Most comfortable car to drive (bad back after pregnancies)

[ShastaBeast]

I need a car, dream job opportunity but I will have to drive an hour ish to work and back on motorways. Potentially longer on occasion. Current car left me sore. I had lumbar spinal surgery which helped but still achy and get sciatica on bad days.

I’ve been to a few showrooms and am even more confused. Any tips or recommendations?

So far I’m thinking hatchback or small SUV with electric and heated leather seats. I’m also thinking of going automatic, I love manual but I’m sure my left side suffered because of driving in slow moving M25 traffic. I’m fairly small but DH is tall so ideally can be driven by both. Kids too old for car seats but need some leg space.

I can afford to splash out but prefer a bargain. Ideally £15k on a three year old car but could go new £35k ish. Possibly PCP but need to do the maths. I’ll be self employed in a year or so.

Help!

My sister has a bad back and she drives an automatic b max (ford)

Another back sufferer here.
Tiguan or Touran

What about a Volvo xc40?

I've been given a Kia Soul as a hire car after my Ford Focus was written off last week. I wouldn't have picked it off the forecourt in a million years but it's genuinely the most comfortable drive I've ever had - I think it's because it's a bit more upright. I've also got a dodgy lower back after pregnancy.

I have a bad back and drive an automatic Vauxhall Agila Design.
Very high and upright seating position so you just step in and out rather than getting set in position in the seat. Spacious inside too. Bit underpowered if you need to get up to speed very quickly but generally quite nippy for such a small car. I'm out like a bullet at roundabouts but it does 0-60 in about 10 minutes.

It's about the seat and it will be different for different back sufferers. DH and his prolapsed disc has liked a Citroen grand Picasso, recently test drove a Toyota which apparently was good, but Kia flared his sciatica in 30 minutes... test drive a few

I agree you need to test drive to see what suits your particular back, OP. I’ve always driven Ford Focuses, and before that Escorts, and they were blissful at supporting my aching back when I was pregnant. Now that I’m a pensioner, I still find the lumbar support really comfortable, even for five hour drives.

My next door neighbour has had back surgeries and has test driven and sat in so many cars. We gave them a lift recently and she said my car was the most comfortable she’d ever been in and would buy one when she changes her car. It’s a Skoda Karoq, automatic, heated seats and steering wheel, infinitely adjustable seat and a facility to ‘remember’ the driving position of three people. The steering wheel is adjustable and there is excellent lumbar support too.

Plenty of boot space and plenty of room in the back. The back seats are the most comfortable I’ve ever been in. As well as fold down back seats, they can be removed totally if you have a large load. My yoga mat, gym bag, weights, yoga bricks , picnic blanket and assorted stuff is always in there, plus the weekly shop fits in without taking anything else out.

There’s a range of models. They were first produced in January 2018, so the oldest will be about 18 months.

I agree that you need to try a few cars to see what suits you. I have a Golf DSG. It’s lovely to drive, very comfortable. DH has a few back issues and also really likes it -prefers it to his van anyway!! However, I used to drive the work pool car Picasso, which I found awful!

Volvo is on my list, nearest show room is being renovated. Maybe a XC60 which is older so second hand deals. Skoda has been mentioned in my research so will pop there, thanks. And ford too, but not very exciting. VW was reported as not as comfy, we visited and the seats were very firm. Visited Kia and seemed ok. Mercedes also came up, love the A class but they suggested it might be too low so B class better - lots of added extras so appealing. Citroen is meant to be good, C4 cactus but no leather heated seats.

I do need to test drive but want to narrow it down first. I feel a spreadsheet is needed!

Vw or Volvo. Toyota may be ok. Not Peugeot. Merc or BMW if you can afford it

I drive a car with Racaro seats and while the are very comfortable they can be difficult to get out of as they have 'humpy' bits on the side. On a bad achey day this bugs me momentarily.

But a definate yes to heated seats...marvelous for bad backs and keeping chips warm

Sorry that should of been Recaro obviously

Volvo seats have very good reputation. French makes of cars not so much.

My DH went through something similar and we found it hard as different models of can may have different seats (ie a sportier model / version may have different seat style). So make sure what you test drive is what your get. Also test drive the correct model: pedal placement wrt seat position will change the pressure on your back.

I usually loathe to recommend them, but the big car supermarket places might be a good opportunity to sit in loads of makes and models?

I have a Hyundai Tucson and i suffer from a bad back sometimes and my car is the comfiest seat when my back is sore, especially with the heated seats on. The seat is heated right up the back wear as other cars I've had its only the bottom of the seat thats heated.
I would recommend either an suv or a people carrier where the driving position is like sitting on a chair and your bum is a lot higher than your feet.