Thankfully, Consumer Reports has compiled a list of best and worst cars for taller drivers. Unsurprisingly, small sports cars are a tough sell, while big sedans and SUVs feel tailor-made for taller folks. Best and worst small carsfortalldrivers. What are the best cars for tall drivers? Come see what cars will be the best for your stall stature.
You wouldn’t purchase a pair of shoes for yourself if they weren’t your size, so why buy a car that doesn’t fit you? Just like a good fitting pair of shoes, there are plenty of vehicle styles, sizes, and options to choose from. We’ll take a look at a selection of the best vehicles for tall drivers, and the best vehicles for short drivers. But before we start, let’s review some of the criteria we used to determine our top picks.
We chose a variety of vehicle types based on interior specifications, safety, quality, and comfort. Headroom measures the amount of room for your torso. It is measured from the vehicle’s roof to the bottom of the seat. This, in combination with the overall height of the vehicle, can help gauge the ease of entry and exit.
Legroom measures the distance between the floor pedals to the seat, either fully extended or in the fully forward position. The Society of Automotive Engineers determine this space using the seat in the full rearward position. Front hip room measures the width of the front seat. This metric is helpful if you travel extensively. Wider hip room allows for more wiggle room and less compression on your legs, allowing for better blood flow.
Safety is an important consideration, as some features such as knee airbags, are great for drivers both short and tall. Lastly, quality and comfort helped in determining the best vehicles for both tall and short drivers.
You wouldn’t typically think of a coupe as having the stretch room that the Mercedes S-Class has. Few coupes offer this spacious of a cabin and luxurious comfort. Don’t take for granted the convince of the standard multi-adjustable power seat when you lend this beauty to your spouse.
With plenty of room to get in and out, the 2017 Hyundai Sonata continues its legacy as a top-in-class sedan. The cabin is roomy and comfortable, with plenty of headroom and more than enough leg room for most tall drivers. If you feel like an upgrade to the already impressive base, the Sonata Sport comes with an 8-way adjustable power driver’s seat and heated seats.
The 2017 Subaru Forester has a ground clearance of 8.7 inches, which makes getting in and out that much easier for a vertically gifted driver sick of rolling into the driver seat. The driver’s seat is comfortable, and while the cabin is not breathtaking, it works for a vehicle you’d want to take camping.
To jazz it up, the Forester comes standard with a color rearview camera so you don’t need to wrench your neck to back out of your parking space. It earned an overall 5-Star NHTSA rating and comes with adjustable pedals and side head Airbags.
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has plenty of headroom and ample legroom. It comes with standard power driver’s seat and Nappa leather trim. The ride is extremely comfortable thanks to lumbar support and extra hip room. It also comes with available driver seat position memory in case the teenager needs to borrow the van. It is a Top Safety Pick + and awarded a 5-Star Overall NHTSA Safety Rating.
Let’s just call it as it is. The Ford F-150 is arguably the best truck in America. It also happens to be the perfect vehicle if you need some extra legroom. For virtual virtuosos, getting in and out of this truck is a cinch. The extra hip room is a nice bonus, and the F-150 is again one of the safest trucks on the road, scoring a 5-Star Overall NHTSA Rating and being awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
One beautifully laid out interior, the controls are pivoted toward the driver to eliminate excessive reach. The driver’s seat? Well, the 2017 Audi TTS has twelve-way power sport seats that include four-way lumbar adjustment. So, the seats adjust nicely whether you’ve got a short torso, short legs, or both.
Like classy cabins? Check out 2016’s Top 10 Best Interiors.
With a height-adjustable, 8-way power ‘Sport’ driver’s seat, adjustable lumbar support, and side seat bolsters, any driver can sit comfortably snug in the Toyota Camry. The materials used in the cabin are nice, even at the base level, and improve with each trim upgrade.
While 2017 IIHS ratings are not in yet, the 2016 Camry earned Top Safety Pick+ honors. 2017’s Camry has been awarded a 5-Star overall NHTSA rating. The Camry comes with 10 airbags, including driver seat-mounted side airbags and knee airbags.
Cadillac outdid itself with the 2017 XT5’s upscale cabin. Materials are first class. The ergonomic seating comes standard with power slide and recline. It’s comfortable, particularly for road trips. Worried about getting in? The XT5 comes with available assist steps to make entry and exit a breeze. Top to it all off, the XT5 was awarded IIHS Top Safety Pick+ honors.
A spacious cabin for folks of most sizes, with quality materials and comfort at its core, the 2017 Volvo XC90 has a lot to offer. With standard premium synthetic seats, seat memory, 14-way power-adjustable slide and recline, and spine support, the driver seat can be positioned to easily reach pedals and concurrently the 9-inch touch-screen infotainment system. The XC90 also earned an overall 5-Star NHTSA safety rating.
While you may be excited enough to jump into the 2017 Nissan Frontier, you don’t have to. The pickup’s ground clearance is 8.7 inches, making entry and exit easy when factoring in the location of the assist handle for those who are very short. Another great feature is built right into the front seats. The supplemental air bags move with you as you adjust your seating position, offering side-impact protection. The Frontier is a great choice for someone wanting a pickup that won’t swallow you whole.
Tall? Short? What’s the best fitting car you have driven? Let us know in the comments!
Tall people drive cars too, right? But when you’re in the 6-foot and over club, buying a car involves more than just style and personal preference. The best cars for tall people need to be comfortable, have enough headroom and legroom, and offer a good range of seat-height and seat-track adjustments. Be sure there’s enough room in between the pedals, and in the footwell to rest your left foot. And you might want to skip the sunroof – it’s nice but eats up a few inches of coveted headroom.
Since all cars are not created equal when it comes to accommodating height, we’ve researched the best cars for tall drivers. Our list draws from car reviews and top auto experts (including some tall editors, no doubt).
Pontiac Vibe– This compact hatchback is the best car on our list for front-seat headroom at a comfortable 40.5 inches, with front legroom in the mid-pack at 41.6 inches. The Pontiac Vibe is an affordable alternative to MAZDA3s and Chevy HHRs, with “more interior room, cargo volume and a lower price,” according to Kelly Blue Book. In the rear, you’ll get a good 39.4 inches of headroom and a decent amount of legroom. If you can still find it on dealer lots, there’s likely a good deal to be made.
Honda Fit– One of Car and Driver’s picks for its 2010 10 Best Cars, its editors say, “It takes truly Sasquatchian dimensions to be discomforted inside.” Despite being a subcompact, the 5-passenger 2010 Honda Fit offers spaciousness, quality design and interior versatility that surpasses some of the more expensive cars. The 40.4 inches of front headroom ranks second on our list and rear headroom (39.0 inches) is third. Both front and back legroom measure slightly below the average, at 41.3 inches and 34.5 inches, respectively.
Best Cars for Tall Drivers –Headroom and Legroom
Car | Model Year | FRONT SEAT | REAR SEAT | ||
Headroom | Legroom | Headroom | Legroom | ||
Pontiac Vibe | 2009 | 40.5” | 41.6” | 39.4” | 36.2” |
Honda Fit | 2010 | 40.4” | 41.3” | 39.0” | 34.5” Chrono trigger wad ntsc. |
Hyundai Sonata | 2010 | 40.1” | 43.7” | 38.2” | 37.4” |
Hyundai Sonata | 2011 | 40.0” | 45.5” | 37.8” | 34.6” |
Subaru Forester 2.5XT | 2009 | 40.0” | 43.1” | 37.7” | 38.0” |
Scion xB | 2010 | 40.0” | 40.7” | 41.2” | 38.0” |
Honda Accord EX-L | 2008 | 39.0” | 42.5” | 37.2” | 37.2” |
Volkswagen New Beetle | 2010 | 38.2” | 39.4” | 36.7” | 33.5” |
Volvo S80 | 2009 | 37.8” | 41.9” | 38.8” | 35.0” |
Hyundai Sonata– While the 2010 Hyundai Sonata ranks third for front headroom at 40.1 inches, and second best for front legroom (43.7 inches) and back legroom (37.4 inches), the affordable sedan is all new for 2011. Front and rear headroom in the 2011 model are comparable to the 2010 model at 40.0 inches and 37.8 inches, respectively. But the 2011 wins when it comes to front legroom, topping our list at 45.5 inches, with a fair 34.6 inches in the rear. Autoblog’s 6’2 reviewer says he “slid into the driver’s seat with plenty of room” and even needed to move the seat forward for comfort. As for the backseat, he says there’s plenty of space and legroom behind the driver.
Subaru Forester 2.5XT – Drivers with longs legs and tall families will want to consider the redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT. It ranks third on our list for front legroom (43.1 inches) and ties the Scion xB for most rear legroom (38.0 inches), providing great foot space and legroom even if the front seats are pushed back. This compact crossover utility vehicle is on Consumer Reports’ list of 10 best cars for tall drivers. Longer and wider than previous models, it has excellent front headroom at 40.0 inches and modest rear headroom.
Scion xB– The 2010 Scion xB is a tall passenger’s dream. It ties the 2009 Subaru Forester 2.5XT for most rear legroom at 38.0 inches and the rear headroom tops our list at 41.2 inches. Front headroom is a roomy 40.0 inches and there’s adequate front legroom at 40.7 inches. Yet the real winner may be the 2006 Scion xB with an impressive 46.1 inches of front headroom and 45.3 inches of front legroom, not to mention 38 inches of rear legroom. Autobytel awarded the 2006 subcompact wagon its best pick for commuter vehicles with the most legroom.
Honda Accord EX-L – Redesigned for 2008, the midsize Honda Accord EX-L is roomier than before and larger than its competitors the Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry. Front headroom and legroom are 39.0 and 42.5 inches, respectively, and the rear dimensions are 37.2 inches for both. Consumer Reports lists the Accord EX-L in its 10 best cars for tall drivers. New Car Test Drive praises the Accord’s tall-friendly features: a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, multiple driver’s seat power adjustments, good driver’s seat support, lots of room around the front seat, and rear seats with enough “space for a six-footer to sit comfortably behind another one.” Seats in the 2008 model offer superior support than older model years, according to Consumer Guide who says, “Larger door openings and a higher roof make entering and exiting easy.”
Volkswagen New Beetle– In the compact class (or subcompact by EPA designation), the 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle offers distinctly retro looks with the latest features. Best of all, it offers tall drivers front headroom of 38.2 inches and front legroom of 39.4 inches. However, the backseat may feel tighter, with headroom and legroom of 36.7 and 33.5 inches, respectively.
Volvo S80– In the midsize luxury sedan category, the Volvo S80 rates as one of Consumer Reports’ 10 best cars for tall drivers. New Car Test Drive calls it big, luxurious, fast, comfortable and spacious. Although it’s at the bottom of our list for front headroom (37.8 inches), the S80 has generous legroom with 41.9 inches in front and 35.0 inches in back. Edmunds says the seat comfort is sublime, with driver memory and 8-way power front seats that are “supportive enough to impress a chiropractor and comfortable for miles on end.”
Need Comfortable Front Seats With Better Thigh Support?
While ample headroom and legroom are essential, what about more comfortable front seats for tall drivers and people who need extra thigh support? Unfortunately, automakers don’t publish their seat-cushion lengths so consumers can’t easily research the best options before they head out to buy a vehicle. So what can you do? Try looking for new models that come with multi-adjustable front seats and opt for packages that include front seat-cushion extenders for the driver and passenger.
2011 Car Options for Tall People Who Want More Leg Support
Note that all of the above are luxury makes and models, except for the Toyota Avalon – since you tend get what you pay for, consumers who want it all usually end up getting it all. For anyone who wants more affordable wheels with front-seat cushion extenders, there’s no easy way to create that list. Your best bet is to contact an automaker’s customer assistance or sales department and ask which models may have them.
Other good cars to add to your “best cars for tall people” shopping list include the Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Escape and Ford Focus,Honda Element, Infiniti M, Mazda Tribute, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Nissan Altima and Nissan Murano, and Volvo V70 and Volvo XC70.
To start your search for the best cars for sale, visit www.iSeeCars.com, a leading search engine for finding over 2 million cars for sale from more than 11,000 websites. For useful car-buying tips, you can check out more popular articles on our blog.
[Editor’s Note: This post was updated on August 31, 2010 to include information on thigh support in response to readers’ questions about seat-cushion length.]
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