Best Subcompact SUVs 1. 2021 Kia Seltos Starting Price: $23,110 Rating 4.8 With class-leading cargo room and a nicely equipped interior, the all-new Kia Seltos tops all subcompact SUV rankings. The Cadillac XT4 is an excellent choice for those wanting an affordable luxury SUV. Cadillac's entry-level SUV, its compact size blends a roomy interior with easy-to-park proportions. There are many tech amenities, like automatic emergency braking and Apple CarPlay. The XT4 is also fun to drive, with a turbocharged engine and agile handling.
The Volvo XC40 is one of those vehicles that you either love or hate. For the most part, everyone seems to love it. Not only did it win the Best Subcompact Luxury SUV from Car and Driver, but it now has another award to add to its list. MotorTrend has ranked it as the Best Subcompact Luxury Crossover SUVs.
What is the Volvo XC40?
The 2020 XC40 is the smallest SUV produced by Volvo, and it has been earning a lot of respect from critics. It has a price range from $34,700-$45,061. This might be a little pricey, but it’s definitely worth purchasing.
It comes with a 2.0L turbo I-4 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The fuel economy is decent enough. It gets 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. There are certainly better vehicles out there in terms of fuel economy, but for an SUV, that’s not too bad.
Why is the XC40 so special anyways?
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A vehicle just doesn’t rack up the awards from major critics unless it’s well earned. So what’s so special about the 2020 Volvo XC40? Is it actually worth the price you pay?
Let’s start with the safety features. The XC40 earned the IIHS 2020 Top Safety Pick Award. It received a near-perfect score, which is highly unusual. There are also several standard safety features that include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, rear-impact mitigation, automatic high beams, and road departure mitigation.
If you shell out a little more money, you can get adaptive cruise control (part of Volvo’s Pilot Assist suite), blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
There’s also plenty of tech to keep your passengers entertained. A 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen running Volvo’s Sensus user interface comes standard.
Other standard features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth streaming, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster display, two front-row USB ports, an eight-speaker audio system, and a four-year subscription to Volvo’s On Call smartphone app. GPS navigation and a wireless device charging pad are optional if you are willing to pay more.
Even the 2020 Volvo XC40 has a few flaws
You’ll be hard-pressed to find any problems on the 2020 XC40. The only complaint MotorTrend had revolved around the cabin noise. It was apparently just loud enough to be on the annoying side.
For those who treat their ride like their sanctum of solitude, this might be an issue, but let’s be honest. Most drivers are going to have the music pumping so loud the cabin noise won’t be noticeable.
The other problem that MotorTrend disliked was “a few questionable ergonomic choices.” What those specific ergonomic choices are was not expanded on in the review.
The XC40 beat out some tough competitors
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To say that the 2020 Volvo XC40’s spot as number one on MotorTrend’s Top Crossover SUV was hard-earned is an understatement. Volvo is considered a luxury brand, but it’s typically at the lower end of the scale. In this case, Volvo beat out all the other luxury brands to earn the top spot.
Some of the vehicles that the XC40 had to best include the BMW X1, Lexus UX, Audi Q3, and the Jaguar E-Pace. The Buick Encore has yet to be ranked, so it’s unclear where it falls on the list at this time.
The Jaguar E-Pace was once considered to be a top contender in the subcompact luxury SUV division, but it actually came in at the bottom of the list. The BMW X1 came in directly behind the XC40, and while it might be the best used luxury SUV you can buy, it can’t quite top the 2020 XC40. What the 2021 list will look like is unclear, but the XC40 will most likely be near the top of that list as well.
'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. Shazam app on kindle.
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.
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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.
Best Luxury Small Suv 2020
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.
2021 Luxury Suv
Tesla Model Y
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. Central intercept x advanced with edr and mtr advanced.
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.
And among vehicle classes, the Model Y’s ground clear inches is more than two inches less than a Subaru Forester.