We’re trying to find a new or (1 or 2) year old car. We’ve had minivans for nearly 20 years and the last kid is graduating high school. We like the “height” of a minivan but don’t need the space anymore. For new cars, we have looked at the CRV, Pilot, Murano, Acadia, Journey, Sorento, CX7, CX9, Tribute, Pathfinder, Traverse, and Equinox. All of them have this huge console inbetween the seats that makes it difficult to put on the seat belt. (We’re larger people).
Is there any vehicle you would recommend?
You say that you are looking for a car, but then the vehicles that you list are all SUVs of one type or another, so I’m not sure if you really are looking for a car. However, if you really are looking for a car (in the traditional sense), I would suggest that you look at the Ford Taurus.
The Taurus’ design allows the driver and passengers to sit a bit higher than they do in most sedans. When this new design first came onto the market, it was known as the Ford Five Hundred. When that name failed to attract much attention, it was redubbed as the Taurus. It is a fairly roomy sedan, and is loosely based on a Volvo design as a result of Ford’s previous ownership of Volvo–but it has much better reliability than a Volvo.
If I recall correctly, the 2008 models were the last ones named “Five Hundred”, and by 2009 they were renamed as the Taurus. The newest design Taurus for 2010 is a somewhat different design, and the driver and passengers may not sit as high in this new model as they did in the '08 & '09 designs.
My Dad recently bought a certified 2007 Ford 500. It’s interior is much roomier and more comfortable than his previous car, a 2003 Taurus. He has a bad hip and knees, the 500 is easier for him to get in and out of. The 500 has a high seating position for a sedan, not quite SUV or minivan high though.
Ed B.
Thank you for the clarification. I guess I should have written “Finding a Medium SUV” instead of “car”. We do not want a sedan.
The Devil is in the details.
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