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3 Types of Vehicles Boomers Should Consider Buying in 2025
Andrew Lisa
January 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The oldest baby boomers are in their 70s. Even the youngest are in their early 60s and, therefore, are at or near retirement age and have the senior status that comes with it. Despite the internet’s best efforts, it’s impossible to identify one vehicle model or another that anyone can say is best for boomers since they, like all demographics, are individuals with unique needs and wants.
However, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) outlined the features that older drivers should look for, no matter what kind of vehicle they’re considering. They include easy in-and-out accessibility, good visibility, comfort, modern safety and convenience features, and, of course, affordability — in terms of both the purchase and ongoing long-term ownership costs.
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While no one model is right for boomers as a generation, these three types of vehicles might be the best place to start looking.
Also see six money moves boomers should make before buying a new car.
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Sedans
Once the king of the highway, the classic sedan is being pushed toward extinction by the crossover SUV revolution.
However, standard-issue cars might just be the perfect type of vehicle for baby boomers, thanks to their accessibility, driveability and affordability.
Nearly all of the top 20 entries on Car and Driver’s list of the cheapest cars of 2025 are sedans, with nearly half coming in at under $25,000.
Here are a few specific sedans to consider.
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Nissan Versa
- 2025 starting MSRP: $18,330
The Nissan Versa remains the most affordable car on the road after the Mitsubishi Mirage, which, with three cylinders and 78 horsepower, isn’t qualified to serve as a functioning road vehicle for anything but running local errands.
The Versa, on the other hand, is a bona fide sedan that gets an eight out of 10 from Car and Driver for its affordable upfront price, low operating costs and impressive lineup of features for the cost.
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Toyota Camry
- 2025 starting MSRP: $29,835
KBB ranked the Toyota Camry as the No. 1 vehicle for seniors in 2024, calling it “one of the best midsize cars ever.” It’s known as a safe, roomy, dependable sedan that is good on gas, makes infrequent and inexpensive trips to the service shop, and can rack up hundreds of thousands of miles without real issues.
Honda Accord
- 2025 starting MSRP: $29,445
KBB said it was a toss-up between the Honda Accord and the Camry for the title of the best overall vehicle for seniors — and for all the same reasons. The comparably priced Accord is a safe, reliable, roomy and good-looking car that seniors can depend on not to rack up steep long-term ownership bills.
Trucks
A 2024 Insurify study found that while young Gen Zers are gravitating toward smaller cars, boomers are flocking to trucks — the Ford F-Series, in particular.
Trucks are rugged, capable and powerful, but models in the vaunted F-Series — and the Chevy Silverados that boomers also love — are expensive. The 2025 F-150 starts at $39,345, and the 2025 Silverado isn’t much less at $37,645.
Boomers could consider the following, more affordable alternatives.
Ford Maverick
- 2025 starting MSRP: $27,990
Unless they truly need a full-size pickup, boomers — particularly Ford loyalists — could consider the F-150’s little brother, the Maverick.
Car and Driver gives it a perfect 10 out of 10 rating, touting its remarkable utility for such a small package, which is far more manageable for aging boomers than the full-size alternative.
Hyundai Santa Cruz
- 2025 starting MSRP: $30,100
For boomers who are willing — or hoping — to make a sporty statement without abandoning their pickup truck loyalties, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is a blended vehicle that provides the comfort, convenience and refined ride of an SUV with the trademark bed of a truck. Car and Driver gives it a stellar nine out of 10 rating.
Small Crossovers
There are plenty of reasons modern drivers are abandoning old-school sedans in droves. Crossovers are smaller, easier to park and more fuel-efficient than SUVs, but they also offer more cargo space and functionality than traditional cars.
Boomers who want the best of both worlds could consider the two following small crossovers that KBB ranks near the top of the list among all vehicles that are perfect for seniors, both of which fall under the same nameplate.
Honda CR-V
- 2025 starting MSRP: $31,495
Car and Driver gives the compact crossover Honda CR-V a perfect rating for its excellent build quality, good handling and a long list of standout features — all of which spells good news for older drivers.
Honda HR-V
- 2025 starting MSRP: $26,795
The HR-V is a smaller crossover with a smaller price tag, but it still delivers the big-time reliability that made Honda famous and a fuel economy that will keep fragile nest eggs intact. Car and Driver rates it an eight out of 10, citing its roomy, high-quality cabin and its long list of safety features that boomers must consider dealbreakers for anything on their shortlists.
Editor’s note: All 2025 starting MSRPs were sourced from Car and Driver.
