Today’s the day: you’ve finally narrowed down the vehicle you want to buy. It has a sleek design, great mileage, and fits your budget perfectly. But after sitting inside the vehicle for the first time, you suddenly realize you forgot to factor in a big aspect during your test drive: drive comfort.
What Is Drive Comfort?
If you’ve ever browsed Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and other similar websites to look for a vehicle, then you’ve probably noticed how they score not just the performance of a vehicle, but also its comfort. This is because driving isn’t just about how many miles you’ve gone or how fast you’re going. It’s also about feeling comfortable in your ride.
Think about driving for several hours in a hot, cramped cabin with uncomfortable seats, and compare that to driving the same distance in a cool, spacious cabin with soft padded seats. You’ll most likely prefer the latter option, and it’s no surprise if you do.
A comfortable driving setup can make a huge difference in how you drive. It makes driving long distances more enjoyable, and you’ll feel more relaxed and focused, improving your safety whenever you’re on the road.
Several factors can affect your driving comfort, such as the seats, driving position, leg and lumbar support, and your vehicle’s entertainment system.
What Factors Affect Your Driving Comfort?
Peek inside your cabin and you’ll find that almost everything you see will factor into your driving comfort. However, you can start with these common factors:
Comfortable Seats
The right seats play an important role in making your drive comfortable, but it all depends on what you find comfortable. Do you prefer soft cushion seats or hard leather ones that provide more support?
Nowadays, most drivers are looking for seats that have more than just comfortable cushions. They want seats with adjustable lumbar and bolster support, heating and cooling abilities, and even massage features. These are some features you might want to consider yourself if you’re looking for a new vehicle.
Driving Position
A good driving position can do wonders for your driving comfort. If you’re sitting too close or too far from your steering wheel, your arms can tire out faster and make it harder to drive the rest of the way. This is where an adjustable steering column comes in.
With an adjustable steering column, you can set the perfect distance between you and the steering wheel. The exact distance will vary depending on the person, but you’ll typically want to make sure your elbows are slightly bent but still relaxed while holding your steering wheel.
Leg Support
To improve your driving position, you’ll want to make sure you also have good leg support. Do you have ample space for your feet, or are your legs raised too high?
When driving, your feet should be parallel to the road, with your knees only slightly bent and your thighs relaxed. If your knees are positioned higher than your backside, you’ll end up hurting your lower back. Ideally, your back shouldn’t lift from the seat just to reach the pedals.
Lumbar Support
If you drive to and from work, then you’ve probably had to sit through hours of traffic during rush hour. Sitting through traffic can get uncomfortable quickly, but a comfortable seat with good lumbar support can go a long way in making it a much more tolerable drive.
The best seats have adjustable lumbar support that you can fit perfectly to the curve of your lower back. If your seats don’t have built-in lumbar support, you can always purchase a lumbar support cushion of your own.
Entertainment System
Not all vehicles have a Bluetooth system, but it’s something most drivers look for in modern vehicles nowadays. A Bluetooth system lets you play music, answer calls, and access navigation apps without having to whip out your phone.
Some even have voice text messaging, so you can reply to any urgent texts without having to take your eyes off the road. It’s a great feature that not only makes things more convenient but also improves your focus by limiting distractions from your phone.
The 2023 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is one of the “Top 10 Most Comfortable Cars to Drive” according to US News. | Image source: Hyundai Media Center
How To Improve Your Driving Comfort
Contrary to popular belief, driving comfort doesn’t always have to come from luxurious upgrades. In most cases, you can find vehicles that already come with adjustable features that you can easily set according to your own preferences. You just have to know how to look for them when you’re on your test drive.
During your test drive, consider checking every seat in the vehicle and not just the driver’s seat. Do the rear seats have sufficient headroom? Are they too close to the front seats without enough leg space?
If you can, check on each of the factors previously mentioned. Most test drives last around 15 to 30 minutes, so you’ll have enough time to test the features most important to you.
What Are the Top 10 Most Comfortable Cars to Drive?
The market for comfortable cars has gotten more competitive than ever, but here are some of the current top candidates from US News you can consider:
If you’re looking for the best comfortable car for long-distance driving, Consumer Reports recommends the 2022 Honda Accord and 2022 Tesla Model 3. For family road trips, Consumer Reports suggests the 2022 Lexus RX and the 2022 Toyota Highlander as their most comfortable SUVs for long-distance driving.
Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, including research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. Lisa has written for Car Bibles and The Drive.
The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
