Small SUV recs for back pain and city driving
I am looking for a new car- a compact SUV or crossover. This will be used primarily for short commuting (about 25 min each way), city driving, and some longer weekend drives. Budget is flexible up to maybe 35k. Open to new and used. I currently have a 2017…
I am looking for a new car- a compact SUV or crossover. This will be used primarily for short commuting (about 25 min each way), city driving, and some longer weekend drives. Budget is flexible up to maybe 35k. Open to new and used. I currently have a 2017 Nissan Sentra. It has been fine but too small and the seats are uncomfortable. I have back problems and don’t like a sedan where you’re so low, and your knees end up being higher than your hips (a doctor told me this can cause pain). So I definitely want a larger car that has more of an upright seat with a 90 degree angle. I’m looking for SUVs with comfortable seats (I know this can vary person to person but if anyone has thoughts on this I’d love to hear, I have generalized lower back pain and it’s difficult to sit for long periods). Other than that, I don’t want the car to be too long (parking on city streets) and want it to be reliable. We park on the street so a car that is not a theft magnet or that we could install a catalytic converter guard on would be great. Don’t have too many other requests. No kids now/ planned, one medium size dog. Models we are currently thinking about are the Mazda Cx5 (though I saw some concerns with the recent model?) , volvo xc40, and Subaru crosstrek, but open to others.
Collected discussion
Honestly look at Hyundai and Kia. They have very upright seats and help with the 90 degree seating angle. My favorite is the Kia Soul 🤷♀️
Seat comfort is completely subjective, especially with back problems. One person will say a CX-5 feels like a cloud and another will call it a bed of nails. Narrow the list to reliable models, then take each one on a long 30–45 minute test drive over city streets, rough pavement, and highway. A five-minute loop around the dealership will tell you almost nothing.
Skip the volvo, the seats are nice but maintenance costs will eat you alive and they’re a magnet for cat theft in the city. cx5 is probably your sweet spot, the seats are pretty upright and you can get a 2023-ish CPO with under 30k miles for well within your budget. test sit a crosstrek too but the seat adjustability isn’t as good for getting that exact 90 degree angle you’re chasing, it’s more of a lifted hatchback feel than a true upright suv position
The Hyundai Tucson and its cousin the Kia Sportage may fit well, or their subcompact offering under those. Great headroom and seat room in many of their crossovers and shockingly good seats in my opinion.
Check out the Corolla Cross hybrid! It is a nice size, easy to maneuver and the seats are comfortable. It is also easy to get into and out of. I have SI joint issues and my back has done well in this vehicle.