With so many cars to choose from, it can be hard to decide which cars are the safest for seniors, but we think we did just that here. If you’re a senior, you know how important safety is when car shopping. If you were to shop from the insurance car auctions on SCA, you’d find a list of vehicles with some innovative safety systems.
Some important features include:
• Good visibility – large windows, elevated driver height and good mirrors
• Comfortable seating – lumbar support, back support and leg support
• Easy access – high rooflines and wider doors make getting in and out easier
• Reliability
• Low Maintenance
In addition to the above, many people want an automatic transmission, large buttons and knobs that are easy to use, instrument panels that are easy to read, and a calm and quiet cabin.
Consider Car Size
Here is a breakdown of the car sizes you can choose from:
Sedan – Four doors make this car easy to get in and out of, and a closed truck is more traditional than a hatch. They are more stable and get better fuel mileage.
SUVs – While a little taller, they are built with better traction and suspension since they are also made to go off-road.
Crossover – Built on a sedan body, these vehicles offer the room and features of an SUV with the ride of a passenger car.
Top 5 Safest Cars for Seniors
We’ve put together a list of the 5 safest cars for seniors based on the IIHS safety ratings for headlight quality, front-end crash prevention, head restraint, roof strength, and more.
Here are our suggestions from the 2023 Top Safety Picks in the small and midsize range:
2023 Subaru Legacy – 4D Sedan
Subaru is known for its safety, and the 2023 Legacy is built on its great reputation. The new Legacy includes advanced safety features such as EyeSight, Driver Assist Technology, and an available DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System.
It features Symmetrical AWD as standard, so you can drive in any condition with confidence, and its reliability is legendary. According to Subaru, 95% of the Legacys sold in the last 10 years are still on the road. It has a Most Trusted Brand award – its eighth win in eight years– from Kelley Blue Book.
2023 Hyundai Sonata 4D Sedan (after Dec. 2022)
For those who may have issues parking, the Remote Smart Parking Assist on the Sonata can park itself with a touch of the Smart Key. It can also pull out of the space using the same technology.
Safety features like its Forward Collision-Avoidance Assistant with Pedestrian Detection and Safe Exit Warning are quick to alert you to any danger of hitting someone or being hit as you exit the vehicle. It’s like having an extra set of eyes.
2023 Toyota Camry 4D Sedan
The Camry has been a standard-bearer for decades, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see it on this list. With the 2022 Toyota Camry also being a Top Safety Pick, you can’t go wrong with either year.
The Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ prevents collisions with pedestrians and cars through radar and cameras, and if you don’t react fast enough, the automatic braking system will slow down for you. Radar cruise control keeps you from driving up on someone slower when in cruise mode by reducing your speed as you approach slower traffic. It also has lane assist and lane departure warnings. Its Road Sign Assist can read speed limit, stop signs, and many others, and it will flash the sign on your dash.
The Camry is also equipped with other safety and convenience packages that give you both comfort and peace of mind.
2023 Acura Integra 4D Sedan
The 2023 Acura Integra is a bit smaller and lower than the midsize cars, but it still offers four doors for easy in and out and is a bit sportier than other sedans. It offers superior handling with customizable drive modes, so for those who love to drive, the Integra is an exciting car.
It’s outstanding when it comes to safety and driver assist technology, such as all of the systems that you would expect from Acura. It’s equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control that slows you down when coming up on a slower car; Road Departure Mitigation that keeps you on the road, and it also has Traffic Sign Recognition.
2023 Mazda 3 4D Sedan
The Mazda 3 shows up on a lot of lists like this, and it’s because the Mazda 3 is consistently a good car for all age groups. It’s a Consumer Reports recommended car, and its i-ACTIVSENSE safety suite contains of all of the most sophisticated safety features found on any of the other cars. On some models, there is a Traffic Jam Assist and a 360º View Monitor that gives you a good view of the road.
The Mazda 3 may be the least expensive of the cars in the group.
Conclusion
Of all the cars on the road, you’ll find the trusted names of Subaru, Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai and Acura have consistently been given top safety awards, so don’t hesitate to buy any of these cars.
