Entering retirement opens up a world of possibilities, and for many, that includes more time for travel, hobbies, and family visits; a reliable, comfortable, and safe vehicle becomes paramount during this exciting phase of life, and finding the right SUV involves a careful balance of comfort, proven reliability, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring it fits both your lifestyle and your budget without compromise, because this phase of life deserves the best.
While brand-new SUVs often come with steep price tags and immediate depreciation, the used market offers a treasure trove of vehicles that provide premium features and enduring dependability at a fraction of the cost. Our commitment is to empower you with unbiased reviews and data-driven insights, helping you navigate the options to make an informed decision that truly aligns with your needs, free from advertising influence. We delve into detailed data, pros, cons, and performance metrics to support our recommendations, emphasizing real-world usability and value.
This in-depth guide is designed to highlight some of the top SUVs that retirees should consider buying in 2025. We’ve meticulously reviewed models that stand out for their blend of practicality, user-focused design, and robust safety features. Our selection includes both well-regarded used models from recent years and new 2025 offerings that, according to experts, present compelling value and functionality for older drivers, ensuring you can make smart purchasing choices with factual, practical advice.
1. **Subaru Outback Premium**For retirees seeking a versatile vehicle that blends car-like driving dynamics with SUV utility, the Subaru Outback Premium consistently earns high marks. It’s not just a popular choice on the market; it has also secured a place on Car and Driver’s Editor’s Choice List for 2025, underscoring its appeal and sustained relevance. This model offers a compelling combination of features that directly address the needs and preferences of older drivers, making it a standout option for those prioritizing both comfort and peace of mind.
Owners can expect strong fuel economy figures, with an EPA estimated 26 miles per gallon in the city and an impressive 33 miles per gallon on the highway, contributing to lower running costs – a significant advantage for those on a fixed income. Furthermore, its second-year maintenance costs are notably low at just $421, as sourced from Edmunds, indicating a vehicle that is not only affordable to acquire but also economical to maintain over time. The Outback’s robust performance is reflected in its CR Road Test Overall Score of 89 out of 100, a testament to its quality and driving experience.
The interior of the Subaru Outback is designed with comfort and convenience in mind, featuring a spacious cabin that retirees will undoubtedly appreciate. It comes equipped with heated seats, providing warmth during colder months, and offers an extra 1.4 inches of legroom in the back, ensuring ample space for passengers or for accommodating larger items. Dual climate control allows for personalized temperature settings, enhancing comfort for everyone on board, while the overall ergonomic design contributes to an enjoyable journey regardless of distance.
Safety is a paramount concern for all drivers, especially retirees, and the Outback excels in this area. It is packed with advanced driver-assistance technology, including available blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which significantly reduce the risk of accidents by providing crucial situational awareness. Adding to its impressive safety credentials, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the Outback a five-star overall safety rating, providing robust assurance that this vehicle is engineered to protect its occupants.
In essence, the Subaru Outback Premium stands out as an exceptional choice for retirees. Its blend of high safety ratings, comfortable and spacious interior, admirable fuel efficiency, and low maintenance costs positions it as a practical, reliable, and enjoyable vehicle. It is a dependable ride without overspending, offering the features and security that retirees value most in a modern SUV.
2. **Mazda CX-5**Another top contender that has captured the attention of automotive experts and drivers alike is the Mazda CX-5, which also holds a coveted spot on Car and Driver’s Editor’s Choice List for 2025. This compact SUV distinguishes itself with a refined driving experience and a suite of features that cater particularly well to the needs of retirees. It offers a sophisticated alternative for those who appreciate precise engineering and a touch of luxury in their daily drive, without the premium price tag typically associated with high-end vehicles.
The used price range for the Mazda CX-5, typically between $25,998 and $29,988, offers excellent value for its caliber, boasting a competitive fuel efficiency of an EPA-estimated 26 MPG city and 31 MPG highway, making it an economical choice for both local errands and longer road trips. With a second-year maintenance cost of $674, it remains a reasonably inexpensive vehicle to keep on the road, further enhancing its appeal to budget-conscious retirees, and its CR Road Test Overall Score of 77 out of 100 reflects solid performance.
Under the hood, the CX-5 features a six-speed automatic transmission paired with all-wheel drive, ensuring confident handling and traction in diverse driving conditions. A distinctive design element that enhances the driving feel is its floor-hinged accelerator foot pedal, which provides a more natural and connected sensation compared to the more common suspended foot pedal. This attention to detail contributes to the CX-5’s reputation for engaging driving dynamics, often likened to that of a luxury SUV.
Retirees will find particular value in the thoughtfully included features within the CX-5 package. These encompass heated front seats with manual lumbar support, offering customizable comfort for varying preferences and potentially alleviating discomfort on longer journeys. For added peace of mind, the vehicle integrates automatic 911 dialing in the event of an emergency, alongside Mazda roadside assistance, ensuring help is readily available whenever needed. These practical additions underscore Mazda’s understanding of driver and passenger well-being.
Consistent with its focus on occupant protection, the Mazda CX-5 has earned an impressive NHTSA overall safety rating of five out of five stars, attesting to its robust structural integrity and comprehensive safety systems, providing crucial reassurance for retirees and their families that the CX-5 is built to deliver both an enjoyable and secure driving experience, truly making it a smart choice with its blend of style, performance, and retiree-friendly features.
3. **Kia Telluride S**For retirees whose social calendar remains vibrant, involving frequent gatherings with family and friends, the Kia Telluride S emerges as an exceptional option. This three-row midsize SUV has not only garnered widespread acclaim but has also been recognized on Car and Driver’s Editor’s Choice List for 2025 as the top pick in its class. Its design and features are particularly suited for those who prioritize ample space, comfort for multiple passengers, and advanced amenities that make group travel more enjoyable and convenient.
The used price range for the Kia Telluride S typically spans from $35,880 to $41,850, representing a significant investment, yet one that offers substantial value given its size and feature set. It maintains an EPA estimated 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles per gallon on the highway. While the fuel economy might be slightly lower than smaller SUVs, it is respectable for a vehicle capable of seating eight. Second-year maintenance costs are quoted at $756, which is reasonable for a larger SUV, and its outstanding CR Road Test Overall Score of 92 out of 100 highlights its excellent performance across various demanding tests.
The Telluride’s interior is truly substantial, particularly in the back, offering generous room for up to eight people, ensuring that all passengers, from grandchildren to adult friends, can travel in comfort without feeling cramped, which is ideal for family road trips, group outings, or even just running errands with a full car, and this spaciousness extends to cargo capacity, a key advantage for those who frequently transport luggage, groceries, or hobby equipment, ensuring you never have to leave anything behind.
What truly sets the Telluride apart for retirees who often carry a lot of passengers are its thoughtful and premium features. These include a high-quality 10-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system, delivering rich sound for entertainment on the go. A 110-volt power inverter provides convenient outlets for charging devices or powering small electronics, a practical addition for modern life. An extra special feature, called Driver Talk, amplifies the driver’s voice through speakers in the back two rows, making it effortless to communicate with passengers without having to raise one’s voice, a real boon for comfort and convenience.
Safety, as always, is a core strength, with the Kia Telluride receiving a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. This top-tier safety credential provides assurance that the vehicle is equipped to protect its occupants through robust construction and advanced safety systems. For retirees who value family time and require a vehicle that can accommodate everyone comfortably and safely, the Kia Telluride S stands out as an overwhelmingly compelling choice, offering luxury, utility, and peace of mind in one impressive package.
4. **Volkswagen Taos**When considering the best subcompact SUVs for retirees, the Volkswagen Taos frequently emerges as a top recommendation, particularly from experts at Edmunds. This relatively newer entry into the SUV market quickly distinguishes itself with a combination of attributes perfectly suited for older drivers. It deftly balances a compact footprint, ideal for urban navigation and easier parking, with a surprisingly roomy interior and a suite of modern conveniences that enhance both comfort and safety.
The 2025 Volkswagen Taos, with a starting MSRP of $26,420, offers an accessible entry point into the SUV segment for retirees looking for value without sacrificing essential features. While technically a new model in its 2025 iteration, its inclusion in recommendations for retirees underscores its immediate relevance and suitability for this demographic. Its efficient design and practical advantages make it a smart consideration for those seeking contemporary reliability and technology.
A significant advantage of the Taos is its spacious interior for a subcompact SUV. Reviewers have lauded its unexpected roominess, which ensures that both the driver and passengers enjoy comfortable seating, even on longer journeys. This generous interior space is particularly beneficial for retirees who may appreciate extra room for stretching out or for accommodating mobility aids or other personal items, defying typical subcompact limitations.
Beyond its interior comfort, the Taos is well-equipped with modern driver-assist features, as highlighted by Car and Driver for the 2025 model. These include blind-spot monitoring, which enhances awareness during lane changes; forward collision warnings, providing alerts to prevent potential frontal impacts; and lane-centering features, which actively help keep the vehicle safely within its lane. These technologies are crucial for augmenting driver confidence and overall safety on today’s busy roads.
Crucially for retirees, the Volkswagen Taos features physical buttons and controls that reviewers have praised for being easy to use, and in an era where many vehicles are shifting towards complex, touch-sensitive interfaces, the Taos’s intuitive, tactile controls are a welcome relief, simplifying operation, reducing distraction, and ensuring essential functions can be accessed quickly and safely, aligning perfectly with the preference for straightforward usability among many older drivers, making it a highly practical and user-friendly choice.
5. **Honda HR-V**For retirees seeking a balance of affordability, comfort, and nimble handling, the Honda HR-V stands out as another solid bet, according to Edmunds. Positioned at a similar starting price point to the Volkswagen Taos, the HR-V delivers Honda’s renowned reliability and a suite of features that make it an appealing option for those prioritizing a smooth, predictable driving experience coupled with comprehensive safety. Its practical design and accessible price make it an attractive consideration for the golden years.
The 2025 Honda HR-V offers a starting MSRP of $26,450, making it a financially sensible choice for retirees looking to purchase a new vehicle that promises long-term value. Like the Taos, while it’s a new model for 2025, its inclusion in expert recommendations for retirees emphasizes its suitability for this demographic. The HR-V represents a modern, efficient, and well-equipped option for those who want current technology and safety features directly from the factory.
One of the HR-V’s strongest suits, as noted by Car and Driver for the 2025 model, is its comfortable ride quality and responsive handling. These characteristics are particularly important for retirees, as a comfortable ride can reduce fatigue on longer trips, while responsive handling ensures easier maneuverability in diverse driving situations, from navigating busy parking lots to cruising on highways. The overall driving dynamics contribute to a relaxed and confident experience behind the wheel.
Adding a substantial layer of safety and convenience, the Honda HR-V comes equipped with Honda Sensing, a comprehensive package of advanced driver-assist features. This suite includes essential technologies such as lane-keeping assistance, which gently guides the vehicle to maintain its position within the lane, and adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts speed to maintain a safe following distance from the car ahead. These features significantly enhance safety and reduce driver burden, making it an even safer choice on the road for retirees.
The HR-V’s compact dimensions also make it easy to park and navigate through city streets, a practical consideration for many retirees. Despite its smaller exterior, Honda is known for maximizing interior space, offering a versatile cabin that can adapt to various cargo and passenger needs. This combination of a comfortable ride, intuitive handling, advanced safety, and practical sizing solidifies the Honda HR-V as a highly recommended and trustworthy option for retirees in 2025, promising both peace of mind and driving enjoyment.
6. **Kia Sportage**For retirees in the market for a new compact SUV, the Kia Sportage warrants serious consideration, as affirmed by Edmunds. Reviewers have consistently highlighted it as a great choice for older drivers, emphasizing its comprehensive feature set, robust safety provisions, and a design philosophy that prioritizes ease of use and comfort. The Sportage, especially its 2025 iteration, brings a compelling package to the table, making it a standout in its segment for those entering their retirement years.
The 2025 Kia Sportage, with a starting MSRP of $28,565, presents itself as an attractively priced option among new compact SUVs that deliver significant value. While being a current-year model, its strong recommendation for older drivers underscores its thoughtful design and feature integration that directly addresses retiree needs. This makes it a viable and appealing purchase for those looking for a contemporary vehicle that is both dependable and well-equipped from the outset.
One of the most notable aspects of the Sportage, especially for older drivers, is its design engineered for comfortable entry and exit. This critical feature, often overlooked, is paramount for individuals who may experience reduced mobility or simply appreciate the convenience of getting in and out of their vehicle with ease. This thoughtful design helps reduce physical strain and makes every trip, whether short or long, a more comfortable and dignified experience.
Like other excellent options for retirees, the Kia Sportage comes thoroughly packed with advanced driver-assist features. These technologies are integral to modern vehicle safety, providing an extra layer of protection and confidence behind the wheel. While specific features for the 2025 model are not detailed in this context, the emphasis on driver-assist features generally includes capabilities like lane keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring, all designed to prevent accidents and enhance situational awareness.
The 2025 Kia Sportage further solidifies its recommendation with a respectable 75 out of 100 rating by Consumer Reports, which specifically highlighted its ease when getting in and out, reinforcing the vehicle’s suitability for older drivers. This combination of strong safety ratings, a design focused on accessibility, and a comprehensive suite of modern features makes the Kia Sportage an impressively practical and appealing choice for retirees seeking a comfortable, safe, and user-friendly compact SUV in 2025, ensuring peace of mind and comfort on every journey.
Beyond the newer models and recent used gems, the market holds an array of truly budget-friendly SUVs that deliver exceptional long-term reliability and enduring quality, often for under $15,000. These vehicles are ideal for retirees seeking robust, no-frills transportation that won’t strain their fixed incomes, offering sustained peace of mind for years to come. Our rigorous evaluation process, which includes J.D. Power reliability scores, maintenance costs, and NHTSA recalls, ensures that only the most dependable options make the cut. These selections prioritize value, durability, and a proven track record, embodying practicality for the discerning retired driver.
