Space isn’t only important for passengers in your vehicle. Some drivers also need more space, especially when they are obese. And finding an SUV model that provides enough room for a bigger driver can be a challenge.
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Below are some of the top SUVs for obese drivers that need some extra room to be comfortable. They include models from the compact, midsize, and three-row crossover classes to fit your vehicle needs and budget along with their safety ratings to be extra secure in your choice.
Ford Flex
The Ford Flex is a good vehicle for drivers who need extra interior space, in the driver seat and behind. It has 55.5 inches of front hip room and 58.4 inches of front shoulder room.
With 83.2 cubic feet behind the front row and the ability to put down unused seats to make more space in the back, there’s no reason the driver won’t have all the room needed to be comfortable in the Ford Flex.
Along with plenty of room, the Flex has a safety rating of 8.7 from U.S. News & World Report. It also has a relatively low ground clearance of making it easy to get in and out of.
Mazda CX-5
The Mazda CX-5 is another good SUV model for obese drivers. Up front, it has 55.2 inches of front hip room and 57.1 inches of shoulder room.
When the second row of seating is folded down, the CX-5 has 59.6 cubic feet of cargo, which can also be used to provide extra space for the driver by sliding the seat back. Ergonomic keyboard without 10 key.
The U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) gives the CX-5 a safety rating of 9.9, including a superior rating in front crash prevention results, making it a safe car for any driver. It is also fuel efficient with a 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway rating with all-wheel-drive, and it’s fun to drive.
Ford Escape
The Escape, which is Ford’s compact SUV offering, offers seating for five. It has comfortable and supportive seats that can be manually adjusted for maximum comfort. For drivers, there are 55.9 inches of hip room and 56 inches of shoulder room.
With the second row of seating folded down, the vehicle has 68 cubic feet of cargo, allowing space o.
USNWR gives the Ford Escape an 8.6 safety rating.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is made with high-quality materials and lots of room up front and in cargo for a compact SUV. CR-V drivers get 55.1 inches of hip room and 57.9 inches of shoulder room.
The CR-V has 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row of seating folded down, giving it plenty of room for the driver as well as plenty of room for anything that needs to be put into the cargo area. The vehicle has a 9.9 safety rating by the U.S. News & World Report, including a superior rating in the front crash prevention results.
More great news is the CR-V is the most fuel efficient gas-powered compact SUV model with a fuel economy rating of 28-mpg city and 34-mpg highway with front-wheel drive. The CR-V’s most efficient engine is the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder version, which produces a relatively robust 190 horsepower.
Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent has three rows of seating, which provides the opportunity for extra space for the driver, passengers, and for hauling.
For the driver, the Ascent offers a spacious 57.7 inches of hip room and 61.1 inches of shoulder room. For carrying gear, with both rows of seats folded down, the Ascent offers an impressive 85.6 cubic feet of cargo space.
The USNWR gives the vehicle a 9.9 safety rating, including a superior rating in the front crash prevention results.
Considerations For Obese SUV Drivers
SUVs are a great choice for drivers who are overweight. They can offer more hip room, more shoulder room, and a better driver viewing position and are easier to get into and out of than many cars.
What’s even better is that obese drivers have a variety of quality SUV models to choose from in making their vehicle decision and they can drive their choice comfortably for years.
Just make sure the model doesn’t have too high of ground clearance and depending on size factors, it may be best to avoid the subcompact class.
So whether a few pounds overweight or more obese, drivers can still choose from compact, mid-size and larger models and enjoy the experience. For insights on used SUV models that are good fit for larger drivers, be sure to check out this previous article from our blog on best SUVs for obese people.