CUV thing for inlaws

[Blueprint]

The thing that confuses me is the reference to adjusting airbags and I didn't even know that was a thing.

How about you describe the parents a bit more, give some top features they would want, and maybe a rough budget.

There are loads of CUV options, every car maker has multiple offerings. 

I just helped a friend test drive vehicles a couple of weekends ago.  She drove the new RAV4, Forrester, CX-5, and CR-V.  Honestly all of them were good options and I could understand why a person would pick one over the other.  She narrowed it down to the Subie and Mazda and ended with with the Subie.

Fozzie another good option for older folks. Big windows, easy access, tidy size. Noisy drivetrain though. Next week I'll finally have an e-boxer in my hands, Crosstrek, so looking forward to see if the hybrid improved NVH and urban fuel economy.

RAV4 another good option, similar in size / squareness to the Journey.

And I will dare say it: older folks may very well like a Terrain. My rental unit was horrible, but my presser was a smooth operator, riding like a lead sled. Power seats mandatory to get lumbar support. An Elevation with this and a few options may make sense for them.

Or... Wanna go cheap and have a solid warranty? Mitsubishi. The Rogue is super-comfy for seniors, but will grenade its engine. So the Outlander cousin with the Mitsu engine can make sense. An Eclipse Sport is similar, but smaller. Will feel less "space age" for seniors than most newer cars.

[Tortoise]

I don't think I have driven more than maybe one or two vehicles with that feature ever in my life and not once in the past decade.  Is this a feature that is common on premium vehicles or just domestic stuff and mentioned above. 

My 2003 F-150 had them, and oddly, so did the second generation Taurus. I think it's a really good idea from a safety perspective, but I get why there's limited benefit for the additional cost.

My wife is 5"1 and she has to sit really close to the wheel, adjustable pedals would really help.

[Fobroader]

So....you and the wife are tired of them driving around in their Journey.  But, are they? 

Is it starting to give mechanical issues, or anything to give reason other than 'you're tired of it'?

I only ask because I feel like old folks can be finicky and set in their ways.

Its utterly uncomfortable for my FIL. He has a bad back and knees. We went for a long drive in my truck and the wife's Lexus and he was perfectly fine. I was stuck in that horrible thing for an hour drive once and I had a hell of a time getting out of it after driving it. I'm just tired of him being absolutely crippled for a day or two after getting to our house, they borrowed one of the MILs sisters Kia Sorento and he was fresh as a daisy, but those things are piles as she's on her second engine and that one is starting to use oil like a two stroke.

[Fobroader]

That sucks, I was kind of thinking its a big SUV thing and they want nothing to do with a Expedition or something. I'm just really worried about both of them, the MIL with the suicide distance of the airbag and the FIL with the physical ailments. She's 5' tall, so I would like something with memory settings so they can switch back and forth easily and have something with power seats so he can easily adjust into a different position and heated seats as he said he really liked that in our vehicles. I will have a look at Mitsu, as I haven't been to a dealer since I was working on our Montero. Thanks all for the assistance as I have no idea about anything in this class.

[Fobroader]

Chevy Trax or Buick Envista. Both excellent values, cheap to buy and cheap to run. If fwd won't do, then Trailblazer / Encore GX.

For a bit more coin, Mazda CX-5.

You realize who asked this question right?  Fobroader buying a 3 banger?

Wait, is there a super secret CUV with a supercharged LS that I don't know about haha 

[Johnnymac]

The mid trim Mazda CX-5 has memory seats and seemed to be a fair value for what you get and they had some promotions on the month before, $500 off and a bit lower interest rate.

It might just come down to which vehicle is the best compromise for the two of them and allows your MIL to survive an airbag deployment and your FIL an extended road trip.