10 Best SUVs for Seniors

2018 Jaguar F Pace red driving ・ Photo by Jaguar

Don’t worry that you’re reading a list of SUVs for seniors. The official age for reaching this milestone is 65. But beyond the confines of bureaucracy, “senior” is something of a moving target. Tennis players such as John McEnroe and golfers like Bernhard Langer compete in senior events.

The ideal SUV or crossover for a senior is similarly hard to pin down. But let’s assume our target buyer likes the security of a heavy vehicle with the option of all-wheel drive, the reassurance of good outward vision from the high seating position, plus ease of entry and exit (no more contorting into and out of low-slung sports cars). Here’s an intriguing mix of such vehicles.

2019 Acura RDX

A senior buyer has learned by now that cheap things can often become a false economy. But a premium marque like Acura, with a great reputation for providing lots of standard equipment at class-competitive prices, has to be considered. We’re including the compact RDX not only because it’s all-new for 2019 (with arguably much more attractive styling), but also because it functions so well.

Reliability is a given, a power-operated tailgate is standard, and there are two seriously compelling aspects — the Acura Watch array of advanced driver aids and the Walk Away Door Lock. Yes, that nagging worry if you’ve locked the doors can now be a thing of the past. The RDX has just done it for you.

Photo by Miles Branman

2018 Chevrolet Tahoe

Seniors familiar with Chevys from the latter part of the 20th century may be surprised by the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe full-size SUV. It has quite an upscale cabin, along with authoritative power: 355 horsepower from a growling 5.3-liter V8, or 420 hp with the optional 6.2-liter V8.

It’s also extremely capable off-road (so no need to put that remote but much-loved cabin on the market just yet), profoundly comfortable, and well-equipped, and it can accommodate up to nine occupants in its generous interior. This will take the grandkids, no problem. The Tahoe is an old-school body-on-frame SUV (as opposed to car-based unibody crossovers), but seniors are well aware of the joys that being old-school can bring.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Ford Edge

Experience. It costs a lot of time and money, but it’s an asset of which seniors can be proud. They’ve been around enough blocks to tell when a chassis is well-calibrated and (with any luck) they have accumulated the capabilities to appreciate it.

This is one of the Edge’s great strengths: It’s a mid-size crossover with the requisite raised ride height and driving position, but it's tuned to behave more like a conventional car with some enthusiast appeal. To exploit this poised suspension, there’s a choice of three engines ranging in output from 245 to 315 horsepower. Meanwhile, the equipment offered includes parking assistance, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and a hands-free tailgate.

Photo by Ford

2018 Honda CR-V

The CR-V is one of the best-selling compact crossovers and it deserves each of its many accolades. It’s easy to drive, easy to live with, spacious, serene, ultra-reliable, and packed with safety equipment. It has strong resale values, plenty of space for stowing cups and phones, and a well-considered cargo area.

It’s not the most thrilling drive or the sharpest-handling crossover, but the CR-V's approach of doing many things well while not excelling at any particular aspect seems to be the secret of its wide appeal. Most people, regardless of age, will find several things to like about it, while everyone will appreciate the advanced driver aids that come under the Honda Sensing umbrella.

Photo by Honda

2018 Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguars have always had a mature appeal, although the marque is doing its best with the current batch of fresh designs to resonate with younger buyers. The result is that seniors and millennials alike can enjoy Jaguar’s distinctive styling approach with neither group seemingly out of place.

The F-Pace manages to translate the company’s design philosophy into a crossover that's spacious without appearing boxy. It probably took a lot of effort to look so effortlessly sleek. Another thing that feels so easy is the relationship of engine power (from 247 to 380 hp) to the finely tuned suspension. The F-Pace is an absolute joy to drive, which is a rare virtue in the crossover/SUV world.

Photo by Jaguar

2018 Land Rover Range Rover

This isn’t just one of the best SUVs for seniors — it’s one of the best on the planet. Few rivals have the ability to cross rough terrain and keep its occupants in the most sumptuous of surroundings. The size and styling are imperious, the power (with the 557-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V8) and grip are epic, the comfort and control are supreme.

Believe it or not, the Range Rover is also surprisingly easy to maneuver. And its air suspension can lower the vehicle for dignified entries and exits. None of this comes cheap, but seniors are more likely to have bought Apple shares back in the 1980s and/or amassed an enviable art collection.

Photo by Land Rover

2018 Lexus RX

The first vehicle we thought of when compiling this run-down of 10 best SUVs for seniors was the RX. That's not because it’s fuddy-duddy, but because it’s so delightfully efficient. Build quality is exemplary, reliability is peerless (no one wants to be stranded on the side of the road, senior or not), the ride is supple, and the cabin is tranquil. This is a frequent best-selling luxury vehicle in the United States.

For the 2018 model year, the RX has sprouted a version with three rows of seating, which may or may not be of interest to seniors. The regular model is still roomy enough for five. The RX 350 is the conventional gas-powered version; the RX 450h is a gas-electric hybrid.

Photo by Lexus

2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic Coupe

Having assumed seniors favor the high driving position and convenient entry/exit that come with a crossover/SUV, let’s also put forward the idea that they don’t necessarily need so much cargo space. Perhaps they would rather emphasize style over practicality and choose something like the 241-hp GLC 300 4Matic Coupe.

Here is a thoroughly up-to-date style of vehicle from one of the oldest manufacturers. It has the modern sloping roof (for the “4-door coupe” look) along with all the engineering depth and expertise from a well-established top-level luxury marque. The GLC is based on the compact C-Class platform, which is as refined and sophisticated as this class gets. Standard equipment is even relatively generous for a German company.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2018 Toyota 4Runner

We’ve included a few suburban warriors in our list of best SUVs for seniors, but here’s a card-carrying, mud-flinging, rock-crawling, snow-combating SUV. The mid-size 4Runner is another old-school body-on-frame vehicle, with the abilities (when properly equipped) that come close to the very best off-roading vehicles. Yet it also enjoys Toyota’s famed reliability along with amenities to make life civilized, like power-adjustable front seats, a powered tailgate, and satellite radio.

We like the strong 270-hp 4.0-liter V6 engine, and there are plenty of off-roading equipment options as well. Sometimes it takes being retired to find the time to head for the trails and finally indulge in your passion.

Photo by Toyota

2019 Volvo XC40

Downsizing can be liberating, getting rid of all the detritus gathered over decades. But that doesn’t mean giving up the luxury or the many safety features we’ve all come to know, love, and sometimes rely on. When the nest is empty, there are more opportunities and choices. Like the premium subcompact Volvo XC40, which is a completely new model.

Naturally, the XC40 provides features like forward-collision mitigation and a driver drowsiness monitor as standard, while the options list includes blind-spot monitoring, self-parking, and partial self-driving in certain conditions. The arguably attractive XC40 also sports some clever storage ideas, like moving the audio system’s speakers higher to improve door pocket sizes, plus wireless device charging.

Photo by Volvo