an AWD as seen on the mild off-road vehicles. The Toyota Safety Sense system in this vehicle will keep you safe no matter where your next adventure takes you and the engine has enough motivation to keep you moving anywhere, any time.
Lincoln Continental - The Affordable Vintage
Some people want to have a car that complements their age and for those enthusiasts, the Lincoln Continental is the best option. It is a car that combines the old and new in the best way possible. It is the modern age manifestation of classic American luxury cars.
With three engine options and all the interior comforts that you can ask from an American premium car, the Continental is a treat to drive and be driven in. It is fast and capable but in a very comfortable sort of way, ideal for retirees.
Honda Fit - Efficient and Minimalist
Even though the Fit was discontinued in the US in 2020, it still remains one of the best cars to come from Honda. The hybrid powertrain delivers up to 45MPG thanks to the small engine and the well-executed hybrid system on this car.
As this is a Honda, you can find used examples in pretty clean and reliable conditions. Plus, these things are relatively cheap to maintain too. They deliver excellent ride quality, all the basic comforts, and don't break down. Add to that the small size of this car and it is perfect for older drivers living on a fixed income.
Hyundai Kona - The Small SUV
You might be seeing a lot of SUVs on this list and that is because the market is shifting to them at a fast pace. Crossovers are becoming the name of the game as they offer the driving ease and comfort of cars with the dependability and capability of SUVs.
The Kona is a small SUV that is affordable yet gets the job done - and gets it done with style. Costing just over $20,000, this SUV comes with a 195hp engine that goes 35 miles on a gallon. While the small size makes it easy to drive, the AWD system makes it possible for this vehicle to go almost anywhere.
Nissan Rogue - The Safest Car
The Nissan Rogue is an IIHS Safety top pick and has got far better looks than those of the Nissan Juke. As a Nissan with style and comfort, the Kona checks a lot of boxes and delivers on all fronts. It has a 181hp engine, the boot space is a massive 36 cubic feet, and it goes 32 miles with a gallon.
Moreover, it has a sophisticated AWD system and is one of the most capable small SUVs available in the North American market. Though there are not a lot of fancy features or luxuries in this car, what you get for $25,000 is a dependable and practical vehicle that will not betray you on the road.
Mercedes S-Class - Luxury, Style, and Elegance
No list of cars can be complete without mentioning the Germans. They have a car for everyone other than a high schooler looking to buy his first car. The S-class is the perfect line of cars that you can have to drive or to be driven in.
This range of cars lets you choose from a number of models depending on your personal preferences, budget, and availability. If you are retired and can spend more than $50,000 on a car, there's an S-class made for you.
Honda Insight - A Better Civic
Honda Insight is as practical as a hybrid can get. It shares most of its components and interior features with the popular Honda Civic Sedan. Even though it is a hybrid car, it feels and drives much like a conventional sedan.
What you get by switching from the Civic to the Insight is added fuel efficiency. It might be a bit less powerful than the Civic with its 151hp powertrain, but fuel efficiency is its real domain. This vehicle gets 55 miles per gallon in the city and 49 on the highway. Eco-conscious seniors wanting to save a buck or two on gas need to consider this option.
Kia Soul - Small and Cute
Yet another subcompact crossover SUV on our list today is the Kia Soul. It is one of the most affordable options for seniors. Costing just over $17,000, this car has all that you need to travel daily with basic comfort. You can have up to 201hp engines in this car and that is a lot of horses for such a small car.
The good thing about this car is that it has a lot of standard active safety features including lane keep assist, auto emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. These features are not a big deal in themselves, but they are at this price point.
Kia Forte - The Compact Sedan
The Kia Forte is a good option for seniors who do not need to go off the road and just want a reliable car for traveling around town and the occasional interstate trip. It offers the design language of the more premium Kia Stinger and comes in at just under $18,000.
You can get an up to 201hp engine in this car. Other amenities are wireless charging for your phone and an attractive interior. You do not get the fancy Alcantara or leather inside, but what it offers is pretty acceptable for a car at this price point. It has a number of driver assistance features and active safety measures to make sure you are safe behind the wheel.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid - Packed With Power
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is another vehicle that ticks a lot of boxes. It is a hybrid yet a pretty capable off-road machine. The EPA estimates for the fuel economy of this car fall at 41MPG on the highway and 38 in the city.
All that and you get the durability of Toyota. These things are immensely reliable so that you don't have to spend your golden years towing your car to the service station. The off-road capabilities of the RAV4 Hybrid make it possible for you to explore all the places you couldn't in your busy years.
Subaru Legacy - A Different Take
Subaru has always had a slightly different take at designing sedans and the Legacy is a fine example of that. It is a sedan with a generous passenger volume of 106 cubic feet, a potent boxer motor that puts out 260hp, an all-wheel-drive configuration, and a pricetag under 23 grand. If that's not a deal for you, I don't know what will be.
Even with its impressive engine and intelligent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system, it goes 35 miles on a gallon on the highway and 27 in the city.
Chevrolet Impala - The Discontinued American Masterpiece
Another discontinued car on this list, the Impala is one of the best American sedan options for seniors. With big honking V8s that the classy seniors love and one of the best interiors any car has ever had, the Impala is a treat to drive in your golden years.
These things are made to last and even if you can get a unit with a few thousand miles on it, it will be worth every penny. The sound of the V8 alone will rejuvenate you, making you realize that with a powerful engine under the hood, age is just a number.
