When shopping for a car for seniors, your considerations should be slightly different from those of younger drivers.
For one, most seniors need higher comfort and accessibility levels than anyone else and not many cars offer enough of these.
With that in mind, we analyzed the Honda car lineup and found four models that are particularly comfortable for seniors.
What To Look For?
Accessibility
Seniors are not exactly the most mobile people and therefore need cars that are easy to get in and out of.
Go for a car that has wider doors, favorable seat height, and removable seats in case you want to create space for a wheelchair.
Comfort
Driving gets more exhausting as you age. As such, you want a car that will give you maximum comfort and rest.
Fortunately, most modern car seats come with enough padding to reduce stress and tension for both drivers and passengers.
Above and beyond the padding, you also need to check out the adjusting options available for the seats.
We strongly recommend cars that have a power-adjustable driver’s seat as they often come with different adjustable settings.
These include fore, aft, up, down, and recline options.
Adjustable Steering Wheel
Seniors need adjustable steering wheels more than anyone else, due to their limited range of motion.
This, coupled with a fully adjustable seat, makes it easier to find comfortable positions when the need arises.
Transmission System
Although some seniors may prefer stick shifts, we would strongly recommend automatic transmissions as they are easier to handle, and don’t take up much energy.
Also the loudness of the car is one of the things to keep in mind. Check Is Honda Pilot Quiet?
4 Best Honda For Seniors
1. Honda CR-V
The CR-V is essentially a crossover SUV, meaning it has the drivability of a sedan while still offering decent power.
It’s large enough to offer more legroom and cargo space.
It’s also remarkably quiet and has a gas mileage of about 28 mpg on city roads and 34 mpg on highways.
The best part is that you have the option to buy its hybrid version, which is not only more reliable but also easier to operate.
Notable Features
- Tilt-telescopic steering
- Single zone climate control
- Driver-assist features; 7’’ touchscreen, lane departure warning, and emergency braking
- LED headlights
- 190 Horsepower
- 1.5L Four-cylinder engine
- 1500 lbs towing capacity
Pros
- Offers lots of space for both sitting and storage
- Very economical to drive
- Comfortable riding experience
Cons
- Negligible towing capacity
2. Honda Odyssey 2022
The 2022 Odyssey is more advanced and sophisticated than the 2014 and 2018 versions but still retains the classic features of the model.
Being a minivan, the Odyssey is the perfect Honda car for seniors with disabilities or battling terminal illnesses.
Its power sliding doors and higher roof and seat heights allow for easy and hassle-free boarding and alighting.
The car can also be easily modified to add wheelchair ramps or increase the storage space by removing the second row.
Other senior-friendly features include a large touchscreen display, power liftgate, and a 10-way adjustable driver’s seat.
Although its gas mileage of 19 mpg on city roads and 28 mpg on highways is not ideal, the Odyssey’s power is remarkable.
It has a powerful engine that can effortlessly handle day-to-day demands.
Notable Features
- 19 inch allow wheels
- 8” touchscreen in the front and 10’’ for the rear passengers
- Safety features: collision warning, lane departure mitigation, auto headlights
- Tri-zone climate control
- Rearview camera
- Tilt-telescopic steering wheel
- Handsfree power tailgate
- 10-way lumbar power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Anti-Lock Braking System
- Maximum storage area of 288.9 cubic feet
- 8 passengers
- 3.5L V6 engine
- 280 Horsepower
Pros
- Lots of sitting and storage space
- Fully adjustable and comfortable driver’s seat
- Powerful engine
- Power-sliding doors provide easy access for disabled people
Cons
- The gas mileage is relatively low
3. Honda Civic Sedan
The Civic was one of the early Honda cars and arguably the most successful model in the line-up.
It’s inexpensive, extremely reliable, and has one of the best gas mileage, at 31 mpg on city roads and 40 mpg on highways
It also comes with heated seats, a large touchscreen display, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, slightly wider doors, adjustable steering,
All these features offer a rather comfortable driving experience for seniors who like sedans.
Notable Features
- Automatic climate control
- 10.2” driver information interface
- Large cargo space
- 158 Horsepower
Pros
- Affordable price
- Good fuel economy
- Comfortable seats
- Reliable and cheap to maintain
Cons
- Like with all sedans, taller people may find the roof too low
4. Honda Insight
The Honda Insight hybrid offers impressive fuel economy, acceleration, and drivability.
Its mpg rating is 55 on city roads and 49 on the highway, which effectively makes it one of the cheapest cars to drive.
When it comes to safety, the car comes with various driver-assist technology features such as the automatic brake system and lane-keeping assist system.
These features alert the driver when they veer off the road or when a pedestrian or vehicle is detected and automatically adjust car speed or apply brake pressure.
Features
- Heated front seats
- Power moonroof
- Collision Mitigation Braking System
- LED headlights
- Remote Start
- 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space
- 151 Horsepower
- 1.5L Four-cylinder engine
Pros
- Extremely good fuel economy
- Sleek and classy design
- Adjustable and heated driver’s seats enhance the driving experience
- Contains a lot of great safety features
Cons
- Limited headroom for taller folks
- Low storage space
What Is The Easiest Car For Seniors To Get In And Out Of?
Among the above models, the Honda Odyssey offers the best accessibility to people with mobility problems.
It not only has a favorable height but also a lot of space and foldable seats.
This means one can get in and out without bending or straining their bodies, which many seniors will undoubtedly like.
It’s also one of the few models that can be fitted with a wheelchair ramp, which makes things equally easier for disabled elderly loved ones.
Is Honda CR-V Good For Seniors?
Yes, the Honda CR-V is a great choice for senior citizens, particularly due to its affordability and roomy cabin.
The gas-powered version offers good gas mileage of 28 on city roads and 34 mpg on highways while the hybrid trim is even more economical, giving you 38 mpg.
Moreover, it offers amazing road visibility, a good deal of safety features, and adjustable steering and driver’s seat.
It also has a higher seat height compared to regular sedans, which means getting in and out is easy.
Is Honda Civic Good For Seniors?
Yes. The Honda Civic is one of the few elderly-friendly cars available today.
It features a good seat height, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, decent foot space, and offers great fuel economy.
Its compact size makes it ideal for seniors who live in or near cities, and who don’t need to carry much luggage.
Final Thoughts And Best Pick
Our favorite pick is the Honda CR-V.
We loved its fuel consumption rate (which is better than most SUVs) and its impressive range of driver-assist features.
What’s more, the steering wheel is adjustable in more than 6 ways, and the roomy cabin is spacious enough for seniors to move freely in and out of the car
