We want to go down to one car. I am 80 years old, my wife is 73. We currently drive a 2015 BMW 328i wagon with 126,000 kilometres on it and a 2021 BMW X1 with 43,000 kilometres on it. Both are in very good condition and probably worth about $30,000 if we trade them in.
We need the safest senior-friendly car and have a budget, including our trade-ins, of about $60,000. I love BMW, but I’m not tied to the brand and I’m not a fan of the Korean brands. And my wife wants a heated steering wheel. – Dennis
Miranda Lightstone: It can be tough to downsize from a two- to one-car household, but Dennis has a healthy budget. He and his wife are in their seniors’ prime, too, so this is an opportunity for them to potentially find a vehicle that isn’t just practical but perhaps something they may not have considered in the past.
Mark Richardson: You mean, maybe they should splurge on something they’d really like, rather than just something they really need?
Lightstone: Precisely. They should enjoy their retirement years and that means splashing out on things they may not have in the past, such as a more luxurious vehicle.
Richardson: Always upselling – a propensity of youth. But I’ll agree that if Dennis is happy to spend $60,000 on one car, he deserves a nice one.
Lightstone: Why not look to an all-new Lexus NX350, which starts at just over $58,000?
Richardson: I think that’s too large of an SUV, coming from a sub-compact BMW X1. Also, that’s before taxes. Dennis will have to pay at least $65,000 to drive it out the door, though it will have a heated steering wheel.
Lightstone: You think a size smaller then?
Richardson: Yes – I’d suggest the Lexus UX, which is more on par for size with the BMW X1. It’s Lexus quality, but it’s also a hybrid and starts at $48,000 before tax. It values fuel efficiency over power, so it won’t be as dynamic a drive as the BMW, but that’s probably fine now for Dennis. If he wants to upgrade to the Luxury edition, he’ll get a bigger touchscreen and more speakers among the extra features and it’ll be an extra $5,500, nicely topping out the budget.
2023 Lexus UX HybridCourtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: They could also trade up for a new Mini Countryman, which would let them stay with their BMW dealership if they have a good relationship there. I think the Countryman’s ride height is perfect for getting in and out, and it’s a breeze to drive and park in urban settings. Even new it is on budget, starting just less than $50,000 before taxes. And it comes standard with a heated steering wheel.
Richardson: It is important for older drivers who may have creaky knees or hips to not have to dip too low when getting in and out of their vehicle. It’s one reason why SUVs are popular, with their taller ride height. The Countryman is an odd duck though. It’s a very large Mini, and it’s almost an SUV without really being an SUV. They’ll either love it or they’ll hate it – there’s no middle ground.
2023 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4Bernhard Filser/Courtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: True, Mini can be polarizing. And if they want to really change it up, there is even an electric version of the Countryman that manages to squeeze in at less than the $60,000 mark, but just barely and that’s before taxes.
Richardson: That’s also before any potential government rebates. We’re still waiting for the federal government to say when it will re-introduce the electric vehicle rebates it promised earlier this year. Because we don’t know if Dennis can plug in a car at home, I think we should stay away from suggesting anything electric.
Lightstone: Any Mini is a lot more fun to drive than a Lexus UX, though.
Richardson: That’s true, but they can also be a headache with their reliability. I think a pair of drivers in their senior years might prefer something more straightforward. Frankly, I don’t know why they don’t just keep the X1. It’s low-mileage and it’s only four years old, but maybe they’re running into issues with it and they don’t have an extended warranty. And I doubt it has a heated steering wheel.
Lightstone: If it’s comfort and a bit of luxury they are after, then we’d be remiss not to mention the Lincoln Nautilus. I’ve mentioned it in the past, as my father’s best friend drives one and raves about it. He prefers it over his wife’s Volvo XC40 any day.
Richardson: The Nautilus is a lovely, calm and rewarding vehicle, while the XC40’s features can be a bit complicated to operate. The compact Lincoln starts at $58,000 before taxes, though, which is over Dennis’s budget, and I think it’s again too large. I’d recommend the smaller Corsair, which starts at $48,295. You need to go up to the $55,000 Reserve edition for the heated steering wheel, though.
Lincoln CorsairSupplied
Lightstone: I found the Corsair felt too small for what it was, and not in the same interior-quality bracket as the Nautilus, either. It might sound cliche for an older driver, but what about something from Cadillac?
Richardson: Cadillac’s made a huge reset in recent years, to appeal to younger, sportier drivers, but it’s still a prestigious nameplate for comfort and performance. I think its smallest SUV, the XT4, would be a better choice than the Lincoln. The power and torque are a little lower, but it delivers a comfortable drive. And the heated steering wheel comes standard with the most basic $52,300 edition, before taxes – right on budget.
The Cadillac XT4 was refreshed for 2024 with a lighting design similar to the Lyriq.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: This is the last year of production for the XT4, isn’t it?
Richardson: Yes – it’s already ended. GM retooled the Kansas plant to make the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV there. It makes it a better deal though if you can still find one at a dealership, and there may be extra room for price negotiation or improved financing deals. The larger XT5 is still being manufactured.
Lightstone: Dennis and his wife have a good spread of vehicles to consider here, all offering something a little different but keeping in their budget and giving some luxurious flare. I think they’ll appreciate the reliability and fuel efficiency of the Lexus NX or the UX if they want something more compact.
Richardson: This is a competitive segment in Canada. There are plenty of models to choose from but for reliability, safety, comfort and value, the Lexus dealership would also be my first stop.
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