Cars to Consider for Retirement

With the kids out of the nest and work duties off the cards, there’s a whole new world of opportunities on the market for retirees looking to hit the road on a massive road trip, or perhaps get behind the wheel of a sports car perfect for weekend adventures.

We’ll be covering all your possible bases as we cover some of the most interesting cars to consider for retirement on sale here in Australia.

Choosing the Right Car for Retirement

Some of the most important considerations in terms of the most logical and advantageous cars for retirees include packages that can tick the following boxes:

• Reliability 

• Active Safety Equipment 

• Accessibility 

• Depreciation

• Visibility 

• Comfort and Convenience features

• Large, Practical Cabins

• Seat Adjustment, Lumbar Support, Heating & Ventilation 

• Creature Comforts like Massaging Seats

4x4 Versatility

If heading out to the great outdoors is atop your list of priorities, opting for a mid-to-large SUV, or dual-cab ute fitted with a 4x4 system could be your best move.

If you’re looking to tow a boat or a caravan, opting for a 4x4 wagon or powerful dual-cab ute is an absolute necessity.

A 4x4 SUV body also offers more practicality and creature comforts for the driver and passengers for long road trips with lots of accompanying baggage; some of the best options here include the:

• Toyota Kluger 

• Ford Everest

• Volvo XC90 

• Nissan Patrol

• Toyota LandCruiser Prado 

• Isuzu MU-X  

• Land Rover Defender 

• Lexus LX 

Thrilling Sports Car Performance

If you’ve worked hard your whole life and you’re passionate about cars, it’s about time you treated yourself with a sports car you can call your own.

Thankfully, there are some great performance cars on the market that won’t require you to break the bank. These include cars like the Mazda MX-5, Hyundai i30 N, Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ, or if you’re feeling a little bit more adventurous, you could step up to the Ford Mustang, the Nissan Z or even a European exotic like the Porsche 718 Cayman.

For retirees looking for flagship performance, you could consider the iconic Porsche 911, the BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C63 S Coupe and the Jaguar F-Type.

Premium Living

It’s understandable that at this stage in your life, comfort is an absolute priority for your next car.

With this in mind, cars from manufacturers like Volvo and Lexus are known to be extremely comfortable, as well as vehicles fitted with air suspension on offer from BMW, Mercedes and Audi provide an exceptional ride quality.

Some of the best premium sedans, SUVs and wagons include cars like the:

• Audi A6

• BMW 5 Series 

• Genesis GV80 

• Jaguar F-Pace 

• Hyundai Palisade 

• Land Rover Discovery 

• Lexus LS 

• Mercedes-Benz E-Class 

• Volkswagen Touareg

Practical Performers

If you’re looking for one of the best cars for retirement, stepping into a wagon-body can provide all the practicality you’ve dreamt of, as well as providing the added flexibility of towing caravans and boats. Wagons like the Subaru Outback, Mazda 6 wagon, Volvo V60, Audi A4 Allroad and the Mercedes E-Class wagon all offer a huge amount of space, comfort and towing capacity.

Suggested Cars for Seniors and Retirees

• Kia Sportage 

• Skoda Octavia Wagon

• Isuzu MU-X 

• Lexus ES 

• Hyundai Tucson 

• Genesis GV80 

• Mazda CX-5 

• Volkswagen Tiguan 

• Ford Everest 

• Subaru Forester

• Volvo XC90

Best Hybrid Cars for Seniors

With fuel costs rising, there’s no doubt retirees are looking for their most fuel-efficient options.

Luckily, there’s a growing number of hybrid and plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) options that are great companions for recently-retired Aussies looking for a quiet and refined cruiser that can help keep fuel bills slim.

Some of the best hybrid options for retirees include cars like the:

• Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 

• BMW 330e PHEV 

• Lexus LS500h

• Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 

• Kia Sorento PHEV 

• Toyota Camry Hybrid 

• Mazda CX-90 Recharge PHEV 

• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 

• Toyota Kluger Hybrid

Best 4x4 Utes for Long Distance Road Trips

If you’re looking for a practical ute platform that is ready to chew up thousands of kilometres, thankfully Australia has no shortage of 4x4 utes that are perfect for long-distance road trips. The best options include utes like the:

• Toyota HiLux 

• Ford Ranger 

• RAM 1500 

• Volkswagen Amarok 

• Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior 

• Mitsubishi Triton 

• Ford F-150

What is the Easiest Car For Seniors To Get In & Out Of?

If reduced mobility is a major concern of yours, it’s worthwhile looking at the range of sedans or midsize SUVs.

Stepping in and out of a car can be difficult if it sits too high or low on the road, meaning that small hatches and large SUVs can prove problematic. Easy access cars for seniors is on offer in cars like the Toyota Camry that are famously easy to board and unboard, as well as midsize SUVs like the Mazda CX-5 that aren’t positioned too high on the road.

What Type of Car Should Retirees Buy With the Best Safety?

For buyers looking to spend $30,000 or less, we’d recommend you look at manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia, who are known to create safe cars packed with technology for a handsome price.

For those looking to spend $60,000 or less, stepping up to brands like Lexus, Volvo, BMW, Genesis and Mercedes-Benz is always a worthwhile investment when it comes to safety equipment as they’re often the pioneers of safety tech.

What is the Best Car Loan for a Retiree?

If you’re looking to step into the car of your dreams for retirement, reach out to our team of car-buying specialists here at OnlineAuto who can help take the hassle out of the process and help secure the best finance for your purchase.