Best Car Features for Drivers, Especially Boomers and Seniors

• Four-door vehicles, since doors are lighter and easier to open than two-door coupes.
• Performance sports models usually have seats with more heavily padded side and thigh bolsters, which are more difficult to get into and out of than vehicles with flatter seats,
• Heated seats with lumbar support are great for anybody at any age with back pain,
• For drivers with reduced leg strength or mobility, a higher SUV can be easier to get in and out of than a sedan, since its higher seat reduces bending. Or, you might do better with a vehicle with a lower door, such as a minivan,
• Keyless entry and keyless ignition are more than convenient – they prevent the difficulty or pain caused by having to turn a key.
•  A thick steering wheel requires less hand and wrist strength to grip and handle to make turns. And this turns out to be a smart feature also for younger drivers who make long, daily commutes.
  power mirrors and seats are easier to adjust for drivers with limited strength or arthritis,
• Power trunk and tailgate closers are as helpful to mature drivers with limited arm strength as they are to younger drivers juggling squirming toddlers.
  

  2010 Kia Soul has large dashboard controls easy to see and use

• Large, clear, easy-to-read numbers on the speedometers and odometers  are especially important to drivers wearing bifocals.
• Audio and climate controls with large buttons are easier to manipulate than knobs, especially for drivers with vision affected by glaucoma or cataracts, or whose fine motor skills are diminishing.
• A navigation system that is relatively uncomplicated also reduces distraction.
• Large, wide angle side mirrors and rear-view mirrors help compensate for limited range of motion or difficulties twisting to check for blind spots while merging or backing up.
• A rear camera to aid with backing up is a helpful option to consider, as are radar-based systems that assist with parking and maintaining distance from the vehicle in front on the highway — what’s known as collision avoidance systems.

Vehicles with Smart Features for Mature Drivers come in all price ranges. More about those down the road.

Find more about best car features for older drivers in my nationally syndicated column, Freewheeling,  in newspapers including the San Francisco Chronicle.