SUVs are rising in popularity, and it’s not without reason. They are practical, spacious and in the past few years, manufacturers have even made them stylish. With that in mind, we realize that the SUV is not just a family car, but chances are if you have one, you have a heart for practicality. After space and reliability, how comfortable a car is for the driver is a question that comes to mind, and you don’t realize how bad of a time you could be having until you have a truly uncomfortable driver’s seat. You’ve seen Consumer Reports best SUVs of 2020, but what do they think are the most comfortable SUVs of the year?
Volkswagen Tiguan
Our list of most comfortable road trip SUVs wouldn't be complete without the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban. If you need to shuttle up to 8 travel companions in comfort, nothing beats the supersized Suburban which leads the full-size segment in both passenger and cargo space. Small and stylish, the Mazda CX-30 is one of the best subcompact SUVs on the market. Sharing many components with the popular Mazda3 sedan, the CX-30 provides a similarly sporty driving experience and surprisingly upscale cabin appointments. The Ford Focus is a sporty and strong compact car. While it’s rear seats are not the most comfortable, the ride in the front is pure enjoyment. Generous head and legroom and first-rate handling make this car an excellent choice for those who like to take long drives, or just go out for fun, fan-paced rides. The 2021 Honda CR-V is the most comfortable compact SUV According to Consumer Reports, the 2021 Honda CR-V is the roomiest, most comfortable compact SUV of 2021. This year’s model provides seating for up to five passengers and is reportedly easy to get in and out of. You should choose the SUV matches the requirement you have, and is the most comfortable. You can ask, – “Which small SUV is right for me?” Answer to question you can find by the considering some dozens of SUVs. This article has some information about our own small SUVs testing to narrow down your search for the best compact SUV.
The Volkswagen Tiguan won the Consumer Report team’s opinion for most comfortable front seats among the various small SUV contenders this year. The Tiguan has a starting price of around $25,000 making it an affordable option for comfort. Appearance-wise, the Tiguan interior and eats are nothing to look twice at, they are pretty basic and don’t have the ‘wow’ factor of some more expensive higher-end cars. The seat design is overall comfortable with a decent amount of padding, and they can be adjusted in several ways along with two ways to adjust the lumbar support.
RELATED: How Reliable Is The Volkswagen Tiguan
Dodge Durango
The Dodge Durango is up next and takes the place of most comfortable front seats among midsized SUVs. The front seats of the Durano were definitely designed with comfort in mind. Plushly padded with lots of support, you could spend hours commuting to work, driving to soccer games, or on a road trip without getting a stiff back. The material used for the padding makes the seats a little bit stiffer, giving them a more ergonomics-first feeling than making you want to relax into a La-Z-Boy recliner. The base models start at $30,000 and higher-end models top out at around $62,000 but offer more adjustments that can be made to the front seats.
RELATED: How Reliable Is The Dodge Durango
BMW X5
The BMW X5 makes the list as the luxury SUV with the most comfortable front seats of the year. The X5 has a beautiful interior with mostly decent looking seats, not as luxurious as some high-end Mercedes but still incredibly comfortable. The front seats feature a number of electronically adjustable seating options, and the bottom seat cushion can be manually extended for additional leg support. The leatherette material covering the seats is comfortable to the touch and rigid enough that you don’t have to worry about much wear or tear after a few years.
While there are still many more SUVs that have comfortable and beautiful interiors, these are what Consumer Report claims are the cream of the crop. All three SUVs are great options for more than just their comfortable front seats and offer all of the styling and practicality you could dream of from an SUV – but being comfortable is definitely a great, underrated perk.
'SUVs aren’t typically the vehicle of choice for seniors. But that is starting to change.
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
Most Comfortable Subcompact Suv
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.
Most Comfortable Compact Suv 2019
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.
Best Suv For Traveling
And among vehicle classes, the Model Y’s ground clear inches is more than two inches less than a Subaru Forester.
Most Comfortable Compact Suv Seats
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