Cars for short people?

[Silvermockingbird]

Looking for advice.. I’ve just started driving lessons and I’m wanting to get my own car to practice in- trouble is, I am 4’11 and every single car I’ve sat in hasn’t been right! Even with the seat fully forward I’m getting cramp in my legs from having to stretch and tip toe the pedals, not to mention that I can’t see the bonnet or a clear view of the road. I’ve tried cushions, but that seems to take me further away from the pedals and I can’t help feeling so uncomfortable. Any game changing cars for short people out there?

I'm 5 foot and drive a Mini Cooper.

I short too and find Japanese and Korean made cars work for me. This rule didn’t work when I lived in US though as the brands manufacture to different size in US than they do in Japan and Korea.

IHave I’ve tried driving my dads mini and I’ve found that the worst one so far, it’s a clubman, though so maybe different design to others. I have very short shins also, I think that’s the problem. Damn these short legs.

OP, I'm not tall and drive a Toyota Aygo. I love it! Give it a go 😊

Mine isn't a Clubman, just the standard little one, kinda like me!

Please don't use cushions! You risk 'submarining' if there's a crash.

Hope you find something, a short friend found bigger cars often better.

My old Toyota Yaris was amazing!
I'm 5ft on the nose and found it great

My Jag XJ had electrically adjustable pedals - no idea if they'd work for you but a thought.

I'm 5ft and drive a mini cooper but used to drive 4 by 4 with no problem. Seats can also be raised as well as go forward normally.

Ford have cars that move the seat up & forward. I'm a shortie (5') and these work fine for me.

I had such a childish tantrum in my dads mini. At the end of my short-legged tether shouting “it’s a mini! The clues in the effing name, you’d think a mini person could at least drive a mini car!” Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll have a browse online. Has anybody had any experience with getting pedals extended at a garage?

Electrically adjustable pedals sound perfect, had no idea that was even a thing.

I'm exactly 5ft and I drive a Seat Leon. If you want to go smaller, a Seat Ibiza might work too.

My sister uses 4ft10 and she seems pretty comfortable with a Golf (which is effectively the same as my Leon, but much pricier!)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/cars/2511356-If-you-are-quite-SHORT-what-car-do-you-drive

My DSD is 5’1” and loves here VW Polo.

My mil is 4ft11 and she drives a Suzuki swift

Im 5'2 and drive a Scenic. Your clutch knee should still be a little bit bent when it's on the floor. Seats are very adjustable these days so have a good play around with them.

Hi OP, I am 5” and drive a Skoda Fabia, and I had a Golf before that. I also drive dh’s Passat and a Citigo that we bought for our dc. The Citigo is the worst for me because it’s a very basic model and the seat doesn’t go up and down so I can hardly see over the steering wheel even with a cushion. My Fabia and the Golf and Passat have seats that go up and down as well as forwards and backwards. I put the seat up as high as it can go so I have a better view of the road. I don’t actually need to have it as far forward as it can go. So I would say look at Skoda or VW, just not the basic models, as there are lots of different seat positions.

Nissan Micra nice and compact

Im 5"2 and drive a Nissan Micra. You can adjust the seats really well in them.

A lot of the bigger cars can actually be better, my grandma is tiny but she drives a volvo suv, i think she's 5,0 maybe less. Go to a car show room type thing (like a car park with cars for sale, one called motorooint near me) and try out as many cars as you can.

Hmm. I'm 5'2" and can drive any car including a transit van and Luton van. Are you sure you're just not moving the seat far enough forward? I share a car with my dh (6'4") and we have the seat at both extremes of the slidy thing.

@Lurkalot
Please don't use a cushion when you drive, it's very dangerous as the seatbelt won't work as designed as you can "submarine"

I drove a VW Golf and a Fiesta before and I will say one thing, if you feel like you need see the end of the bonnet and the back and you're learning now, I'd go for a smaller car to begin with to build up your confidence and make sure you're totally comfortable. My Aygo has adjustable driver seat height wise too, I genuinely cannot imagine how an adult could not reach the pedals in it. I actually have to move my seat away from the steering wheel to be comfy which NEVER happened in any other car 😄

I’m 5’1” and recently learnt to drive in a Ford Fiesta. It had a very adjustable seat and steering wheel and was the comfiest car I’d driven in, so I bought myself one and it’s great. Tall friends might struggle to sit in the passenger seat though!