I'm A Tall Driver That Likes Small Cars! What Should I Buy?

Greg is a tall guy at six foot six and 250 pounds, he currently drives a Kia Rio that is surprisingly comfortable for his frame. However, he wants something that sits a little higher off the ground for easier entry/exit, but doesn’t want a giant truck. With a $20,000 budget, what car should he buy?

The Mitsubishi Galant Managed to Be Generic and Jaunty

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Here is the scenario.

I’m 6’6″/250, and have always (happily) driven small cars. I currently have a little Kia Rio I got for a good price. Does its job. I like the economy and maneuverability of smaller cars in urban and suburban situations, and I find driver space doesn’t have anything to do with car size.

However, I am reluctantly considering a larger vehicle, and by larger I mean higher off the ground. My issue with cars isn’t that they’re too small, but that they’re too low. With bad knees and occasional back issues, it can be hard to fold myself in and out of such a low car.

My driving needs are “Civic” and my comfort needs are “Silverado”. The only thing that keeps me from going straight to a full-size pickup or SUV is that it’s hard for me to justify 15-20 mpg — especially since I don’t need the towing/hauling capabilities.

It’s hard to find advice for very tall drivers. I’ve searched a lot, and most “tall” drivers are like 6’2. That is legitimately tall — and I know a bunch of people teller than me — but inches matter when you’re working at the edges.

I suspect this puts me in CRV or RAV4 range, but I’m concerned about driver space. And I can’t decide if compact SUVs are a best-of-both-worlds situation or are too much compromise to do anything well. So side question: am I better off with a big vehicle and a small vehicle, or with one vehicle that tries to blend them?

For me, the two most important features a car can have are 1) runs and 2) paid for. So luxury, performance, etc., are not high priorities. A car that can hit 200-300k miles is way more impressive to me than a low 0-60 time.

* Higher-off-the-ground riding position (easier for a big tall guy to get in and out of)

* Enough space for my frame. The Rio has 40″ of driver headroom, and that’s enough. I’m all legs. Even at 250 lbs I’m not particularly wide. I have the build of an old basketball player.

* High reliability. I want to reasonably expect a couple 100k miles out of this thing.

* As much fuel economy as I can squeeze out of a large enough vehicle.

* Room for me plus 3 passengers. It’s mostly just me, but the ability to take the family somewhere would be useful. The kids qualify as tall, but won’t be nearly my size.

Quick Facts:

Budget: $20,000

Location: Austin, TX

Daily Driver: Yes

Wants: Higher ride, comfortable for a taller person, respectable MPG

Doesn’t want: Something massive

Expert 1: Tom McParland – Just A Little Bigger

Image: Autotrader.com

Greg, at your size finding the right car can certainly be a challenge especially if you don’t want to drive a giant truck around. Based on some quick research a Rio has front legroom of 42 inches and headroom of about 40 inches. If you want to maintain that small car usage and gas mileage but have something with a bit more ride height, the Kia Niro might be the answer.

With a headroom of 40.5 inches and legroom of 41.5 inches, it’s pretty close to your current car, but the Niro being a weird combo of crossover/hatchback/wagon sits up a few inches higher. It also has a hybrid powerplant as the standard option that returns up to 50 MPG. Finding a Niro hybrid, under twenty grand without higher miles isn’t easy, but here is a Kia Certified example with under 50,000 miles for under $19,000.

Expert 2: Collin Woodard – Small-ish Car, High-ish Seat Height

Photo: United Auto Group

Well, well, well, Greg. Looks like those of us of average height finally have one thing on you Talls. You may be busy dunking all the basketballs and dating doctor-models, but I can fit in a Miata, and you can’t, so booyah! I mean, thank you for choosing Jalopnik to advise you as you begin the difficult process of deciding which car to buy.

Normally, I’d recommend a Mini Cooper. Logan Carter is also 6’8” and loves his, so how could I not steal the answer he would have already given if he didn’t live on the West Coast and work later hours? If you’re already tired of getting in and out of your Kia Ria, though, I don’t know if a Mini is the answer. So how do we keep your car small while also ensuring the seating is tall? The Toyota Crown might fit the bill, but it’s too expensive and also probably too big.

The Crown isn’t the only lifted car that you can buy, though. Because this is Jalopnik, I say you should treat yourself to a nice, used Volvo S60 Cross Country. Compared to your Rio, it’ll be incredibly comfortable and come with all kinds of new features. It also has room for four without being too big. And with a crossover-like ride height, it should be much easier for you to get in and out of.

The good news is, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a Volvo S60 Cross Country for less than $20,000. The bad news is, for some reason, the idea of a lifted luxury sedan didn’t exactly resonate with customers, so there aren’t a lot of them for sale, and there aren’t really any in your area. If you’re willing to look a little further, maybe check out this listing in Albuquerque for a 2016 model with 78,000 miles for $14,450.

Expert 3: Logan Carter – Advice From The Only Writer Taller Than You

Hey Greg, it’s nice to hear from someone else who’s truly tall. Nothing grinds my gears like when someone who’s 6’1 starts complaining about needing more space; I’m six-foot-eight, 230 pounds, and I’m all legs too. I have a recommendation for you that will offer a good bang for your buck, though I have to admit I’m not certain it will have enough room up front for you. Fortunately, I have a backup that will definitely fit you.

As strange as this suggestion is, I think you should look into a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or Eclipse Cross. Your price cap will get you into a newer model year Mitsubishi than most other cars, which will afford you and your family greater safety as well as convenience features. The Outlander Sport is not a sporty car, it’s basically gonna equate to a Rio hatchback that’s been lifted a few inches, but that sounds about perfect for what you’re looking for. Edmunds says that the Outlander Sport has 39.4-inches of front-seat head room and 41.6-inches of leg room, so on paper it’s comparable to your current car’s space, but as a tall person I know measurements don’t always directly equate to real-world room. Always sit in a car before you buy it.

Another benefit to buying a used Mitsubishi is the transferrable 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a transferrable 5-year or 60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, so getting a newer car with lower miles means you get more time covered under these warranties. That said, from tall person to tall person, the only cars in your price range that I can say for certain has enough space for big folk like us are Subarus. I recommended the Mitsubishi first because Subaru resale values are strong and you won’t be able to find a low-mileage Crosstrek or Outback for under $20,000. If all else fails, go for a Subaru.

I think a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport like this sub-40,000-mile 2022 example for sale in Round Rock, Texas will suit you and your needs quite nicely while retaining the peace of mind of thousands of miles of warranty coverage left. It’s a 2022 model which means you get heated seats and a backup camera, and automatic emergency braking as an extra safety net. This one is AWD which might be overkill for your needs, but I liked the color. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I think I solved your car buying dilemma; I really hope this helps big guy! Best of luck to you and your family.

Expert 4: Bradley Brownell – The Unorthodox Choice

Image: Carfax.com

OK, I’m not as tall as Logan, but I’m 6’2″ and most of my height is in my torso, so headroom is occasionally a problem for me. I think your best bet for a nice daily commuter is to find the best second-gen Scion xB in the world and drive it until the inevitable heat death of the universe. This vehicle was explicitly built for exactly what you need, the seat height is relatively high, which was a big selling point among senior drivers, who didn’t want to lower themselves down into a car. They call this “h-point” and that’s the xB’s biggest selling point.

This example isn’t necessarily the one you want, but it’s bright blue and caught my eye. This one is way under your budget at $6,791 with 159,000 miles on the odometer. I’m almost positive you can find a nicer example with fewer miles, and possibly even a manual transmission. All of the U.S. examples were sold with a 2.4-liter Toyota 2AZ-FE engine, also found in the ubiquitous Camry. The car will last longer than you will if you take care of it. And it gets over 30 miles per gallon on the highway. It’s perfect!