Greg is a big guy, 6’6″ and weighs 250 pounds. He currently drives a Kia Rio, which is surprisingly comfortable for his frame. However, he wants something a little higher to make it easier to get in and out of, but he doesn’t want a huge truck. What car should he buy on a $20,000 budget?

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Here is the scenario.

I’m 6’6″ and weigh 250 pounds and have always driven small cars (and enjoyed them). I currently have a small Kia Rio that I got cheap. It does the job. I like the economy and maneuverability of smaller cars in the city and suburbs, and I find that the space for the driver has nothing to do with the size of the car.

However, I am reluctantly considering a larger vehicle, and by larger I mean higher off the ground. My problem with cars is not that they are too small, but that they are too low. With bad knees and occasional back problems, it can be difficult to bend in and out of a car that low.

My driving needs are “Civic” and my comfort needs are “Silverado.” The only thing holding me back from going straight to a full-size pickup or SUV is that I have a hard time justifying 15-20 mpg – especially since I don’t need the towing/hauling capabilities.

It’s hard to find advice for very tall riders. I’ve done a lot of searching and most “tall” riders are around 6’2″. That’s really tall – and I know a lot of people taller than me – but when you’re working on the edges, inches matter.

I suspect that puts me in the CRV or RAV4 category, but I’m concerned about space for the driver. And I can’t decide if compact SUVs offer the best of both worlds or are too compromised to do anything good. So a side question: Am I better off with one large and one small vehicle, or one that tries to do both?

For me, the two most important things about a car are 1) it runs and 2) it’s paid for. So luxury, performance, etc. are not high priorities. A car that can do 200,000-300,000 miles is much more impressive to me than a slow 0-60 acceleration.

* Seating position higher off the ground (easier entry and exit for tall, stature-heavy people)

* Enough room for my build. The Rio has 40 inches of headroom for the driver, and that’s plenty. I’m all legs. Even at 250 pounds, I’m not particularly broad. I have the build of an old basketball player.

* High reliability. I can certainly expect this thing to make it a few hundred thousand miles.

* As much fuel economy as I can get from a sufficiently large vehicle.

* Room for me and three other passengers. Most of the time I’m alone, but the ability to take the family somewhere would be handy. The kids are considered tall, but won’t be anywhere near my height.

Quick facts:

Budget: 20,000 US dollars

Location: Austin, Texas

Daily Driver: Yes

Wishes: Higher seating position, comfortable for tall people, respectable fuel consumption

Do not want: Something massive

Expert 1: Tom McParland – Just a little bit bigger

Greg, at your size, finding the right car can be a real challenge, especially if you don’t want to drive around in a huge truck. After a quick search, a Rio has 42 inches of legroom in the front and about 40 inches of headroom. If you want to keep the utility and gas mileage of a small car, but have something with a little more ground clearance, the Kia Niro could be the answer.

With 40.5 inches of headroom and 41.5 inches of legroom, it’s pretty similar to your current car, but the Niro is a weird combination of crossover/hatchback/wagon and sits a few inches higher. It also has a hybrid powertrain as a standard option that returns up to 50 MPG. Finding a Niro hybrid under twenty thousand without putting more miles on it isn’t easy. but here’s a Kia certified example with less than 50,000 miles for under $19,000.

Expert 2: Collin Woodard – Pretty small car, pretty high seat height

Well, well, well, Greg. Looks like those of us of average height finally have something coming your way, tall guys. You may be busy dunking all the basketballs and dating doctor models, but I fit in a Miata and you don’t, so boohoo! I mean, thanks for choosing Jalopnik as your guide when you began the difficult process of deciding which car to buy.

Normally I would recommend a Mini Cooper. Logan Carter is also 6’1″ 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 late hours? However, if you’re already tired of getting in and out of your Kia Ria, I don’t know if a Mini is the answer. So how do we keep your car small while also making sure the seats are high? The Toyota Crown could do this, but it’s too expensive and probably too big too.

The Crown isn’t the only lifted car you can buy, though. Since this is Jalopnik, I advise you to treat yourself to a nice used Volvo S60 Cross Country. Compared to your Rio, it’s incredibly comfortable and comes with all sorts of new features. It also seats four without being too big. And with a crossover-like ride height, you should find it much easier to get in and out.

The good news is that you’ll have no problem finding a Volvo S60 Cross Country for under $20,000. The bad news is that for some reason the idea of ​​a lifted luxury sedan hasn’t exactly gone over well with customers, so there aren’t many of them for sale, and there aren’t really any in your area. If you’re willing to look a little further, you might find 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 author bigger than you

Hey Greg, it’s nice to hear from someone who is actually tall. Nothing annoys me more than when someone who is 6’1″ starts complaining about needing more space; I’m 6’1″, 230lbs, and all legs too. I have a recommendation for you that will give you good value for money, although I must admit I’m not sure it will have enough room in the front for you. Luckily I have a spare model that will definitely fit you.

As odd as this suggestion sounds, I think you should look at a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or Eclipse Cross. Your price limit will get you a newer model year Mitsubishi than most other cars, offering you and your family more safety as well as convenience features. The Outlander Sport is not a sporty car, it’s basically a Rio hatchback raised a few inches, but that sounds about perfect for what you’re looking for. Edmunds says the Outlander Sport has 39.4 inches of front seat headroom and 41.6 inches of legroom, so on paper it’s comparable to the space in your current car, but as a tall person I know measurements don’t always directly correspond to space in reality. Always sit in a car before you buy it.

Another benefit of buying a used Mitsubishi is the transferable 10-year powertrain warranty (100,000 miles) and a transferable new car limited warranty (5 years or 60,000 miles), so if you buy a newer car with fewer miles, those warranties will last you longer. That said, speaking person to person, the only cars in your price range that I can confidently say have enough room for tall people like us are Subarus. I recommended the Mitsubishi first because Subaru resale value is high and you won’t 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 2022 example with less than 40,000 miles for sale in Round Rock, Texas will suit you and your needs quite well. while retaining the peace of mind that comes with thousands of miles of warranty left. It’s a 2022 model, which means you get heated seats and a rearview camera, as well as automatic emergency braking as an added safety net. This model has all-wheel drive, which may be overkill for your needs, but I liked the color. I don’t mean to brag, but I think I’ve solved your car-buying dilemma; I really hope this helps the big one! Good luck to you and your family.

Expert 4: Bradley Brownell – The unorthodox choice

OK, I’m not as tall as Logan, but I’m 6’2″ and my height is mostly my upper body, so headroom is occasionally an issue for me. I think your best bet for a nice daily driver is to get the world’s best second-generation Scion xB and drive it until the inevitable heat death of the universe. This vehicle was built expressly for exactly what you need. The seat height is relatively high, which was a big selling point for older drivers who didn’t want to stoop down in a car. They call this the “H-point” and it’s the xB’s biggest selling point.

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