Top 10 Vehicles for Seniors

My mother suffers from arthritis and is having trouble with the controls in her car. Is there a vehicle on the market that caters to seniors with joint pain?

The over-65 demographic is the fastest-growing in the country according to data released by the Center for Disease Control. Currently, one in ten licensed drivers is over the age of 65. By 2020, statisticians estimate that the U.S. will have over 40 million licensed senior drivers. Some experts have labeled this trend “the silver tsunami,” and businesses are sprinting to keep pace with the constantly evolving consumer demands. Car manufacturers are no exception. Seniors have unique physical needs that their vehicles must accommodate for both comfort and safety purposes. In this post, we’ll discuss ten of the best cars on the market for seniors.

1. Toyota Avalon. The Avalon is a spacious sedan that offers a whisper-quiet, smooth ride. Older drivers will appreciate the tilting and telescoping steering wheel, keyless start, and heated front seats.
2. Toyota Prius. About 50% of Americans over 65 suffer from arthritis. If you’re one of them, you can appreciate the Prius’ buttonless shifter, optional touch screen controls, and optional keyless ignition.
3. Ford Five Hundred. Rear parking sensors, tall seating positions, and adjustable pedals are just a few of the senior-friendly amenities of the Five Hundred.
4. BMW 7 Series. The 7 Series has front seats that can be adjusted in 20 different ways to ease those aching backs and joints.
5. Toyota Sienna. For seniors with grandchildren or a whole lot of cargo, the Sienna can seat up to eight passengers in style. A rear back-up camera comes optional.
6. Buick Lucerne. The Lucerne has replaced the discontinued LeSabre, a favorite model of older drivers and people suffering from arthritis.
7. Pontiac Montana SV6. If you have a passenger who has difficulty entering and exiting vehicles, the Montana is a godsend. It has an optional Sit-N-Lift power seat that allows the right-hand seat in the second row to be extended out of the vehicle and lowered.
8. Honda Civic. The Honda Civic is the paragon of practical affordability, a valuable trait to people on fixed incomes. The Civic has a tilting/telescoping steering wheel, a smooth ride, and excellent gas mileage.
9. Chrysler 300. Senior-friendly cars don’t have to be boring—the 300 drives that point home, so to speak. The car offers optional power-adjustable pedals, a driver’s seat that adjusts eight ways, and an available V-8, 340-horsepower engine for extra fun behind the wheel.
10. Audi A8. The elegant A8 comes with easy-to-use controls that allow drivers to handle everything from the vehicle’s suspension to the GPS system with one knob and four generously sized buttons. The Audi also offers amenities like remote start and massaging seats.