'
Starting price $43,300 Rating 4.7. The 2020 Audi Q5 is our highest-rated small luxury SUV, is a Best Buy award winner, and gets a plug-in hybrid option. Best Small Luxury SUVs ranked by users. See how your car/truck ranks. In Small Luxury SUVs, there are 15 cars. However, it can be found for under $30k and it’s a luxury SUV to keep an eye out for. This is an excellent subcompact crossover with poised handling, premium interior materials, and a modern aesthetic not quite like anything else. Find a Volvo XC40. 10 Best Used Luxury SUVs Under $30,000. 2017-2019 Acura MDX; 2018-2019 Audi Q5; 2018 BMW X5. As luxury vehicles go, the compact SUV is now the heart of the market. Just about every luxury brand has one of these right-sized five-seat crossovers or SUVs. This compact crossover delivers an excellent EPA-estimated 41-mpg city and 38-mpg highway. The RAV4 Hybrid has reasonably quick acceleration and standard all-wheel drive. One drawback for the RAV4 may be its 8.4 inches of ground clearance, which could be a bit of a hurdle for older drivers. Best Luxury SUVs For Seniors.
SUVs aren’t typically the vehicle of choice for seniors. But that is starting to change.
Best Small Luxury Suv
As SUVs become smaller, more fuel-efficient, and are easier to get into and out of, they offer a number of benefits for more seasoned drivers.
This includes more room utility, a higher ride height with better visibility, more cargo-carrying capacity, superior all-weather driving capability, and more room for family, groceries, and grandkids.
And seniors who opt for a crossover model don’t have to compromise on safety. All of the models listed below are 2020 Top Safety Pick models from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Below are our picks for the best 2020 SUVs for seniors.
Hyundai Kona
The Kona is a subcompact crossover with a starting price of about $22,000. The model has a relatively upscale interior with simple, user-friendly controls.
The Kona comes with a host of standard features that are perfect for older drivers including forward collision warning, driver attention monitor, lane keep assist, and a rear-view camera.
The model has an easy to get into ground clearance of 6.7 inches.
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Santa Fe is a good value in the midsize SUV class. It’s also a good option for older drivers. It comes with a host of useful safety features including Safe Exit Assist, which prevents passengers from exiting the vehicle when cars or bicycles are approaching from behind.
The Santa Fe is easy to get into for its size with large door openings and 7.4 inches of ground clearance. Being in the midsize class, it seats five and has a good amount of cargo space with a high cabin to stretch out.
Mazda CX-5
The CX-5 is one of the best compact SUVs for seniors. It has a modest 7.5 inches of ground clearance and blends agile handling and fuel-efficiency with a sharp interior.
For 2020, the CX-5 has newly added standard drive assistance and maintains its user-friendly tech features.
Honda CR-V
The CR-V is a great compact SUV for senior drivers. It combines excellent fuel economy, good power, a spacious interior, comfortable seats with a large cargo area for its class.
The CR-V is a fantastic choice for seniors needing to load a walker or scooter. It has a hands-free lift-gate available, along with a power lift-gate and a low lift-over height.
The model’s safety features include road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The CR-V combines quality, value, and utility making it a great choice for senior drivers, despite its 8.2 inches of ground clearance with all-wheel drive.
KIA Telluride
The Telluride is an all-new model for 2020. With ample size and comfortable seating for up to eight, the Telluride is a top SUV choice for seniors in the three-row crossover class.
The Telluride has a powerful V6 engine and smooth, composed ride for family trips while still getting 26-mpg highway. Despite being a larger vehicle, the Telluride has a manageable eight inches of ground clearance.
The Telluride also has the Safe Exit Assist feature, as seen in the Santa Fe, which prevents children from opening the rear doors when danger looms. It also has driver attention monitor and pedestrian detection, and a lot of safety tech, to allow seniors to feel confident and safe driving it. The model is also a great vehicle if you’re an overweight driver.
For senior drivers looking for a three-row SUV with lower ground clearance, consider the Honda Pilot, which is in the latter stages of its current generation but has aged well, at 7.3 inches and the Chevrolet Traverse at 7.5 inches. The Traverse also has one of the largest, most spacious interiors in the class.
Mercedes-Benz GLE
The GLE is a compact luxury crossover from the German automaker. In base form, the model tows a robust 7,700 pounds with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.
Equipped with the latest safety features, the GLE has a ground clearance of 7.1 inches. The 2020 GLE has a starting price of $56,000 and is a good choice for older drivers who want to arrive in comfort, safety, and style.
Tesla Model Y
If you’re a senior in driving an electric SUV, the Model Y is a great choice. The Model Y has a powerful motor and can gain over 280 miles of range on a full charge.
The Model Y has a low center of gravity with a ground clearance of only 6.6 inches. This affords excellent handling, a spirited driving experience, and easy ingress and egress.
More Fuel-Efficient SUV Models for Seniors
Older drivers looking to save at the pump may also want to consider the RAV4 Hybrid. This compact crossover delivers an excellent EPA-estimated 41-mpg city and 38-mpg highway.
The RAV4 Hybrid has reasonably quick acceleration and standard all-wheel drive. One drawback for the RAV4 may be its 8.4 inches of ground clearance, which could be a bit of a hurdle for older drivers.
Best Luxury SUVs For Seniors
Some of the top picks for luxury SUVs for seniors include the Acura RDX, Lexus NX, and Cadillac XT6. You can learn more about those models and their safety features here.
In addition to the above, other valuable features to consider for seniors when choosing an SUV would include power-adjustable seats, key-less entry ignition, climate control zones, and larger controls.
And if you’re a dog owner, take a look at these 2020 dog-friendly SUVs.
Ground Clearance Can Vary Significantly
In reviewing our 2015 article on best SUVs for seniors, you’ll notice several models no longer make the list. Vehicles models can change quite a bit year to year.
In the case of the Toyota RAV4, the 2020 model has a ground clearance of 8.4 inches. In 2015, it was 6.3 inches to get into. This more than two inches difference can happen when a model is redesigned.
And among vehicle classes, the Model Y’s ground clear inches is more than two inches less than a Subaru Forester.
More Posts
Best Compact Suv
The amount of luxury compact SUVs is quickly multiplying. Even though they’re small, luxury crossover SUVs still offer premium power and a long list of amenities. Plus, these models cost about the same as a non-luxury midsize SUV, so they are more affordable than you might think. To help you with your search, here are the top three most reliable luxury crossovers in 2020, according to Consumer Reports.
2020 Porsche Macan
Luxury Compact Suv Comparison Chart
Consumer Reports gave the 2020 Porsche Macan its highest overall rating in the luxury crossover SUV class. The Macan’s overall dependability makes it an excellent choice to buy used too. This Porsche is one of the more expensive models in the class, but its dynamic performance makes the price tag worth it. The Macan actually drives like a sports car and doesn’t compromise on thrills.
The Macan’s base engine is an athletic 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that creates 248-horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This turbo-four can go from 0-to-60 mph in 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 141 mph. The Macan S takes things up a notch; it has a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 that generates 348-hp and 354 pound-feet of torque. There’s also an available twin-turbo v6.
On the inside, the Macan pleases with Porsche’s standard Comfort seats along with its leather and suede upholstery. Another highlight inside the Macan is its user-friendly tech. It features a 10.9-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a 10-speaker stereo.
2020 Lexus NX
RELATED: Is the 2021 Lexus NX Too Practical For Its Own Good?
Especially compared to the Macan, the Lexus NX is more of an easy-going, gentle luxury crossover. Even so, the NX’s agile handling makes it more fun to drive. CR gave this Lexus its highest possible predicted reliability score. The NX features a pleasant turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that creates 235-hp. It’s also available as a hybrid, but this variant is significantly more expensive.
For the most part, reviewers are more impressed with the NX’s car cabin. The NX’s interior feels peaceful and upscale, plus it’s cozy. This Lexus also offers many gadgets. A wifi hotspot and app navigation come standard, and so does Apple CarPlay. The NX also comes with Lexus’ advanced safety suite, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection.
2020 BMW X3
RELATED: The 2017 BMW X3 Is One of the Most Reliable Versions to Get
Based on CR’s data, the X3 is exceptional in almost every category. It offers potent engines, an elegant cabin, and a variety of desirable in-car electronics. Base X3 models have a 248-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s quick and engaging. Next up is the M40i trim that features a 382-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder. The X3 also has two high-performance variants, including the X3 M.
CR gave the X3 an average reliability score but raved about its spacious interior. The X3’s seats are supple, and even the carpet is high-quality. CR also likes the X3, especially for its standard advanced safety equipment. This BMW comes with automatic emergency braking, and other helpful features include traffic sign recognition.
Best Small Luxury Suv 2016