Hi Mark and Miranda,
We are in the market for a used car for our 18-year-old son so that he can drive to work and university (approximately 45 kilometres each way on the highway). He is currently driving our 2010 Toyota Camry with 155,000 kilometres. We feel the current car is good for local driving, but because of its age, we’re worried about the longer-distance daily driving.
We’re looking for something low maintenance, with good fuel efficiency and which won’t cost too much to repair if necessary and to insure. Here’s the catch: our son is six-foot-three and weighs 250 pounds. He probably won’t fit in a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic.
Our other two cars are a 2018 Toyota Highlander and a 2017 Toyota Corolla (our other son drives this car), but we are not fixed on another Toyota (we just gravitate to what’s worked well in the past). We don’t have a fixed budget but would like to be financially prudent, as insurance for two young male drivers is already quite hefty. – Maggie
Mark Richardson: Two grown sons, starting to drive – I can sympathize. My two boys are in their later 20s now, but this is something you still have to look forward to, isn’t it Miranda?
Miranda Lightstone: It is. And coming up sooner than I’m prepared for as he turns 14 this month. Even at this age, he is already hitting five-foot-10, so could potentially face the same fitment issues.
Richardson: My nephew Christopher is a lofty six-foot-seven, so I asked him if he’s comfortable in his 2023 Kia Forte GT. He texted back to say, “I’m fairly comfortable. I have the legroom maxed out and the seat as low as it goes. I’ve driven short trips and very long trips (Las Vegas to Denver was the longest at around 10 hours), and I’ve always arrived feeling fine.”
Lightstone: Ten hours sitting in any car is a good test of its seats and suspension.
Richardson: He added that he can’t slide his driver’s seat forward to make extra space for anyone sitting behind him, but did say that “I test drove a few similar-size compact sedans and Kias and Hyundais were by far the best. The worst that I remember was the Nissan Sentra.” So let’s rule out a Sentra for Maggie.
Lightstone: Space behind the driver’s seat is definitely an issue for taller drivers. My ex is six-foot-one and no one was ever able to sit behind him in our 2005 Subaru WRX. Funnily enough, he swapped the Rex out for a 2014 Fiat 500 Abarth and found it quite comfortable and roomy for him as the driver, even with a toddler in the back behind the passenger seat.
Richardson: Based on my nephew’s experience, I’d recommend a Kia Forte for Maggie. A used model from around 2022 should cost around $20,000. That car’s out of production now and was replaced by the Kia K4 sedan, which was certainly comfortable for me – I’m a hair under six feet and a few hairs over 200 pounds.
2022 Kia ForteCourtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: I come in at a diminutive five-foot-two on a good day; however, carting around my tall and lanky teenager has provided some insight. I agree the Kia is an option, but wouldn’t dismiss the Corolla as Maggie thinks she should. While the hatchback offers a minimal headroom difference up front, the sedan is a clear winner in rear legroom over the hatchback. That could help with legroom up front, with more room to adjust the front seat into the back.
Richardson: I’ll mention that she might want to avoid a car with a sunroof, because that lowers the ceiling and takes away headroom.
Lightstone: Agreed. Maggie mentioned higher insurance costs, which is a concern for a younger male driver. Factors such as theft rates and even vehicle type – sedans are often cheaper than coupes, for example – can make a difference in the overall yearly rate. The Civic and Corolla continue to be the cheapest in Canada, but what do you think about the Subaru Impreza?
Richardson: I like that the Impreza is one of the lowest-cost all-wheel-drive sedans on the market, but I can’t vouch for its overall comfort for larger people. I don’t think it’s anything special, though a used model that’s shown no mechanical problems might be a safe buy.
2022 Subaru ImprezaCourtesy of manufacturer
Lightstone: The Impreza is not the fanciest inside or out from a design perspective, but it does have more upfront headroom and legroom than a Corolla and Civic. It’s definitely not the roomiest in the segment, though. Do you know which one is?
Richardson: I’ll guess, based on my nephew’s comments, that it’s the Hyundai Elantra.
Lightstone: Bingo! It has the best headroom in its class, while the Impreza wins in upfront legroom. But it’s about more than just space for legs and a head – overall weight and size has to be considered. Many higher-trim models come equipped with a Comfort Entry feature where the seat and steering wheel move back and out of the way as soon as the driver door is opened, making way for lanky legs and larger frames.
2021 Hyundai ElantraRichard Warrington/Courtesy of manufacturer
Richardson: That feature is wasted on a tall driver. The seat and steering wheel will never need to move from the farthest position.
Lightstone: Ah, but you’re wrong. Tall drivers bring the steering wheel close to the driver to compensate for the seat all the way back, which makes for a solid knee/thigh bruiser getting in and out.
Richardson: I don’t think Maggie is too concerned for spending the extra money on convenience features. She values fuel efficiency and reliability far more, and quite correctly. Hence the Highlander and Corolla already in the family. I’d recommend just keeping the current Camry because it’s probably less than half-way through its life, but if she wants to trade it in, how about a newer Camry?
Lightstone: The new Camry is definitely a step up from the Corolla with much more interior space front and back. I just drove the XLE AWD plug-in hybrid version and was averaging 6.5 litres per 100 kilometres, so it can be extremely good on fuel. My concern there would be that Maggie will want it for herself and her son will end up with the Corolla.
2020 Toyota Camry AWDDoug Firby/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: I would also recommend the Camry, though Maggie’s looking for a used model. Toyotas hold their value well, but there are plenty of Camry sedans to be found at reasonable prices. Financial prudence suggests she should trade their 2010 model for a lower-mileage, previous-generation from around 2021, when its design was refreshed. It’ll probably cost around $25,000 and then everyone will be happy – especially if the newer Camry isn’t beige.
Lightstone: My first car was beige and somehow it felt like a rite of passage. That being said, I think the Hyundai Elantra should be first to check on their shortlist. It ticks all the size-requirement boxes and is trendy enough for someone her son’s age.
Richardson: And I’ll opt for the Kia Forte, because it’s proven so capable for my tall nephew. But I don’t think they’ll go wrong with a Toyota Camry, either.
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