People tend to overestimate the risks associated with older drivers. Young drivers are still the most dangerous today, in terms of fatal accidents.
However, older drivers and motorists with reduced mobility need a car with good visibility, easily accessible and intuitive controls.
The authoritative foreign magazine Consumer Reports has compiled ranking of the best cars for older drivers 2017, whose reliability, owner satisfaction and safety are top notch.
The magazine took into account the following factors:
Front Seat Access. Low door sills and wider doors are preferable for people with physical disabilities.
Visibility. The top 5 cars are participating, which allow both high and low drivers to clearly see the traffic situation with the help of front, side and rear mirrors.
Controls Good cars for older drivers should have easy-to-read sensors and easy controls. This is not only about the steering wheel itself, but also about the handles and buttons for controlling the radio and climate control, as well as the gear shift mechanism.
Headlights. Cars can vary in terms of how well their headlights illuminate the road ahead. Older people often have vision problems, especially in the dark, so they need good road lighting.
Here's what the top 5 best cars for the elderly look like:
5. Kia Sportage
This crossover is one of the best in terms of reliability and maintainability. It has good cross-country ability both in snow and mud, and is suitable for traveling off-road and for driving around the city. It has a high ceiling, large capacity and decent ground clearance - 182 mm. Consumer Reports experts noted the following positive options at Kia Sportage for older drivers:
convenient access to the front seats;
good control over the road and predictable behavior of the car;
bright headlights;
the presence of security systems such as AVSM, AVH, ABS, a warning about movement in the "blind" zone and a system of all-round visibility.
4. Subaru Legacy
In 2013, this Japanese sedan survived restyling. The designers made a change to the false radio grille and the shape of the front bumper and the car began to look more sporty. Due to its appearance, some aged drivers may refuse to buy, considering the car "youth" ... and will be wrong. Here are the benefits of the Subaru Legacy:
excellent visibility due to a change in the angle of inclination of the front struts. This made it possible to reduce the sectors of vision that are covered by rear-view mirrors;
good control over the road;
an advanced active and passive safety system, including a blind zone control system, a lane change assistant, a hazard warning system when reversing, and fog lights that allow you to see the road ahead when cornering.
3. Kia Soul
One of the most popular hatchbacks in Russia is good for everyone: it’s both beautiful and roomy and the suspension is elastic, and the seats are comfortable and the visibility is good. This is what he pleased the drivers and attracted the attention of Consumer Reports:
easy access to the front seats;
predictability and excellent handling;
the presence of curtains, front and side airbags as standard
the presence of an emergency braking assistance system, an active control system, ABS, ESC and a blind spot monitoring system (optional).
According to drivers, Kia Soul has a very good head light, which is also a plus when choosing a car for an elderly and not too sharp-sighted car enthusiast.
2. Subaru Outback
In the updated Outback station wagon of the 2018 model year, the manufacturer made several improvements. Chief among them is a modernized interior. Now the interior of the car will be really quiet. Other changes include a redesigned central panel, an air conditioning system that supposedly cools the interior faster than its predecessor and more upscale details in top-end trim levels. But what Subaru Outback can attract older drivers? He has three of four main advantages:
excellent visibility;
flawless control on the road;
and very bright headlights.
The experts have no complaints regarding safety. The car has both control of the "blind" zones (optional) and assistance with off-road driving and an intelligent drive system and a warning about a possible collision when driving in reverse (again optional).
1. Subaru Forester
Japanese quality, reliability and safety have long become well-known in the automotive market. Therefore, it is not surprising that it was the “Japanese” who became the best choice for an elderly driver. Here are the main advantages of this machine:
easy access to the front seats;
good visibility;
Ease of controls;
many active and passive safety systems, including 7 airbags, a dynamic stabilization system and a three-mode smart drive system with control buttons on the steering wheel.
Of course, there comes a time when older drivers no longer need to drive, no matter what their car is. But this is a completely different story.
