When I was a kid, the stereotypical cars that old people drove included the exact pearlescent white 1998 Cadillac DeVille that my grandmother owned, any Buick sedan, Lincoln Town Cars, Ford Crown Victorias, and Toyota Avalons — mostly large, comfortable sedans. Now though, in a world where Cadillac sedans have gone all sporty and firm; Ford, Lincoln, and Buick have all stopped selling sedans; and the Toyota Avalon is no more, what modern vehicles are left to take the torch and ferry silver-haired AARP members to all of their doctor’s appointments?
All of the cars listed above shared a few commonalities that made them appealing to senior citizens, like big plush seats, a suspension tuned for comfort and comfort alone, relatively quiet interiors, and giant trunks. I imagine these kinds of cars appealed to elderly folks since they were reminiscent of the frankly awful American cars from the past, and they represented a familiar, spacious, and comfortable environment. Familiarity and simplicity are important to the older crowd since technological savviness isn’t often at the forefront of their skillsets, and they don’t have the patience or eyesight to navigate modern layered infotainment screens or a sea of tiny buttons.
All modern cars come fitted with some sort of infotainment screen, from the cheapest new cars on sale to the most expensive luxury automobiles, which may pose a problem for an older crowd. All things considered, I’d venture to guess that the current stereotypical old folks car is something made by Lexus, either the RX or the ES. The Lexus RX embodies many of the same attributes that big sedans used to, all with a more ergonomically accessible height that doesn’t require folks to climb up and out of a low-slung sedan. It’s quiet, has a roomy interior, a comfy ride, and a big cargo area. On the technology side, it’s not as simple as the older cars, with the prerequisite touchscreen controlling much of the vehicle functions, including the climate controls in up-level trims. This might be a detractor for some, but it’s basically the industry standard these days.
So I humbly come to you, Jalopnik audience, to learn more about the car buying habits of your grandparents, great aunts and uncles. Or maybe you volunteer at an old folks’ home and you see what’s trending in the parking garage. Either way, we want to know what you think are the stereotypical old people–owned new cars in the year 2024.