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Now, we know most of the car manufacturers in India believe their target audience rests between the ages of 20-40 mostly. This target demographic is open to change, loves experimentation and is willing to forgo a few set of luxuries for another few features. However, when we pondered on the question of cars that were suitable for senior citizens in India, we found that the automotive industry has somewhat not given it a thought. But, digging through the ranks we came up some five cars that do cater to the needs of the older generation. The younger generation definitely loves these and so we chose these cars based on features we thought would be most senior citizens-friendly, including things like affordable prices, easy to use controls, comfort, levels of ingress and egress, safety, easy to park, a good ride as well as the safety aspect.
Here’s our list:
Price: Rs 4.70 lakh
USP: Easy Ingress and Egress
Yes, this newcomer from Maruti Suzuki makes it to our list purely because of its ease in the use of controls and also because of the elevation levels of seating. Its slightly tall-boy stance helps make getting in and out of the car a pretty comfortable experience. This means, there will be no more bendy knees, crouched positions and the struggle for older people to get into the driver’s seat or the front seat for that matter. In case, you are thinking of this as a second car for your parents, then it also helps that it is fuel efficient and goes easy on the pocket too. Parking is a hoot, thanks to its small dimensions and moving around the city in this car will not prove to be much of a hassle.
Price: Rs 6.75 lakh
USP: Safety calls
Surprised? I was too, when I wrote this. Picking up a car in India for its attention to safety is surely as rare as the appearance of the Haley’s Comet. But we have to give credit where it is due. The Ford EcoSport is a stylish-looking compact crossover; its compact built also ensures a hassle-free parking and for ease of driving one can always go with the automatic. Coming back to why we picked this car, the safety aspect. Ford has equipped the car with a feature that helps out in case the driver/car has been in an accident. It immediately alerts the emergency services like hospital, police and the fire department. So with this feature you can rest assured your parents safety is taken care of.
Price: Rs 7.40 lakh
USP: S-P-A-C-E
Need we spell it out further? This is the best car for those who can afford to be chauffeured around. Its ergonomics make it a very comfortable car to be ferried around in. Let us tell you about the back seat, because that is where the action is. Space - where the older generation can comfortably sit, play and travel with their grandkids. Some might say this car is pretty long and not a very easy car to drive or handle but then we made an exception for this one because of the comfort.
Price: Rs 2.43 lakh
USP: Small and sweet
Many people begin having limitations long before they lose their driving ability. Age takes a toll on our flexibility and vision, meaning many older drivers experience trouble in normal tasks like getting in and out of a car and problems with reaction time as well. In the cars of today, not many cater to that section of drivers. We chose the Tata Nano Twist because of its attention to these factors. It is small, zippy city vehicle, has fuss-free parking and has a longer windshield for better visibility. The colours it is available in also makes for a pretty good style statement and it is easy on the pocket as well.
Price: Rs 29.45 lakh
USP: Ride Quality
We had to include a German car in our list. Expensive you may say but if you can afford it why not go all the way and travel in style. The Mercedes-Benz B-Class brings in all the qualities of intuitive German engineering. It makes for the ideal luxury car for senior citizens who like to move around in style. It also is a practical and thoughtful gift for your parents, if we might add. It offers great ride quality as it irons out a lot of the bumps and bad roads India is plagued with. The drive is comfy and safety is also paid equal attention to by the carmakers.
