I looked on here for threads about comfy cars for us with back problems, but didn't find much. I am 5'2" tall and trying to find that vehicle that I can slide in and slide out of easily without stepping up or scrunching down. I find the SUV's best. I like the Lexus RX300 (perfect for my height but too expensive - used is still 16,000 +), and the Toyota Highlander (which came out in 2001 so not cheap either), but both are too costly.
Right now I'm in an old cadillac with a smooth ride and electric reclining seats, but I have to scrunch in and out of it and it hurts like the dickens. I have to limit how many stops we make just because it hurts so bad to get in and out. Adn then the back hurts the rest of the day.
Because I have to recline a lot and may have another surgery (disc replacement), I need an electric reclining passenger seat. Those are hard to come by, except in the luxury cars.
Most SUVs are just one or two inches too high for me, and I have a weak leg, so stepping up doesn't help.
Does anyone have any ideas? We have tried so many cars, our heads are reeling.
I'm afraid I may have to go to a minivan and I do not have a family so that's a waste of seats.
We are next going to try the Saturn VUE but I guess it only has electric reclining seats on the 2005 model. At least we would pay for a new car what we would pay for a used Lexus.
Does anyone know if you can order electric reclining passenger seats for used cars like Hondas or anything? My husband is a good mechanic and could install it.
Thanks.
I just paid for an antigravity chair and with PT and doctors bills, really cannot much for a car. Isn't it awful to have all these expenses? But I'm beginning to wonder if the scrunching in and out of the car is damaging my back further, so what cost can you really place on your health?
Besides the pain, does anyone else feel that we are further damaging our backs by having to contort into these cars?
Well, this sounds like it might be totally not what you want vehicle-wise, but I'm 5-1 and I LOVE the way I sit in my Honda Accord. And the front seats are ergonomically correct, so it doesn't irritate my back (I have lower back pain). \
Yes, they're smaller than an SUV, but I've been very happy with mine in all respects. Another benefit to Accords is they last longer than most cars, often to 200,000 miles or more with minimal maintenance.
Ladybird, I am 5'3 so I feel your pain about trying to find a comfortable car. I have a Ford Focus, and it works really well for me. It's not bad to get into or out of, and although the seats aren't electric, you can adjust them in almost any way. I haven't tried to drive yet since my surgery 2 weeks ago, but I'm assuming it will be even easier for me now. The car is also very cost-effective, and fairly inexpensive to purchase. Good luck!
Have you test driven a Mazda Tribute SUV, KIA Sorento SUV, and there is another one....the Honda Element. The Mazda is the priciest one...good luck looking for one.
Jessie is also right about the Focus. I've had it as a rental a couple of times, and chose it over a couple other types I was offered because I found the fit much better for me.
The Element is great too- one of my friends has one and I drive it sometimes. It does require a step up into it though, which is interesting after a fusion. I'm getting used to backing into it though, and it's not that bad. They drive really well too- they're not nearly as strange as they look, LOL!
I'm 5'2" (and 1/2)
I love my '98 Ford Windstar. The seats sit up higer than a car so you have good visibility, similar to an SUV. The adjustments work perfect for me. It's not too high to get into, and not too low to crawl out of.
Good luck!
Take a look at the Honda Pilot. A heckuva lot better looking than the Element. You could look at a Dodge Dakota 4 door truck. Or 2 door with extended cab.
My 5'4" cousin loves her pilot. So many extras, like heated/power seats, and the height can be adjusted at the seat as well as the size tires on the vehicle.
do any of these cars have electric reclining passenger seat? I have to have that. I still cannot sit and its been six months since surgery and the PT says I'll probably always need to recline and I don't have the strength to sit up in a manual recline seat. Thanks.
You're probably going to have to fork out the big bucks to get a car with auto adjust in the passenger seat. Take it to a shop that does wheelchair accessibility for cars/vans and I bet they could put a seat in your current car
for cheaper than getting a new car (not cheap mind you, but cheaper).
Maybe a specialty welding shop or rv shop too?????
Have you tried to sit in the Toyota Rav4? It's not as expensive as a 4 runner and it is like a SUV but it is a little smaller so you don't have to step up to get in it and it's not like a car, it's a little higher then a car which you would have to crouch down into. I would highly recommend you not get a Saturn of any type. A car is an investment and Saturns lose there value really fast. They are one of the lowest in resale value that you can buy. The top vehicles of resale value are Toyota,Honda,Chevy. Toyota and Honda are the best for holding value when it comes to an affordable vehicle. There is always higher end though but obviously that is not what you are looking for. I just thought of Toyota Rav4 because I know someone who just bought one and I got in the front seat and noticed that it was at a good level to get into. No crouching and no trying to step up into it.
I'm 4'11" with scoliosis, osteoporosis and a lot of pain! My husband has Toyota's Rav 4 and it's perfect for me to get into... even better than my Corolla because it is a bit higher and I don't have to drop myself down... only up a tiny tiny bit... JUST PERFECT!!!
Isn't the grand marquis a car, that is low to the ground so you have to contort to get into it like other cars? It hurts my back horribly to have to bend down to get into a car. What I like about the SUV's is they have a higher roof so you don't have to duck and contort your back to get in.
I have a cadillac right now that has electric recline passenger seat but it is low to the ground, being a car, and hurts to get in and out of it.
Thanks for all the suggestions. If I find the right car I will post. So far the lexus RX300 is the PERFECT car for me, and I wanted to let any other 5'2" ladies know that, if they can afford one.
I need a vehicle that I don't have to bend down into, nor step up into, but can slide into, like the Lexus 300, and one that also has the electric reclining passenger seat. I am thinking I may have to buy an SUV that I can slide into and have an electric passenger recline seat added. So, now I have to find out what SUV's can have that added. My husband says very few, only the higher end vehicles.
The other thing I like about the Lexus is that I don't have to lift my foot over the lower door frame, like you do in a lot of cars, which is hard to do with a weak leg. I can't get an SUV that requires I step up into it (which is most if you are 5'2") because of my weak leg.
We're so unhappy with the cars we've tried to date that we've both given up for now. I'm willing to wait to get that Lexus RX300 because we've tried dozens of vehicles and NONE have measured up to it. the other problem is finding a vehicle with a smooth ride. Only the luxury vehicles truly seem to ride smoothly and that means a lot to a bad back that feels every single vibration.
Hi I had neck surgery and lower back surgery in Oct.2004 I had to change cars also i was driving a GMC Jimmy it was to much to clime up and down in so i changed to a kia sophia 2000 and that was hit and totaled and now I have a ford escort 2002 it is really good for getting in and out of and the seats are very nice sitting fitting into the lower back.I'm also 5'2''.I have been driving it now since two weeks after surgery and no problem you might want to try it or either one of them they are not that expensive to buy or the up keep.
I'm almost 5'1 and I drive a Hyundai Sonata. Love it. Tilt wheel, auto adjust seats. It doesn't have the inflatable lumbar support like previous car's I've had but it does have a built in lumbar support styled seat that seems to hit just at the right spot. I'm actually more comfortable in my driver's seat than anywhere else (including my lazyboy). (And ya can't beat the warranty)
Re: Comfortable car for 5'2" woman 
