Best cars for older drivers

They are demanding everything from higher seating positions and lighter controls to more safety equipment in a move that reflects the ageing Australian population and their buying power.

GM Holden recognised the trend more than 10 years ago when it put bigger buttons onto the radio controls in its locally-made Commodore and also held onto a cassette player for older buyers who had not made the switch to CD sound.

New recent research confirms the pressures on ageing drivers and their needs, with Dr Mark King of the accident and road safety centre at Queensland University of Technology confirming they are more likely to be involved in crashes where they are at fault.

"They are therefore more likely to look for safer cars as they feel more vulnerable on the road," Dr King says. 

"At night their vision is affected and they are less able to see hazards approaching.We know they change their pattern to drive less at night or peak hours partly because they want to avoid dangerous situations. Some car manufactures have been targeting infrared night vision technology specifically to be benefit older drivers."

The number of Australians over 65 will more than double over the next 40 years and new research shows the 80-plus group will multiply by more than nine times.

It's a sharp contrast to the 1970s, where the percentage of Australians over 65 was a mere eight per cent, a number that grew to 13 per cent in 2000 and - according to the Federal government's Intergenerational Report - will jump to 24 per cent by 2050.

"There are not only more aged people in the community, but a higher proportion continue to drive," says Dr King. "They are more likely to hold on to their licence for longer these days. They want to maintain their independence."

He says that in 1988, 39 per cent of the over-70s population still had licences. That had increased to 52 per cent in 1998 and 61 per cent in 2008.

"There is also a pattern of people retiring outside of capital cities where there is less public transport so you have to drive," he says. "Women in particular in their 70s are a lot more independent than they used to be and more likely to drive."

Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW policy co-ordinator Charmaine Crowe says drivers will face issues of discrimination as they age. "There is a campaign in NSW for an older driver test," she says.

"We're opposed to these tests which are discriminatory. Just because someone reaches the age of 85 their driving ability is thrown into question. However, we do support medical testing so ensure that drivers are fit to drive. We find that older people if they feel they are no longer in a position to drive safely they generally stop driving."

VEHICLE CHOICE

The Toyota Camry sedan tends to be the king of cars for oldies. Even so, Toyota says there is nothing special in the car for the over sixties.

"We tend to take the needs of all age groups into consideration when designing our cars and SUVs," says Mike Breen, spokesman for Toyota Australia.

"I understand a consideration by people who have some difficulty getting in and out of cars tend to go for vehicles with a 'high hip point' such as RAV4, Kluger and Rukus. The Yaris also has a height adjustment on the driver's seat which assists with access and egress. Apart from that, all Toyota vehicles are built with all age groups taken into consideration."

Other car companies claim considerable attention to the needs of ageing baby boomers. Nissan and Ford even outfit their engineers and designers with special suits that help them understand the needs of elderly people. Wearing the suit simulates the creaky joints, diminished dexterity, and weaker eyesight and hearing often associated with ageing. They then factor in these considerations when looking at body design, instrumentation, lighting and other features.

ACCESS

The main focus of designers and engineers when meeting the needs of the elderly seems to be a suitable "hip point" for access to the car. The hip point is the height of the hip from the ground when seated. Vehicles with high or low hip points are more difficult to get into or out of than vehicles with a hip height similar to the normal standing height of the hip of passengers and drivers. SUVs usually have the best hip point.

Access is also aided by doors that open wide to accommodate a helper or a wheelchair. Audi spokesman Sean Poppitt says they "aim to have the widest possible opening aperture for ease of entry and egress". Doors also need to have strong "stays" so that they don't suddenly open wider or close while the passenger is getting in or out. Mercedes-Benz spokesman David McCarthy says their CLS, CL and S classes feature hydraulic door stays. "Basically it holds wherever you open it," he says.

"That's a big factor in tight parking spaces were you can open the door and it sits there and you can get in and out without it moving or hitting the car next to yours." He says another popular feature among "mature customers" is the door-closing feature in high-end models. Passengers only need to push the door to the first click and it then closes automatically.

INTERIOR

Once seated, the designers and engineers have to ensure that the seat and steering wheel have enough adjustment in al directions to cater for possible limited movement of limbs and neck rotation. Holden has long paid attention to mature motorists, retaining a cassette deck for longer than most and even increasing the font size on their infotainment units. Holden spokeswoman Shayna Welsh says other features appealing to older customers are the quick release boot on Cruze and Commodore sedan.

"The quick release boot on the Cruze and Commodore key fob unlocks and pops the boot lid up so it takes very little effort to access the boot," she says. "Likewise, the boot opening on both Commodore and Cruze is quite low and wide so it's easier to get things in and out. Other general aids like rear reversing cameras are quite popular with people who have difficulty twisting or turning their head and customers whose eyesight or general mobility is more constrained."

McCarthy says creature features such as keyless go and controls on the steering wheel are popular among mature customers because they make life with their car a little easier. However, these features are no longer the domain of expensive prestige vehicles. They are popular even in cheap and small cars like the Suzuki Swift. Other features elderly drivers and passengers should consider are: tilt/telescopic steering wheel, power steering, satnav, boot lid gas struts, reversing camera and parking sensors.

SAFETY

Subaru spokesman David Rowley says their research shows occupant safety is an important issue with the elderly. The company will later this year introduce their Eyesight system with features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision braking and lane departure warning. It will likely be in the range-topping Liberty and Outback initially, he says.

BMW Group Australia spokesman Piers Scott says safety technology developed specifically with aged drivers in mind is Emergency Stop Assistant where the car detects a loss of driver consciousness, for instance a heart-attack.

The car takes over and brings the car to a controlled stop, maneuvering around surrounding traffic and obstacles. He says BMW's ConnectedDrive safety technologies are not developed specifically for the elderly, but they have many "obvious benefits in terms of driver aids and safety innovations for older drivers".

"TopView, for example, provides a birds-eye view of the car and its surroundings which makes low-speed maneuvering much easier," he says.

VERDICT

The ideal car for the ageing population seems to be the compact sports utility vehicle (SUV). Mitsubishi Motors Australia spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says 40 per cent of Outlander and ASX SUV buyers are over 50. She says this is because - like most SUVs - they have good access, high seats, a commanding view of the road and good visibility.

Many SUVs also come with an economical diesel option and many now have an optional two-wheel-drive model with a lower sticker price and lower ongoing running costs. For example the mid-sized Toyota Kluger KX-R 2WD V6 auto five-seater wagon costs $12,077.54 a year to run according to RACQ ownership figures which consider deprecation, interest, fuel, tyres, servicing and repairs. The AWD version is $13,546.89, yet the 2WD version costs $4500 less to buy.

AFFORDABILITY

Many aged drivers are on fixed incomes, so they need affordable motoring. That means not just a low sticker price, but low ongoing costs of repairs, fuel and servicing. Small and light vehicles are the typical choice for many aged drivers, however high depreciation costs can mean low trade-ins when it comes time to buy a new car. The car with the lowest running costs is the Suzuki Alto at $89.61 a week, according to the NRMA. That takes in whole-of-life costs such as depreciation, interest and maintenance.

TOP CHOICES FOR AGED DRIVERS

AWD SUVs: Honda CR-V (from $30,990), Nissan X-Trail (from $32,490), Subaru Forester (from $30,990), Subaru Outback (from $38,490) 2WD SUVs: Holden Captiva (from $27,990), Hyundai ix35 (from $26,990), Kia Sportage (from $26,490), Mitsubishi ASX (from $25,990), Mitsubishi Outlander (from $28,990), Nissan Dualis (from $24,990), Nissan X-Trail (from $28,490), Renault Koleos (from $29,990)

CARS: Holden Cruze (from $20,990), Mazda3 (from $21,330), Hyundai i30 (from $19,590), Ford Focus (from $21,990), Suzuki Kizashi (from $28,490), Toyota Corolla (from $20,990), Toyota Camry (from $30,490)