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Growing older comes with its own challenges. 

Whilst it’s true there are perks associated with reaching the State Pension age – such as being able to subscribe for a free bus pass – there’re many other aspects to consider. 

Once retired, many older people will need their own transport, as this allows them to travel comfortably, at their own convenience. It also means they have easy access to shops, health care, and other important services.  

There’re many older people who battle with physical mobility, making access to private transport more important. 

The needs of older drivers will also change once they’re retired. They may no longer need to commute every day, or to make long journeys. 

With old age, many people will place a much higher value on a car’s safety and assistance features as well as how cost-effective it is. Other desirable features will include accessibility, comfort, easy controls, and visibility.

At caruno, we understand the needs of older drivers. After test driving several models alongside our own independent research, here are the 8 best cars for older drivers.

First on our list is a great all-rounder, the Kia Soul.

This extra-small SUV has proven itself to be a great car for older drivers, with its abundance of easy-to-use features, at a very reasonable price. 

The Soul has wide door openings and stands at the perfect height for getting in and out, with minimal effort. 

This Kia’s boxy shape means it has a surprisingly roomy cabin and luggage compartment for its size. You’ll also find loads of head and leg room throughout the car.

The Soul’s front seating is height-adjustable and reasonably comfortable - even at the tail end of longer journeys. 

Additionally, the commanding driving position and large windows ensure good visibility - helping to reduce the risk of accidents.

The ride itself is firm yet forgiving, with the light and easy, multi-adjustable steering wheel requiring minimum effort. 

The simple and ergonomic nature of the interior ensures a user-friendly environment, with an intuitive touchscreen interface and physical buttons. 

Advanced safety features include forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring, amongst others. 

Lastly, the claimed EPA rate of the Soul is 30mpg, making it an affordable option for limited budgets. 

<a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/kia/soul">Search Kia Soul deals</a>

Next on our list is the popular Hyundai Kona.

This sporty and compact SUV is another great option for older drivers, offering plenty of practical features at an affordable price. 

Being an SUV, it too has sizy door openings and stands at an optimum heigh for easy access.

The adjustable front seats are well crafted, offering plenty of comfort and support. 

The Kona’s capable suspension handles the smaller bumps well, with just a little bit of bounce to contend with. 

Performance wise, the Kona is both responsive and easy to handle. It also offers plenty of grip on the corners.

The control buttons are well-placed and clearly labelled. This, along with the straightforward nature of the infotainment system, means an uncomplicated user-experience. 

Narrow roof pillars ensure clear visibility especially at the front of the car. The standard backup camera offers a wide and clear picture whilst reversing or parking.

Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert greatly add to the safe nature of the Kona.

With plenty of storage available along with an EPA-estimated 27mpg, the Hyundai Kona has a lot to offer elder drivers.

<a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/hyundai/kona">Search Hyundai Kona deals</a>

The Vauxhall Meriva is a compact people-carrier, built with practicality and comfort in mind.

Vauxhall have designed the car with their special ‘Flex’ design approach. 

‘FlexDoors’ - the rear doors are hinged on the opposite side to the front ones. This makes it easy to manoeuvre child seats, as well as to load grandchildren, or shopping items into the rear.

‘FlexSpace’ - you can easily transform the interior from a five-seater, to a four, three, or two-seater - adding greatly to the amount of storage space inside the car.

‘FlexFloor’ - you can opt for a boot with a flush lip, designed for easy loading, or alternatively, you can choose a deeper boot that has been designed to hold much larger loads.  

‘FlexRail’ - several storage cubbyholes are positioned on a pair of rails. These rails run the length of the interior, and can be shifted forward and backwards depending on your requirements.

Ensuring maximum comfort are the supportive and heated front seats, along with the heated and adjustable steering wheel. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable, and the gear stick is located high up the dashboard, making it very easy to operate.

The Meriva is simple to drive, is equipped with high quality materials, as well as easy-to-read instrumentation. 

It also boasts plenty of safety features, including traction control, electronic stability control, along with multiple airbags. 

<a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/vauxhall/meriva">Search Vauxhall Meriva deals</a>

The Ford Puma is an excellent compact crossover/SUV, loaded with standard equipment.

This uniquely designed, extra small SUV, has plenty on offer for elder drivers, including easy access, and comfortable, height-adjustable, massage seats. These come complete with adjustable lumbar support. 

The chunky steering wheel feels great in hand, and it too can be adjusted, further increasing comfortability for the driver.

ISOFIX points are fitted on both the outer back seats, making the Puma a practical option for transporting younger grandchildren. 

Not only does the Puma have a large boot, but it also houses an additional 80-litres of luggage space under the floor, meaning it offers up to 456-litres of storage space. 

Even the base model comes with cruise control, rear parking sensors, and an eight-inch navigation system - well-positioned for glimpsing at whilst driving.

The Pumas’ steering, handling and suspension are all excellent, ensuring a smooth ride for all occupants. 

Additionally, the EPA-estimated 42-52mpg means this SUV shouldn’t place an unmanageable strain on your finances.

As far as safety is concerned, the Puma comes with an array of standard, modern safety tech features. These include pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and hill-start assist. 

In the event of a crash, airbags will deploy, and the infotainment system will automatically contact emergency services, providing them with your GPS location.

<a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/ford/puma">Search Ford Puma deals</a>

Next up is the Volvo XC40, a sub-compact luxury SUV well worth the consideration of elder drivers. 

The Volvo brand is known for its high-quality composition and outstanding safety record, meaning you can transport your loved ones with confidence.

This smart-looking SUV has a spacious interior, compete with firm yet comfy seating. 

The clean interior design gives the XC40 an exclusive feel, with large windows offering all-round good visibility. This means minimal blind spots to contend with.

The all-wheel drive XC40 has a more-than-capable suspension system that handles most bumps with relative ease. It’s responsive handling and zippy engine ensure the driver always feels in complete control.

The abundance of safety features on the XC40 include anti-lock brakes, stability control, front &amp; side impact airbags, knee airbags, overhead airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, and anti-whiplash head restraints.

All of these features along with an EPA-estimated 26mpg means that the XC40 is a great car option for older drivers - one that will make life easier, safer, and more affordable.  

<a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/volvo/xc40">Search Volvo XC40 deals</a>

The Dacia Sandero holds the accolade of being the best-selling car in Europe for over four years.

This five-door hatchback is both modern looking and robust - featuring loads of desirable features. 

The interior has an ergonomic design, is packed with premium materials, and offers plenty of leg room for all occupants. 

Specially designed, standard LED headlights greatly increase night-time visibility, with beam length, and beam width, being increased by 37% and 9% respectively.

The Sandero’s multi-adjustable front seating, finely-tuned suspension system, and enhanced power steering, ensure a responsive performance and a comfortable journey, each and every time. Onboard navigation further adds to the practical nature of the car.

The multi-media system features an 8.0-inch touchscreen, with a user-friendly interface. Its compatibility with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a six-speaker sound system will appeal to any teenage grandchildren. 

The superior strength of the Sandero’s body makes it a safe car option. This is combined with multiple airbags, front &amp; back seatbelt pretensioners, along with an emergency call system.  

Emergency brake assist, blind-spot warning, park assist, and hill-start assist are all standard safety features.

With an EPA-estimated 38-53 mpg and reduced CO2 emissions, the Sandero is worth the attention of elder drivers.

<a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/dacia/sandero">Search Dacia Sandero deals</a>

The fist Japanese offering on our list is the Suzuki Ignis.

This good-looking, sub-compact SUV is well-proportioned, and uniquely suited for city life. 

A great feature of the Ignis is its outstanding all-round visibility, thanks to its large windscreen and windows, along with the upright nature of the pillars. 

The very high seating position adds to the driver’s commanding view of the surroundings and allows for easy cabin access.

The height-adjustable front bucket seats are also comfy, making longer journeys more tolerable. 

The multimedia system, with its 7-inch touchscreen, is very simple to operate, offers easy connectivity, a reverse camera, and comes complete with satellite navigation. 

There’s sufficient space throughout the vehicle for all occupants, with the rear 50/50 split-fold two-seater able to slide back and forth. This is great feature when transporting younger grandchildren as they can be positioned within reach of the front passenger. 

The rear doors open to almost 90 degrees, making the loading of children or goods all the easier. Two rear-seat ISOFIX points along with two top tethers for straps, are provided for little passengers.

Safety wise, the Ignis has been equipped with stability control, traction control, hill-hold control, anti-lock brakes, brake control, and six airbags throughout.

The luggage area allows for 264-litres of storage, a capacity that can be increased up to 1140-litres. 

With a strong engine, responsive acceleration, great manoeuvrability, and efficient handling, the Suzuki Ignis is a real contender for older drivers.

<a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/suzuki/ignis">Search Suzuki Ignis deals</a>

The final car on our list is the Ford B-Max.

This miniature people carrier has been specifically designed for life with little ones. 

First off, thanks to its taller dimensions, the B-Max provides an elevated driving position, excellent visibility, and ample head room throughout the car. 

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8 best cars for older drivers