The question of the day is, What is the best SUV for a senior? The ideal SUV for seniors has lots of boxes to tick. In the context of “SUV for seniors,” the term “senior” typically refers to older individuals, often those who are retired or nearing retirement age. Cars for people in this category must deliver a smooth and comfortable ride, be easy to navigate, and feature basic modern-day car safety technology. Also, seniors prefer an SUV that enhances visibility with quick-clear windscreens and larger mirrors. We will guide you to some of the best options available today.
The Best SUVs For Seniors
What is the best SUV for a senior? There are over a hundred cars that fit into this category. However, just a handful can guarantee reliability, fuel efficiency, low maintenance cost, and other properties crucial for senior drivers. We have highlighted the best available today. Let’s explore them.
1. Hyundai Tucson
If you’re exploring the market to find out, what is the best SUV for a senior? The Hyundai Tucson must come up. This car is an excellent choice for seniors because it is among affordable SUVs with great interiors. The latest Tucson compact SUV offers good leg and head room inside. Its handsome exterior and dependable safety tech make it ideal for older drivers.
The car runs on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 187 horsepower. It comes standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission and FWD layout. The EPA estimated that this setup has gas mileages of 25 MPG in the city and 32 on the highway. Moreover, you can opt for an AWD for more excitement. Car handling and luggage space are also remarkable. Hence, you can rely on it for long road trips. Furthermore, the interior sports comfortable materials and tech features like the 10.3-inch infotainment system and Bose Stereo for high-end models.
You can rely on your Tucson for safety and driver assistance features. The car boasts seat belt reminders for all seats and rear-side airbags.
Additionally, the car alerts the driver via steering-wheel haptic feedback from the lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring systems. It can accelerate from zero to 60 MPH in 8.8 seconds. You also get dual automatic temperature control with an auto-defogging function for better visibility. The 2024 Hyundai Tucson ranges between $28,875 and $38,135, depending on the trim and extra features. Lastly, Hyundai offers complimentary maintenance.
2. Acura MDX
The MDX rightly answers the question, What is the best SUV for a senior?
Like Kia’s Sorento, its seven-seater interior provides enough room for seniors going on trips with friends or family. The interior is spacious and offers good leg and head space. It is sophisticated, with decent materials and above-average driver assistance technology.
Acura fitted the MDX with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 290 horsepower. It pairs with a ten-speed automatic transmission, which is standard. Buyers get to choose between a FWD and AWD configuration. Moreover, the Type S trim comes standard with an AWD configuration. This trim runs on a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces up to 355 horsepower. It takes 5.5 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 MPH, while the base model does so in 6.4.
EPA-estimated gas mileages for the MDX are 19 and 26 MPG for the base trim. Meanwhile, the Type S runs at 17 and 21 MPG. These ratings are for city and highway driving, respectively.
The car boasts a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, in-dash navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Standard safety features are automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The 2024 Acura MDX ranges from $51,500 to $74,695, depending on the trim and optional features.
3. Toyota RAV4
Just because you’re a little older doesn’t mean you have to stick with boring sedans. The Toyota RAV4 gives you the perfect blend of excitement and comfort. The interior is cozy with its high seating position to ease getting in and out of the vehicle. Older drivers also take advantage of practical safety features such as rear-view cameras, forward collision warnings, and automatic emergency braking. Also, you can opt for the hybrid version if you want excellent fuel economy.
Fog lights, 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, a panoramic moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, faux-leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and soft-touch armrests are optional features for premium trims. The latest generation of RAV4 looks mildly rugged but maintains the comfortable ride the series is known for, except for the TRD Off-Road trim.
A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates up to 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque is the sole engine for all RAV4s. It pairs with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and FWD driveline. This setup takes just 8.3 seconds to hit 60 mph and has an EPA-estimated gas mileage of 33 MPG combined. The hybrid trims combine this engine with an electric motor to perform with even better gas mileage. You get a standard 8.0-inch infotainment screen blasting via JBL’s premium audio system for entertainment. A new 2024 Toyota RAV4 will set you back between $30,025 and $38,330, depending on your preferred trim and extra features.
4. Honda CR-V
Still looking for what is the best SUV for a senior? We found one for you. The Honda CRV fits perfectly. Everything about this car is easy and reliable. For instance, it has a low step-in height, which makes it easy to get in and out of the vehicle. The top selling points for this SUV are, excellent fuel economy, ample passenger and cargo space, well-tuned chassis, and its unique set of driver assistance and safety tools.
The CR-V relies on a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates up to 190 horsepower. It pairs with an automatic CVT and is configured to either an FWD or AWD driveline. This setup goes from zero to 60 MPH in 8.1 seconds and can tow up to 1,500 pounds of payload. Furthermore, the FWD option has an estimated EPA gas mileage of 28 MPG for city driving and 34 for highway driving.
Inside the car, you get a partially digital cluster and a 7.0-inch infotainment screen. This system displays information, controls media playback, and has access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new safety features in the latest model are driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and back-seat reminder. The price range of the 2024 Honda CR-V is between $30,850 and $36,010, depending on the trim and optional features you want.
5. Kia Sorento
You may wonder why Kia’s Sorento is popular among senior drivers. Let’s unburden you. The Kia Sorento is a midsize SUV known for its comfortable and quiet ride. It sports a roomy seven-seater interior, making it suitable for seniors who frequently travel with family or friends. Seniors also benefit from Kia’s suite of tech features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning. Also, Kia offers extended warranty coverage of five years or 60,000 miles.
When it comes to interior amenities and aesthetics, this car is at the top. You get to enjoy faux-leather upholstery, heated front seats, a digital cluster, mood-enhancing ambient lights, an infotainment system, and a remote start. The base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 191 horsepower in the family-friendly models. There is also a turbocharged variant that produces up to 281 horsepower for the Sport trims.
Both engines pair with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. You can choose between an FWD and AWD layout. The 2024 Kia Sorento starts at $33,365 and goes up to $43,065 for the base gas-only models. These trims are cheaper to maintain and deliver adequate excitement for a senior. The EPA estimates that the base non-turbo setup has a gas mileage of 23 MPG in the city and 31 on the highway. Lastly, it takes just 8.4 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 MPH.
6. Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester seems like the perfect answer to ‘What is the best SUV for a senior?’ The lineup is known to offer a comfortable and safe ride. Many older drivers will appreciate its spacious interior, excellent visibility, and standard all-wheel drive layout. Also, the latest models boast the EyeSight driver assistance system featuring safety tech like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.
Features like the panoramic sunroof, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, reclining rear seatbacks, onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and six-speaker sound system make the interior way cooler than you’d expect. You also get 17-inch wheels for better ground clearance. Inside, you get a 6.5-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates up to 182 horsepower to power this car. It relies on an automatic CVT and can tow up to 1,500 pounds. The 2024 Subaru Forester has a starting price of $28,440 for the base model. Pricing can go as high as $38,940 for the higher-end trims. Furthermore, the EPA-estimated gas mileage is 30 MPG combined. So, coupled with the mundane maintenance cost, you get yourself a cheap and reliable car. However, throttle responsiveness is not the Forester’s forte. It takes about 9.1 seconds to smash 60 MPH from zero.
7. Volkswagen Taos
The Taos is ideal for senior drivers due to its fuel efficiency and reliability. This car sports a modern interior with a 4.0-inch digital gauge cluster and a 6.5-inch infotainment display coming standard. Also, you can opt for the 8.0-inch upgrade. A built-in navigation, an eight-speaker BeatsAudio stereo, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging are standard.
The car runs on a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces up to 158 horsepower. The FWD layout comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the 4Motion AWD uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
VW’s IQ Drive adaptive cruise control system with lane centering and dual-zone automatic climate control qualify this car as an ideal SUV for seniors. Additionally, the EPA estimates that the FWD Taos trim has a gas mileage of 28 MPG in the city and 36 on the highway. A new 2024 Volkswagen Taos costs between $25,420 and $34,940, depending on the trim you opt for.
8. Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 is stylish and fun to drive. Its five-seater interior is spacious for passengers and luggage. It also offers a suite of safety features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
The base engine is a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder that pumps up to 187 horsepower. A turbocharged variant that takes the power rating up to 256 horsepower is also available. They both rely on a six-speed automatic transmission to power the standard AWD driveline. For the base setup, the EPA estimates that its gas mileage is 24 MPG in the city and 30 on the highway. The turbocharger brings it down to 22 MPG for city and 27 for highway driving.
Inside the CX-5, you get a 10.3-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay access. Also, the base models can tow a payload of up to 2,000 pounds. Lastly, the CX-5 boasts Mazda Connected Services, which includes access to remote vehicle functions via a smartphone app and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. The 2024 Mazda CX-5 ranges between $30,675 and $41,975, depending on the trim and extra features.
9. Mitsubishi Outlander
What is the best SUV for a senior? Among the right options, the Outlander is among the most well-rounded. It comes with 20-inch wheels, a hands-free power liftgate, wireless charging, and driver assistance features like adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist. These features make it one of the best SUVs for senior drivers.
A 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that generates 181 horsepower is the base powertrain for the 2024 Outlander. It relies on a standard automatic CVT. Whereas, buyers get to choose between an FWD and AWD layout. This setup can tow a 2,000-pound payload. Its EPA-estimated gas mileage is 24 MPG in the city and 31 on the highway.
Moreover, seniors who want to save some bucks at the pump can opt for the hybrid models. This trim combines a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to generate up to 248 horsepower. It is a plug-in hybrid with a 20.0-kWh battery pack to add 38 miles of electric-only driving range per charge.
Additionally, you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, Bose audio system, panoramic sunroof, and a 9.0-inch infotainment display with access to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A new 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander will set you back between $30,015 and $42,735, depending on your favored trim.
10. Audi Q5
The Audi Q5 is famous for its good looks, top-class tech, and durability. What better combo describes the ideal SUV for a senior? Furthermore, the SUV offers standard adaptive cruise control (ACC) and adaptive cruise assist (ACA). The interior is comfortable and easy to go in and out of. It is designed with decent materials.
The base engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 201 horsepower. It powers the seven-speed automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. The Q5 has other more powerful engine options, but our focus is on the base trim, which is suitable for seniors.
Inside the Q5, you get a 10.1-inch infotainment system with access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You also get access to voice recognition, Bluetooth, and HD Radio. Additionally, you can take advantage of the new Audi app store to down third-party apps. A new 2024 Audi Q5 costs $46,495 for the base model. Moreover, you can get the base Premium trim that produces up to 261 horsepower for about $49,495. The only downside for this trim is the gas mileage. It takes off 1 MPG to get 24 MPG combined.
Let’s Wrap Up…
To answer the question, What is the best SUV for a senior? We considered all the essential factors that make up a comfortable yet reliable car. The cars were selected based on safety, comfort, visibility, and driver assistance technology. Furthermore, we picked SUVs qualified for affordable insurance plans since many seniors are retired. Let us know what you think in the comments.
