1. 2012 Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai Sonata, regardless of trim and year, fits the bill of many who need a car that is not only affordable to buy, but also to maintain.
Features
The Hyundai Sonata is simple yet loaded with features. For the elderly, they need a car that comes with features that make it easy to operate, whilst simplifying the driving experience.
This and more qualify the Hyundai Sonata to be on the list of best Hyundais for seniors
The modern vehicle is going towards self-driving, but whilst moving towards that, the elderly may not be as adaptable as the younger drivers.
Whilst technology is good, it may be overwhelming for the elderly that would rather prefer simplicity and practicality.
It is a delicate balance that the Hyundai Sonata effectively takes care of.
The Hyundai has a touch screen, but also carries individual physical dials that are well-placed for an elderly person to clearly distinguish.
The touch screen mainly used for navigation is large enough to accommodate the various features without crowding.
Infotainment
The touch screen is large enough to accommodate audio and navigation graphics and text. The system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, including navigation voice control.
Space
The Sonata has enough space both in front and rear to comfortably seat adults. For the driver, the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel allows them to find a comfortable driving position.
Trending Video: How to Easily Bring Back to Life any Old Car Battery and Save Tons of Money (click to watch)
Entry and Exit
The large doors also allow for ease of entry and exit, without the risk of head or knee bumps. The cabin height also helps in that regard.
Visibility
Frontal visibility is within the acceptable standards, whilst the rear may be a challenge. However, the rearview camera takes care of the situation.
Price
Prices range from $15000 to $25000 depending on the year, trim, and features.
Safety
The Hyundai Sonata scores perfectly in IIHS testing.
Safety features include traction and stability control, full-length curtain airbags, blindspot monitoring, and a rearview camera.
Sonatas also include Blue Link, Hyundai’s emergency system.
Fuel Economy And Reliability.
The Sonata’s fuel economy is a very good 38 mpg on the highway. Reliability scores are also very high.
Driving and handling
The Sonata drives and handles well, quietly, and effectively absorbing the surface bumps. In curvy roads, the Sonata is well-grounded and takes the sharp with ease. The steering response is balanced.
Comfort
The Hyundai Sonata seats are firm and comfortable and can take good care of an aging backbone, even on a long trip.
The seats are very supportive and comfortable. They are also ventilated in most of the trims.
The cabin temperature is very comfortable with the effective dual-zone automatic control.
Price ranges from $16000 to $35000 for 2017 to 2021.
Also read: Does Hyundai Hold its Value? (Depreciation Charts)
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a lovely SUV that offers a lot at an affordable price. It has a spacious cabin, large doors, and relatively low clearance.
It is powered by a standard 290-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine. Transmission is a standard 6-speed automatic, whilst drive train options are front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy
Estimates put the Santa Fe fuel economy at 21 mpg combined on the front-wheel-drive models, and 20 mpg for the AWD models. This applies to 3.3.-liter V6 engine.
The Santa Fe is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that features a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
Notable features include LED daytime running lights, dual-zone climate control, satellite radio, and alloy wheels.
Driver Assistance Features
For the convenience of the elderly driver, the SE trim includes notable features like automatic headlights, LED daytime running lights, heated outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, and an 8-way power driver’s seat.
The Santa Fe also has a rearview camera and Hyundai BlueLink for emergency assistance.
The Limited trim adds keyless entry/ignition, a proximity power liftgate, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.
The SE Ultimate and Limited Ultimate include driver memory settings, rear parking sensors, a heated steering wheel, a navigation system, and an Infinity audio system.
Comfort and Accessibility
The Santa Fe’s doors are large enough for easy entry and exit.
The cabin is large and luxurious to provide spacious seating for the seniors to stretch their limbs.
The back seats can also be adjusted to provide a comfortable seating position for the rear passengers.
Safety Features
For safety and convenience, the Santa Fe comes standard with a list of driver-assist features inclusive of blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear occupant alert to remind the driver of backseat passengers when exiting. These are offered on the higher trims.
Adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, lane departure warning, and a 360-degree camera system all help the elderly driver but are available as options.
This Santa has consistently scored top marks on safety.
Maintenance Costs
The Hyundai Santa Fe comes with Hyundai very attractive and industry-leading warranty, which should assist in case anything goes wrong.
Price
The Santa Fe prices start from around $30000 for new models and can go as low as $12000 for older models.
The array of features and driving make the Hyundai Santa Fe one the best Hyundais for seniors.
Also read: What’s a High Mileage for a Hyundai? (The Facts)
3. 2018 Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson is a compact crossover SUV with good value for the number of features and driving experience it gives. It is small enough and can be on a budget, making it one of the best Hyundais for seniors.
The 2018 model is offered in five trims, with the base SE, SEL, and SEL Plus being powered by a 2.0-liter 164-horsepower engine. A Sport trim comes with a 181-horsepower 2.4-liter engine.
The transmission for the Tucson is a 6-speed automatic.
The two upper Value and Limited trims are powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with an output of 175 horsepower, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
All Hyundai Tucsons come with a standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive.
Fuel Economy
Tucson’s running costs are relatively low, with good fuel economy.
The base trim 2.0-liter engine is pegged at 26 mpg combined, whilst the 1.6-liter turbo has a consumption of 27 mpg combined.
Also read: 3 Best Hondas for Seniors (with Pictures)
Driver Assistance Features
For the elderly, the Hyundai Tucson is loaded with features such as a user-friendly touch screen and well-placed dials. The number of functions depends on the trim.
The entry-level trims come with the basics that are simple to use and follow.
Standard features also include automatic headlights, a 6-speaker audio system with a CD player, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rearview camera, a blind-spot mirror, and satellite radio.
The senior driver gets assistance from the Sport trim through keyless entry and ignition in case they misplace their keys.
Comfort and Accessibility
The Tucson Limited trim comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front and ventilated seats a height-adjustable driver seat for optimum driver comfort.
The seats are also well cushioned to support the driver on long trips.
Ride comfort is taken care of by the firm but responsive suspension.
Interior Space
The Tucson interior provides enough horizontal and vertical space to comfortably accommodate an average driver. Passenger room is also above average. This comes at the expense of cargo space though.
The space is also easy to enter and exit due to the high front doors. However, the rear may not be as easy as the front, requiring taller passengers to take a slight stoop.
The styling also compromises rear visibility, requiring the help of a rearview camera.
Safety Features
Tucson gets high IIHS scores for safety, which suits the elderly drivers well.
Safety features on the Hyundai Tucson include blind-spot monitors, lane change assist, lane departure warning, and automatic braking with pedestrian detection. Some of the features apply to upper trims only.
In summary, the Tucson is comfortable and easy to handle with its many features.
Price ranges from $12000 to $30000 depending on the year and trim features.
