Henry JohnsonFalling in love with your dream car can have the same pitfalls as falling in love with a person. Sure, you’re irresistibly attracted to it—but that doesn’t mean it’s right for you. Until luxury brands start offering their most popular models in XS and XL, you’ll have better luck with these best cars for short and tall drivers.
For Short Drivers
Porsche Cayman
Whatever phrasing you prefer—“vertically challenged,” “compact,” “fun-size”—drivers with less height have a long list of things to consider when looking at a new car: visibility, audio controls, steering wheel adjustment, seatbelt height, and so on. Luckily, a Cayman can accommodate you with speed and style. Porsche has an Adaptive Sports Seat Plus with electric 18-way seat adjustment.
Lexus ES
Shorter drivers need, above all, to feel safe. The ES comes standard with forward collision warning, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and pedestrian detection. The seats have 10-way adjustability. Owners don’t have far to reach with the infotainment controls on the steering wheel—which features both tilt and telescoping abilities.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
There are full-size perks for petite drivers in the S-Class, a luxury experience no one should miss out on. Once again, the secret is in the seats. These can both be heated and cooled, and they adjust 16 ways. The car remembers your preferred settings too. If you get tired of driving, you can also equip it with a semi-autonomous system.
For Tall Drivers
BMW 7 Series
The 7 series has one of the most indulgent interiors around, including an “Ambient Air Package” with eight fragrances to choose from. Taller drivers won’t have to cram in to enjoy it; they can count on 41.4 inches of legroom and 39.9 inches of headroom. It’s spacious with a smooth ride, and the vertically blessed won’t have any trouble reaching the intuitive touch screen.
Tesla Model X
Who knew that all-electric could feel so expansive? The Model X feels even more open because of its windshield, which curves up into the roof. Taller drivers will enjoy 41.2 inches of legroom and 41.7 inches of headroom. On a full charge, you can expect a 328-mile range. If you want to use Tesla’s standard Autopilot package, you can focus on the 17-inch touch screen and make good use of the Wi-Fi hotspot.
Cadillac Escalade
You might not be able to guess all the best cars for short and tall drivers, but this one is a no-brainer. The hulking Escalade boasts 45.3 inches of glorious legroom and 42.8 inches of headroom. The luxury SUV is big all over: big passenger space, big storage, and big power. If you have trouble keeping track of it all, Cadillac helps with a surround-view camera system, as well as parking assist with front and rear sensors.
