Are there any SUVs which offer good comfort for a back pain sufferer?

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Are there any SUVs which offer good comfort for a back pain sufferer?

I suffer with back problems and drive a Vauxhall Agila, which is fine, as was my brother’s Zafira. However, he now drives a Skoda Yeti in which I am often a passenger and, whilst his car is generally great, I find the front seat very uncomfortable. He is considering changing his car in the next few months and I was wondering if there were any Yeti-sized cars that had particularly easy access (high) and seats that have been reported as comfortable and easily adjusted, and were good to drive.

Asked on 24 March 2012 by JS, Yelverton

Answered by Honest John

The keys to a good front seat are a long squab and a backrest that does not pinch. Even very small cars like the Fiat 500 and Mazda 2 have long squabs and I could drive either indefinitely without pain. As soon as cars become shorter and taller, sacrifices have to be made, and it's often the lengths of the squabs.

But if you can go a bit bigger, to a Mazda 5 1.6d TS2 (on 205/55 R16 tyres), that is incredibly comfortable, as well as easy to enter and leave. In addition to its excellent ride comfort it steers and handles brilliantly, and seats seven at a pinch.

Tags: suvs back problems seating comfort ease of access

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Fiat 500 (2008 on)

Stylish and full of character. Really affordable to buy. Low running costs.

Mazda 2 (2003 - 2007)

Sportier, livelier and more fun to drive than the Fiesta on which it is based, easy access to the boot.

Skoda Yeti (2009 - 2017)

Unique styling. Solid build. Excellent petrol engines including frugal yet peppy 1.2 TSI. Good space in the back. Frugal 1.6 TDI Greenline can return 60mpg+.