Things Manufacturers Don't Think About

Automakers rarely think about the needs of the disabled. I was having difficulty getting in and out of our vehicles.  Once in, I struggled with the seats. A longer trip was nearly impossible because of the pain that being inside of the vehicle caused. It became obvious that we needed to look for a different vehicle. I needed a vehicle with a seat height between 30 and 34 inches off the ground. So I embarked with my computer and a tape measure to find an appropriate vehicle for people with needs like mine.

Approaching a dealership was an interesting experience. Salespeople were not prepared for what I was there to do. They were convinced they could talk enough to get me to purchase a car right away. They were sure that the car I was looking at was perfect for people with disabilities. But I was not interested in their sales pitches. I was there for research.

My first goal was to find the vehicle that was the easiest to get into and out of. There are so many obstacles.  Doors that are too heavy, dashboards that protrude into the opening, seats built for setting in, but not getting into, steering wheels that are in the way, and distances between the rocker panel and the seat.

One would think that a mini van would be best for a person with disabilities. The doors are large, with few barriers.  Not so much. The distance between the rocker panel and the seat of the Toyota Sienna was the largest of any vehicle I measured. Unless you are able to climb into the vehicle and move all of the way to the seat, it becomes impossible. A seat that is twelve inches from the edge of the rocker panel is impossible.  Manufacturers try to overcome that gap by adding running boards. This provides another step to help a person get into such a vehicle.  But if climbing is a problem, it only adds to the problem.  Most SUV's add running boards, thinking they are being helpful, but not so much.

I was really interested in a Subaru, but they are hard to get into. Even their larger model, the Tribeca, was a problem.  In fact, the Tribeca was more difficult to climb in than the Outback.  The Buick Acadia, and it's twin Mazda MX9 were easy to enter and very comfortable to drive.  Unfortunately it didn't completely work for me.

Hands down, of all the vehicles that I tested, the Toyota Venza was the best.  Seat height was great, door opening was accessible, and the smallest rocker panel I found (only six inches from opening to the seat).  The second best vehicle, for so many reasons, was the Ford Explorer.  As long as there are no running boards, the Explorer had some exceptional details, which made it a perfect fit.  The seats move back and the steering wheel moves out of the way.  The seat height is perfect to slide into, and the number and kinds of adjustments available made it the best vehicle for me.

I am not a in the business of recommending cars.  I can only relay what I discovered with my computer and tape measure.  I would be interested in your thoughts on this matter because people with disabilities need this kind of counsel to help maintain our mobility.