Ray Magliozzi
Dear Car Talk:
I am a fairly active, 78-year-old woman who would like to know which car to buy.
I love my 2017 Honda Accord but am finding it more difficult to get in and out of it because it sits lower to the ground. My husband drives a 2021 Toyota Highlander, which, for me, is almost too high to enter.
Is there a model of car that would sit higher than my Accord but lower than the Highlander?
— Gail
How about a Highlander and a pair of platform shoes, Gail? Actually, yes, there are vehicles that are higher off the ground than the Accord and lower than the Highlander — about half the cars on the market these days.
This is a development that was long overdue. It’s hard to believe it took more than 100 years after the invention of the automobile. For decades, we’ve had cars that you would fall into and climb out of. And we had trucks that you would climb up into and fall out of. And one day, some very smart automotive designer turned to a colleague and said, “Hey, what if we put the seats at, like, butt height?”
And now, not surprisingly, that’s what most people want. And there are a ton of these so-called “crossover SUVs” on the market now. If you like the way your Honda drives, you might want to test drive a Honda CR-V hybrid, which I love. Or the smaller, lower HR-V, which I don’t love as much but maybe you will.
Ford has the Bronco Sport and the Escape. Toyota makes the RAV4. Nissan makes the Rogue. Chevy makes the Equinox. BMW makes the X1. Subaru makes the Forester and Crosstrek. Hyundai makes the Tucson and even the Ionic5 if you want to go electric. And if you want to stick to a sedan, drive a Toyota Crown.
There’s one of these to fit every budget and butt height. And there’s one that will appeal to you with its driving style, comfort and looks.
So start at the Honda dealer, since you like your Accord, but if they don’t have anything that feels exactly right, go on a little test drive tour. Virtually every car dealer in America will have a vehicle in their showroom now that meets your seat, Gail.
Got a question about cars? Write to Ray in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com.
