Does anyone make a nice quality, small car for older drivers

[white_goodman]

I'm not trying to be derogatory here and looking for a worthy successor to the Suzuki Wagon-R or City Rover but does anyone still make a nice quality car that offers decent comfort and luxury, simple controls and simple, dare I say it even elegant lines?

My dad (69) is looking for a replacement for his 2015 Citroen C3 Picasso, which for a "modern" car is fairly easy to use and not overloaded with tech. With the exception of a mk5 Golf/Polo, he has driven Citroens for the last 20 years and they've served him well. They've been fairly reliable, a little unconventional (which he likes) and are very cheap but feel it in many ways. Not really an issue, as he tended to change every 3-4 years. Now that he's retired, he fancies something a bit "nicer" and better quality and more luxurious. He used to have diesels but doesn't need a diesel now, he's not obsessed with having an SUV/crossover and he doesn't mind spending more money for something nicer because he would plan to keep this one a lot longer. He finds the styling of the new Citroens, such as the "C3 Aircross/C4 Cactus", a bit much style-wise and doesn't need a big car, something Golf/A-Class-sized would be absolutely fine.

There was a time when if you wanted some luxury/quality without overly-aggressive styling and simple controls, you might have bought a Jaguar, Mercedes or Volvo but they all seem to have gone a bit garish and overloaded on the tech, chasing the younger "BMW" market. They all understandably want to get in on the younger market and the older customer with more simple tastes, who just wants a comfortable car of nice quality has fallen by the wayside. I thought maybe the Japanese might have the answer but I drove a new Civic rental car recently and the process involved even for just turning on the heated seats or adjusting the heating was mind-boggling!

Skoda perhaps? I haven't been in one recently but you get the VW "quality" with less tech features? I know that stuff like auto braking and lane departure warning would drive him crazy. Are Peugeots of nicer quality these days?

So, any suggestions on a new, smallish car/crossover/SUV that offers decent quality and luxury but without the fussy styling and tech overload?

[CS Garth]

Second hand i3 would meet many of these needs (albeit may push his budget and the charging could prove a faff at his age).

[Shiv_P]

CS Garth said:

Second hand i3 would meet many of these needs (albeit may push his budget and the charging could prove a faff at his age).

I'm not sure an i3 is simple to use...

[PSRG]

The problem I imagine is that everyone’s going down the touch screen interface, tech heavy approach for new cars. I guess what you really need is car that’s reaching the end of its cycle, and so doesn’t have the latest tech stuff. Something like an SE spec BMW 1 series with a up-specced interior perhaps? It still has a mechanical handbrake, but the IDrive set-up is relatively straightforwrd and doesn’t cover climate control, so the basics s of driving are still fairly ‘old school’. It also doesn’t come (I don’t think) with any adaptive cruise/lane assist/stuff? The Audi A3 is also a pretty old design, though does have an electric handbrake, and has a higher quality interior than the 1 series. Especially if you spec leather/alcantara

[Codswallop]

How about a Mazda 2, 3, CX3 or CX5?

All look about as elegant as a modern car can in their respective sectors, and top spec models use pretty good quality materials and trims. Infotainment is easy to use and offers the choice to use touch screen or the iDrive style controller.

[kieranblenk]

Non S-Line Audi A3?

[schmalex]

If he likes the quirky nature of Citroens, how about the DS3?

[Hennerz1994]

I would suggest either the old shape a1 or a a3 both are nice places to be with good quality interior. Other option would be something like a polo or fiesta.

[medieval]

New Jimny perchance ? Simple, good visibility and rugged to boot but sadly long lead times I think

[reglard]

Honda Jazz every time

[Pica-Pica]

Golf 1.4
Skoda Fabia (or the new Scala when available)
Seat Leon or Ibiza

[Haltamer]

reglard said:

Honda Jazz every time

I'd second that - A nice Jazz EX should do the trick. It's got the relevant safety / assistive technologies, reversing cameras etc. That would be appreciated by an older driver; A bit of tech but nothing that one would need to go out of their way to understand to just drive.

[sparkythecat]

reglard said:

Honda Jazz every time

Go to the local garden centre car park on any weekday afternoon. You'll see it's clearly the most popular car of choice for the superannuated over 70s

[Bazooka Joe]

I had a similar search two years ago, albeit wanted an automatic. In the end he got a 2013 Mini Inspired by Goodwood and absolutely loves it!

[Pupbelly]

reglard said:

Honda Jazz every time

^^^This^^^

Good solid reliable little cars, hold their value well and less likely to have been 'abused' other than low urban mileage and kerb rash possibly. But still the best option I would say.

[mr_spock]

Haltamer said:

reglard said:

Honda Jazz every time

I'd second that - A nice Jazz EX should do the trick. It's got the relevant safety / assistive technologies, reversing cameras etc. That would be appreciated by an older driver; A bit of tech but nothing that one would need to go out of their way to understand to just drive.

My mum, who's 89, has a Jazz. She hates the seats with a vengeance. He needs to drive one for more than 30 mins.

[aeropilot]

Pupbelly said:

reglard said:

Honda Jazz every time

^^^This^^^

Good solid reliable little cars, hold their value well and less likely to have been 'abused' other than low town mileage and kerb rash possibly. But still the best option I would say.

It does seem to be the default option for this category these days....although, the Skoda Yeti seems to be getting popular as well for the OAP choice.

The original A-Class Merc was brilliant in this regard, my late mother had one, and ticked every box wonderfully, but Merc chose to chase the young market and went the hatch route for its replacement.

[Truckosaurus]

Lexus CT is certainly more refined than a similar sized Golf/Focus/etc but might be too techy (hybrid, CVT)

[Krikkit]

What about a BINI? For all their faults they're a decent product.

[Todd Bonzalez]

Mini.

To elaborate, I just bought an S on Friday. The instrument panel is simple, legible, clean. The exterior is not particularly fussy and is very clean and well resolved. Everything just works nicely and it drives absolutely brilliantly. Very "producty" in it's execution. Absolutely love it.

Edited by Todd Bonzalez on Wednesday 6th March 09:11