When it comes to choosing a car, tall people have a much harder time than those of average height.
Being tall in a car isn’t just jokes about knees touching your ears. In practice, it’s much more mundane and unpleasant: your head hits the ceiling, the steering wheel is too far away, there’s not enough legroom, and the seating position is uncomfortable. And the problem isn’t limited to tiny sports cars. Even a seemingly spacious sedan or crossover can be uncomfortable if it has poorly shaped seats, a small door opening, or a sunroof that eats up precious centimeters of headroom. And it’s not just about height itself, but also body proportions. That’s why one driver who is 6’4″ can sit comfortably, while another wants to get out after five minutes and never come back. There are models where such situations happen especially often.
How to Choose a Car for a Tall Driver: What to Look for When You’re Big
The main mistake is relying solely on numbers in the specifications. Manufacturers list headroom and legroom, but real comfort also depends on seat shape, steering wheel telescoping range, seating angle, and even whether there’s a sunroof. Sometimes two cars with identical interior dimensions feel completely different, and a lot comes down to basic cabin ergonomics.
Problems most commonly arise in three situations:
- if the seat can’t slide far enough back;
- if the steering wheel doesn’t telescope out far enough;
- if the sunroof or roof shape reduces headroom.
It’s also important to remember that at heights above 6’3″–6’5″, you usually have to push the seat way back, and if the seat is in a comfortable position for you, there may simply be no room left in the rear row.
Below are models that most frequently cause such problems for tall drivers.
12 Cars That Most Often Turn Out to Be Too Tight for Tall Drivers
Despite normal space figures, a tall driver often has to push the seat too far back. After that, the steering wheel ends up far away, and the knees are still close to the dashboard. Additionally, weak thigh support makes the seating position feel unnatural. If there’s a sunroof, your head may hit the ceiling.
Kia K4 — cramped due to seating position and short steering column. Image source: jalopnik.com
On paper, everything looks fine, but in practice tall people often find the seating length insufficient. Those with long legs have to push the seat far back, making the rear row useless. Some drivers around 6’3″ have no issues, but taller than that — complaints start appearing.
Buick Encore GX — comfort depends on body proportions. Image source: buick.dealerleads.com
The Civic is considered spacious for its class, but a tall driver almost always pushes the seat all the way back. This makes the rear row cramped, and with a sunroof, headroom decreases. Many note that the steering wheel doesn’t telescope out far enough, forcing you to sit closer than you’d like.
Honda Civic — comfortable only without a sunroof. Image source: hondanews.ca
A low roof, short wheelbase, and sporty seating position make the BRZ uncomfortable for tall people. The seat can be moved back, but then the rear row becomes purely nominal. At heights above 6’5″, there usually isn’t enough room even up front.
Subaru BRZ — a classic coupe problem. Image source: bluerecordstudio.com
The new Leaf has become more spacious, but problems remain. Tall drivers are bothered by the placement of mirrors and pillars, which create a large blind spot. To see the road, you have to lean forward, which quickly becomes tiring.
Nissan Leaf — odd ergonomics and visibility. Image source: cbtnews.com
The compact roadster has always been tight, but for tall drivers it’s especially uncomfortable. The seat has almost nowhere to slide back, the roof is low, and the seating position is constrained.
