10 Best Used Cars for Older Drivers

2016 Buick Encore red front 3/4

Today, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), 10,000 drivers turn 65 every single day. This is why the number of elderly drivers, defined as those folks over the age of 60, is expected to increase 77 percent by 2045. Data from the AAA also indicates that a whopping 90 percent of drivers over the age of 65 suffer health-related issues that can negatively affect their driving skills. Yet, according to AAA research, just 10 percent of older drivers own a vehicle that can help make them safer drivers through increased comfort levels and helpful safety technologies.

Autobytel can tell you which vehicles are the best for older drivers. But before we get to our recommendations, let’s outline certain assumptions:

1.) You are either on or are planning to be on a fixed income and don’t have lots of money to spend. We’ll keep the base prices of the cars on our list below $30,000, including the destination charge.

2.) You want something safe in case you get into an accident. Each of the vehicles on our list earns both a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

3.) You’re not interested in stooping to get into a car, or working hard to lift yourself out. That means you need a vehicle that sits high enough off the ground to make life easier, but not so high that life gets more difficult.

4.) You are not about to shift your own gears. An automatic transmission (or equivalent) is a requirement.

5.) Winter sucks. Driving in snow is dangerous. Having something with all-wheel drive (AWD) helps if you still haven’t packed up and moved to Florida or Arizona.

In consideration of these factors, we recommend the following vehicles that are available for less than $30,000 when equipped with AWD, including the dealership’s destination charge (listed in alphabetical order):

Buick Encore

Buick is selling far more Encores than it expected to. Perhaps the aging driver populace data discussed above helps to shed some light on this small crossover suv’s popularity. Affordable but with upscale looks and features, the Encore is easy to get into and out of, and it offers both good gas mileage and decent cargo space. 

Chevrolet Trax

Figuring that if the Encore is so popular, why not sell more of ‘em by lowering the price and slapping on a Chevy badge, General Motors introduced the new Trax for the 2015 model year. It’s just like the Buick Encore, right down to the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but with different styling, equipment, and details. 

Photo by General Motors

Ford Fusion

If a four-door sedan is more your speed, a Fusion SE with AWD comes with a powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Though the Fusion sits lower to the ground than a crossover suv, both front seats include power height adjustment with the SE trim level, making it easier to position them for comfortable entry and exit. Skip the AWD system, and you can get the Fusion as a fuel-efficient hybrid model for well under 30 grand.

Mazda CX-5

The CX-5 is Mazda's version of the popular compact crossover suv. Recent upgrades are related to driving dynamics, comfort, ease of use, technological advancement, and overall refinement and sophistication levels. Fuel economy is improved, too. Despite the list of enhancements, the CX-5 remains a good value.

Photo by Mazda

Mitsubishi Outlander

If you happen to live near a healthy Mitsubishi dealership, and you don’t mind gambling on whether the company will remain viable in the U.S. market, the Mitsubishi Outlander is worth consideration. It comes with a terrific warranty, and great deals are almost always available, Avoid the GT model’s thirsty V6 engine.

Subaru Forester

One of three Subaru crossover suvs to make our list, and for very good reason, the Forester includes standard AWD, gets impressive fuel economy, and provides nearly as much ground clearance as a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Subaru offers highly rated safety technologies for the Forester. With that said, if you do upgrade to the optional navigation system, prepare for some serious levels of frustration.

Photo by Subaru

Subaru Legacy

One of the largest midsize sedans in terms of interior space, the Legacy includes both AWD and a manual driver’s seat height adjuster that makes entry and exit much easier. Upgrade to the Limited model for a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, and when loaded with all of the extras, a Legacy 2.5i costs just over $30,000 when new. Best of all, at that price it has the latest safety technologies as well as Subaru’s new, and easier to use, infotainment system.

Subaru Outback

Take one Subaru Legacy, turn it into a station wagon, raise the suspension, install a few SUV design cues, and you’ve got the popular Subaru Outback. Like the Legacy, AWD is standard. Unlike the Legacy, loading up on extras pushes the price tag well over $20 grand. We’re big fans of this model!

Photo by Subaru

Subaru XV Crosstrek

Take the same recipe used to create the Subaru Outback, apply it to a Subaru Impreza five-Door hatchback, and you’ve got the XV Crosstrek, a small and affordable crossover suv thingamajig. All-wheel drive is standard, but in order to ditch the manual gearbox for a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an upgrade to Premium trim is required. Don’t get talked into a hybrid version, either, as the increase in gas mileage doesn’t justify the extra cost.

Toyota RAV4

The trick to buying a safe version of the Toyota RAV4 is to get one that was built on or after December 1, 2014. That’s because Toyota made running production changes to the crossover suv that produced a significant improvement in crash-test ratings. Toyota upgraded the RAV4 again for 2016, including the addition of a new hybrid model, so it ought to be easy to get discounts on the leftover 2015 models. 

Photo by Toyota