What are the best cars for tall people?

What is the best car for tall people in Australia?

Even at my own relatively average height of 182cm, finding a comfortable fit can be a challenge, so we’ve looked at some of the most spacious cars available to make tall people’s lives easier.

Serendipitously, as a teenager of the 1990s, I was distracted at the media launch of the Kia Tasman by the guest appearance of basketball legend Luc Longley.

The Australian who played alongside Michael Jordan in the dominant Chicago Bulls is now a brand ambassador for Kia and was thus very complementary of the new ute.

He was particularly impressed with was the size of the cabin, which is important to him given he stands 2.18m tall, making me feel like a hobbit in his presence.

Longley lamented that for someone of his size finding the right car is difficult, even when you’ve got NBA career earnings to help you choose any car you find comfortable.

So let's see if we can help Luc and other tall timber types.

What is the best car for tall people in Australia?

Well the silly answer would be a convertible with the roof down, but that’s not a solution unless you’re a cartoon character. Instead, for those over 2.0-metres tall, looking for a comfortable car is a challenge. 

That’s because those who aren’t vertically challenged often struggle in a few key areas. The most obvious problem is usually a lack of headroom, which can lead to the driver having to crane their neck forward to see more clearly.

But there are other challenges, such as a lack of leg room and leg clearance, as taller folk often have long legs this can lead to a lack of clearance from the steering wheel or compromised seating positions that are uncomfortable.

Therefore, the best car for tall people is typically one with plenty of headroom, good legroom and, just as importantly, good adjustment on the seat so you can find a comfortable and safe driving position.

Are typically sized cars suitable for tall people?

Obviously this will depend on just how tall you might be and what sort of car you’re trying to fit into, but as a general rule car companies try their best to accommodate everyone.

Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone will fit comfortably, but most modern cars are bigger than 10-20 years ago and provide better seat position adjustment to make it easier for taller drivers.

What elements of a car may benefit a tall person? What should you look for in a car as a tall person?

As mentioned above, the keys to finding a comfortable car for taller folks is space and adjustment. You should look for a vehicle with a lot of head clearance and, just as importantly, good leg clearance.

The latter helps not only with comfort but also safety, as taller people’s knees and legs can get too close to the steering wheel and make it difficult to drive, or a lack of space can lead to discomfort behind the wheel.

The top five cars for tall people in Australia

Now is a good time for taller drivers, as the current wave of SUVs and utes provide roomier cabins than traditional sedans and small cars.

Your individual needs and budget will dictate what you can buy, but we’ve assembled a list of five best cars for tall people across the size and price spectrum, that have plenty of interior space and would suit taller drivers.

1. Ford Ranger - the ute

There’s a lot of reasons why the Ranger is Australia’s most popular new vehicle, and its spacious cabin is certainly one of them. With 1041mm of headroom, there’s plenty of space for taller drivers to get comfortable. 

There’s also good adjustment for the driving position, with a reach and height adjustable steering column and powered seats in the higher grade models. However, while the cabin is tall, it’s not particularly long, so you may compromise rear seat space behind the driver to get in your best position up front.

2. Hyundai Santa Fe - the family SUV

Hyundai veered away from the swooping roofline trend of recent years and adopted a straighter, boxier look for its latest generation Santa Fe - which is good news for tall people.

And not just the driver, there’s a generous 1043mm of front row headroom but also 1031mm of headroom for those in the second row (thanks to that flat roofline).

If you want something more luxurious, the Land Rover Defender is a luxury SUV with a roomy cabin; its headroom is measured at 1031mm.

3. Subaru Forester - the mid-size SUV

Just because you’re tall doesn’t mean you need or even want a big car. So, what are the alternatives? Subaru’s Forester has been praised online by taller buyers for its cabin space, so it makes a good alternative for someone looking for a smaller package.

Officially the Forester has 1046mm of headroom, which is more than a Toyota LandCruiser (1016mm), so it has a ‘reverse Tardis’ effect going for it (with apologies to non-Doctor Who fans may need to google that reference).

4. Skoda - the sedan (or wagon)

And just to prove that tall people don’t have to drive SUVs either, here’s a sedan/wagon combination for your consideration. The Czech four-door has a whopping 1049mm of headroom, which is more than many SUVs, proving you don’t need ‘high cars’ when you have internal room. 

It also has very good seat adjustment, which is critically important, as mentioned earlier. Notably it also has a generous amount of space in the back, so the compromise for rear seat passengers is lessened.

5. Kia EV9 - the electric car

For our final entry we’re giving you an electric option, for taller buyers who want to ditch internal combustion. The EV9 is a big SUV in every dimension, so unsurprisingly it has plenty of headroom, a healthy 1051mm (the most on this list).

But the best part is, it has even more room in the back (or at least more headroom) with 1087mm claim on paper, which is a rare achievement. So, that means taller types don’t even have to drive to be comfortable in the EV9, they can jump in the back and be chauffeured.