The best used cars with a high seating position
Content
While some of us like a low, sporty driving position that makes us feel closer to the road, others prefer to sit higher to have a wider view. If you have mobility problems, it can be much easier to get in and out of a car with a high seating position, and if you have children, it can make it easier to lift them or their child seat. your back.
You might think that you need a big SUV to get a high-riding car, but there are actually plenty of used cars out there that can suit your needs, to suit every taste and budget. Here are our 10 favorites.
How to find the right driving position
Automotive designers use the term "H-point" to describe the driver's height of a car, referring to how high above the ground the hips of a typical person sitting in the driver's seat are. For maximum accessibility, it's ideal that your car's H-point is approximately the same height as your hips, so you don't have to get down or up on the seat.
Whether this H-point is right for you depends in part on personal preference, but there are other things to consider. For example, you may find it difficult to lift your legs in a car with a high floor. If you are concerned about the ease of getting children in and out of the car, you also need to consider the relative height of the place where you are transporting them and the height of the rear seat.
It may take a bit of trial and error to find the car that best suits you, but the one that suits you is almost certainly there.
1. Abortion 595
The Abarth 595 is proof that a car doesn't have to sit low to the ground to feel sporty. It is essentially a sportier version of the Fiat 500 with changes that include larger bumpers, a spoiler over the rear window, tighter seats, a more powerful engine, a lower suspension and bigger wheels. It's fast and a lot of fun to drive.
Like the Fiat 500, the Abarth 595 is relatively tall for a city car. The seats are set quite high, a neat trick to create a feeling of more space for passengers in smaller cars. This means that people of average height can simply get into the 595th with only a little lowering into the seat.
Read our Abarth 595 review
2. Honda Jazz
The Honda Jazz is one of the most practical small hatchbacks around. It's about the same size as a Ford Fiesta, yet gives you the same amount of interior space as a midsize family car. It is relatively tall and wide, so there is a large square space for people and things. Four tall adults fit comfortably, and the trunk is huge for this type of vehicle. It is also a very comfortable car to drive.
Like the Abarth 595, the seats are set high enough to create more space. This puts the seats at the correct level for easy access. The rear doors also open wide, which helps when you get the kids in and out.
Read our review of the Honda Jazz.
3. Citroen C4 Cactus
The Citroen C4 Cactus has more character (and a taller driving position) than most other compact hatchbacks. Versions sold from 2014 to 2018 are equipped with "AirBumps" - plastic panels on the side doors designed to absorb impact from parking doors and carts. The styling of cars sold since 2018 has toned down a bit, but is still nicely different. There is enough space in the cabin for a family of four and especially soft, well-shaped seats. The ride is also soft and smooth, and all available engines are very economical.
The C4 Cactus sits higher off the ground than most other midsize hatchbacks, making it feel a bit more like an SUV. This means that the seats are relatively high, so it should be easy for most people to get in and out.
Read our review of the Citroen C4 Cactus
4. Ford Focus Active
The Ford Focus is one of the best mid-size hatchbacks around. It's spacious, well-equipped, a pleasure to drive, and you can choose from a variety of models, including the Active. It is styled like an SUV with raised suspension and additional gray and silver trim along the lower body edges.
Ford seats tend to be set quite high anyway, but the extra 30mm of lift in the Focus Active can make all the difference for you. You can have it as a hatchback or station wagon, and there's even a deluxe Vignale model. If you like the Active concept but prefer a smaller car, check out the Fiesta Active.
5. Audi A6 Allroad
Like the Ford Focus Active, the Audi A6 Allroad is an improved version of a familiar model. It is based on the A6 Avant station wagon with SUV-style additions, including rugged exterior trim and raised suspension. The beautifully crafted, comfortable cabin is spacious, comfortable and loaded with high-tech features. It's also very practical, with a huge trunk.
Relaxing driving and powerful engines make the A6 Allroad an excellent choice for very long journeys. It can tow heavy trailers and tackle surprisingly difficult terrain. An average-sized adult will sit down a couple of inches in the seat, which won't put most people off.
6. Volkswagen Carp
The Volkswagen Sharan is in many ways the best family car ever - an extremely practical seven-seat minivan that's good to drive, economical and easy to get in and out of. There's a huge amount of passenger space, with enough room for adults in the third row seats (not given in this type of car). You can fold some or all of the seats to make the trunk even bigger. Some models even have swivel seats that can face each other, turning the car into a mobile living room.
The Sharan is a big, tall car, so the seats are set high so that the driver and passengers can see the panorama. It's even easier to get in from the back than from the front - thanks to the large sliding side doors, you can just go inside.
7. Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is the cheapest new SUV on the market, but it's actually better than some of the more expensive competitors. It's not the quietest or smoothest of small SUVs, but it's extremely practical and solidly built to withstand the rigors of family life. Well-equipped, high-performance models are inexpensive and have real character - you can call it a car.
Being an off-road vehicle, the Duster sits quite high off the ground (all-wheel drive versions are useful when driving off-road). As a result, the floor is relatively high, but it should be very easy for most people to get inside. The high body also means you're less likely to hit your head on kids from behind.
Read our Dacia Duster review
8. Kia Niro
The Kia Niro is a great option if you want a practical compact SUV (you can call it a crossover) that will help keep your carbon footprint low, as it's available with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric motor. It's spacious, well-equipped and provides a wonderfully smooth ride. The top-notch electric e-Niro can go about 300 miles on a fully charged battery, so it's a viable option even if you regularly make long trips.
By crossover standards, the Niro sits relatively close to the ground - more of a tall hatchback than a low SUV. But the seats are high, so most people will only need to lower themselves a few inches into them.
Read our review of the Kia Niro
9. Range Rover Ewok
The Range Rover Evoque may be the smallest Range Rover, but it doesn't skimp on luxury. Most versions have the same luxurious leather upholstery and high-tech features as the larger models, and they look a little more special than their competitors, making every trip an event. It's not the most practical midsize SUV, but it has just as much room for people and things as a Volkswagen Golf.
Short people may find it takes a small step to sit down, but for all but the tallest people, the H-point of the Evoque should more or less match their hip height. So it's very close to ideal for ease of access.
Read our Range Rover Evoque review.
10. Mercedes-Benz GLE
The Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV offers everything a large SUV should. It's extremely practical, luxuriously comfortable, loaded with high-tech features, can tow heavy trailers and go further off-road than most people will ever need. It's not as good to drive as some of the competition, but the latest version (sold new as of 2019) is stylish and has a huge interior wow factor.
If you want a car that has room for the whole family and gives you an elevated driving position that gives you an excellent view of your surroundings, the GLE is a great option.
Read our Mercedes-Benz GLE review
There are many quality Used cars to choose from at Cazoo and now you can get a new or used car with Kazu's subscription. Just use the search feature to find what you like and then buy, fund or subscribe to it online. You can order delivery to your door or pick up in the nearest Cazoo Customer Service Center.
We are constantly updating and expanding our range. If you're looking to buy a used car and can't find the right one today, it's easy set up promotional alerts to be the first to know when we have vehicles that suit your needs.
