Last updated July 05, 2022
Finding a car suitable for tall drivers can be difficult, as reduced cabin space can make driving uncomfortable. When you’re hunting for a new car, it’s worth gauging whether there’s enough space and adjustment to get comfy alongside other things.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best cars for tall drivers. Some of these include the height of the driver, the seat height and the car’s interior dimensions. Tall drivers should be aware that some SUVs and sports cars may not be ideal, because of their high seating positions and limited interior space.
The Octavia offers plenty of room, whether you’re behind the wheel or in the back. The cabin is overwhelmingly big, offering plenty of headroom in the driver’s seat and great opportunities for legroom.
Even the entry level SE doesn’t feel like a standard car, offering electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, height adjustable front seats, rear parking sensors with manoeuvre assist, dual-zone climate control and auto lights and wipers. Upgrade to the SE-L to see keyless entry/go, front parking sensors, drive mode selector and 17” alloys.
Prices start at £24,750 for the SE, £28,555 for the SE L, and £34,860 for the VRS. Find out more about the Skoda Octavia, here.
One of the most popular SUVs in Europe, the key to the Tiguan’s popularity is that it feels like a stretched Golf on stilts. It’s pretty good for taller drivers due to its extra height and abundance of legroom.
The front headroom sits at 1,049mm and 1,012 mm in the rear, meaning that the Tiguan offers more space for your head than most cars in this class. However, it’s worth noting that fitting a sunroof eats into the headroom.
The R-Line Tech models come with a panoramic sunroof as standard, so bear this in mind. In what appears to be a theme for this feature, the rear seats slide backwards and forwards by up to 170mm to increase rear legroom or boot space.
The standard model begins at £26,410, with the Active at £29,100, the Life at £29,550, Elegance at £35,500 and the R-Line topping off the range at £35,935. Find out more about the Volkswagen Tiguan, here.
Thanks to its tall and upright stance, the Suzuki Ignis is great for even the tallest of drivers, despite its small appearance. What’s more, all Ignis models with the exception of the entry-level SZ3 feature a sliding rear seat that allows you to choose between extra legroom or a larger boot.
If you’re a fan of the bold exterior styling, you’ll love the adventurous interior, which is quite unlike any other city car. It may not feel like the most luxurious car in the world inside, but the Ignis is so well equipped that you’ll forget all about it.
The mid-spec SZ-T offers 16” alloys, air-conditioning, a rear parking camera, a digital display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The flagship SZ5 offers big car levels of kit for a small car price, plus the option of four-wheel drive.
The SZ3 starts from £14,749, jumping to £16,249 for the SZ-T and £17,249 for the SZ5. Find out more about the Suzuki Ignis, here.
Some would say the i30 isn’t the most exciting car on the market, but it offers more front headroom than most family hatchbacks, making it an ideal choice for tall people – there’s 30mm more headroom in the front than you’ll find in the earlier model. In the back, there’s room for three adults, and only the tallest passengers will have cause for complaint about the headroom.
The i30 comes with Hyundai’s five-year warranty too, meaning that even used models might be covered. Even the entry-level SE Connect features 16” alloys, as well as an 8” touchscreen including a trip computer. Upgrade to the N Line for 18” alloys for keyless entry/go and electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors.
The top of the range Premium even features a wireless phone charging pad.
Prices start at £20,441 for the SE Connect, £24,351 for the N Line and £23,391 for the Premium. Find out more about the Hyundai i30, here.
The Nissan Note is a useful, small car, but the tall upright and boxy dimensions create a cabin that’s high on space and practicality. On many models, the rear seats slide back and forth to deliver a choice of large boot space or maximum legroom.
If you choose the latter, the Note offers more rear seating space than some cars from the class above, making it perfect if you need lots of interior space, but don’t want your car to take up too much space on the road. Crucially, there’s loads of headroom for the driver and all passengers, while the tall stance makes it easy to enter and exit the car.
Five trim models are available, with the entry-level Acenta including cruise control, a trip computer, and alloy wheels. The mid-range Acenta Premium comes with a sliding rear bench, climate control, auto headlights and wipers, while the range-topping Tekna models see keyless entry/go and a 360-degree camera added to the standard kit.
Any options for the Nissan note on the market will be used as they aren’t made anymore, so prices will vary dependent on the condition of the car and the seller. Prices generally start from around £3000, with the top-level Tekna at around £10,000.
The XC60 offers more headroom than many of its rivals, so if you’re tall and looking for a comfortable car, this could be it. It’s fine for those in the back, too, but headroom is slightly more limited. A series of tweaks and upgrades has ensured that the XC60 has remained in production for nearly a decade.
Even the entry-level Core model is loaded with standard kit, making it great value for money. It features 18” alloys, a leather-clad steering wheel, 12” driver display and wireless phone charging. The Plus features heated front seats with lumbar support and memory settings – which is perfect for those sharing a car with someone whose height varies greatly from their own.
What’s more, each model comes with the option of a petrol/diesel engine or a hybrid, meaning there are more options for those of us trying to reduce our carbon footprint. Prices begin at £44,160 for the Core, £52,685 for Plus, and £61,465 for the Ultimate. Find out more about the Volvo XC60, here.
The Kuga is taller than most of its rivals, whilst a long wheelbase creates a roomy cabin. The amount of front and rear headroom is excellent, making the Kuga a great SUV for taller drivers and passengers. It is available as a plug-in hybrid, a full hybrid or with an EcoBoost petrol engine.
The entry-level Kuga trim is Zetec – this includes an 8” infotainment screen, front and rear parking sensors and a sat-nav. The luxury Vignale features a heated steering wheel, hands-free boot opening and active noise cancellation.
Prices begin at £28,755 for the Zetec, £30,655 for the Titanium, £32,455 for the ST-Line, £33,910 for the ST-Line X, and £35,210 for the Vignale. Find out more about the Ford Kuga, here.
With 1018mm of front headroom, the Mazda CX-5 offers more head space than many family SUVs of the same size. It also offers a car-like driving experience, so it’s the SUV you should buy if you want something that’s fun to drive.
The interior space didn’t come at the expense of luggage capacity, with the boot offering a class-leading 503 litres of space – more than the previously mentioned Ford Kuga. The entry-level SE-L model comes with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and LED headlights, so it’s pretty well equipped even in its most standard form. The top-spec GT Sport brings 19” alloys, heated electric seats with memory, dual-zone climate control and 360-degree cameras.
Grabbing a bargain can be tricky as the Mazda CX-5 is a popular car, with prices starting at £29,245 for the SE-L. The Newground starts at £30,245, the Sport Edition at £31,690, the Sport Black at £34,170, and the GT Sport at £34,745. Find out more about the Mazda CX-5, here.