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What car would be suitable for myself and my wife, who is five feet tall?

My wife is approximately five feet tall and has difficulty with visibility and reaching the controls in many cars. We currently have two cars, a Ford Kuga for me and the caravan and a Vauxhall Corsa for my wife, which is generally used for short journeys.

We are planning to lose the caravan and go down to one car that serves for local journeys and long hauls, such as the 250 miles to our daughter. I am thinking about a medium-size petrol car that would be suitable for both of us. Can you recommend anything? We would prefer a manual.

Asked on 30 March 2023 by D J Nash

Answered by David Ross
It can be difficult to find a car that will suit two drivers of differing heights, so if possible the best approach would be to ensure both you and your wife have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of any prospective purchase and go for a test drive, ensuring both of you can get comfortable and control the car easily.

We would suggest looking at the Kia Ceed, which has a relatively high-set driving position for a hatchback and is available with a petrol engine and manual gearbox, or the Hyundai Kona. The Kona also has a high driving position, but is available in petrol, hybrid and electric forms. Although you say you would prefer a manual, an automatic may prove easier for your wife to drive if there is no clutch pedal to operate. The hybrid version would would give you better fuel consumption on short journeys than the pure petrol engine too.
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