As much as car manufacturers try to make cars suitable for all shapes, sizes and ages, not every car can offer the kind of attributes that make life a little easier. What will suit a 20-year-old tearaway may well be an annoyance to an older driver and make life more difficult than it should be.

Given the proliferation of cars on sale today, with a vast choice of body styles, trim packages and mechanicals, choosing what is best for you could be a real head scratcher.

Here are some areas to consider when thinking about your next car, which should also help to make it an enjoyable experience.

Comfort

A crucial factor for any buyer, comfort must also be a priority for more senior drivers. Driver fatigue can occur more readily in a car with lower comfort levels, as well as the potential for aggravating any inherent medical conditions.

Volvos and Saabs are well noted for their excellent seat design, often to orthopaedic specifications. Those on a tighter budget may want to consider cars that come with a sports seat option, as they tend to have bigger side bolsters that offer greater support. A greater range of adjustment also makes it easier to find a comfortable driving position – seat height adjustment, steering wheel reach and rake adjustment are a big help, while the Jaguar S-Type even has the option of electrically adjustable pedals.

General comfort levels are also import-ant. Generally speaking, the larger the car the greater the level of refinement due to reductions in wind and engine noise.

Ease of entry

This is potentially the most difficult situation in the whole spectrum of car ownership, with reduced mobility rendering some cars effectively out of bounds. Thankfully, the increase in niche vehicles and cars outside traditional body shapes do mean there are more cars with taller bodies, which often make entry and exit easier.

Taller cars like the Ford Fusion, Renault Kangoo, Vauxhall Agila and Fiat Panda remain at the smaller end of the scale while still offering an upright shape. Bigger cars such as full size MPVs and off-roaders also benefit from higher ride height and seating position, which usually requires occupants to slide into the seat rather than climb down in a conventional car.

At the top of the market, cars like the Range Rover are available with air suspension that can be lowered or raised to the benefit of those inside. The Range Rover and more modern cars also offer electric steering wheel adjustment which can be set to move up and out of the way when the ignition key is removed, increasing the amount of space for an exiting driver. Choosing a taller car is also likely to mean a higher boot floor. Getting a car with a floor at the right height should remove the need to bend down to unload luggage and avoid a high lift to put items in.

Running costs

If the car is being used mostly for short journeys, you may be better off choosing a small petrol engine rather than a diesel. Many modern diesel cars are fitted with diesel particulate filters (DPF) to achieve very low emissions, but without extended journeys these tend to clog and cause problems.

Choosing the right specification vehicle is also important. Go for a car with larger alloy wheels and tyres. The rubber will be more expensive to replace when they wear out, as well as the alloys being susceptible to kerb damage.

Ease of use

Choosing a car without unnecessary complication will make life much easier for senior motorists, though, unfortunately, not all manufacturers believe that simplification is a desirable goal.

In terms of the interior layout, choosing a car with clear, analogue dials is likely to be easier to read than one with digital instruments, while night time illumination is clearest if coloured red or green. Another useful feature worth looking for is adjustable instrument illumination, to help reduce dazzle.

Cars with rotary controls rather than buttons also tend to be easier to operate, as well as reducing the visual clutter of the centre console.

Visibility is also a crucial factor, especially for those who may have restricted movement. Large door mirrors and upright windscreens and tailgates mean clear vision, while options such as parking sensors or even reversing cameras can take the stress out of tricky manoeuvres.

Mechanicals

For town driving, an automatic gearbox is a boon, removing the need for constant left leg and left arm actions. Automatics are also easier to drive during slow speed manoeuvres by using the ‘creep’ characteristic inherent in true automatic gearboxes. Smaller cars tend to have ‘automated manual’ units, however, which don’t always have this feature.

In terms of engine choice, diesels offer a more relaxed driving style thanks to their low revving nature and high torque levels at low engine speeds. Front wheel drive cars will have more foot room in the rear seats thanks to the lack of a transmission tunnel, although a four-wheel drive car will be of use if wintry or extreme weather conditions are often encountered.