Being tall can make finding the right car feel tricky. You might think only huge SUVs or pickups provide enough space, yet some compact sedans offer comparable headroom and legroom in the front seats. You don't need to break the bank or opt for a huge truck just to enjoy ample comfort in the passenger cabin.
We’re mainly concerned about room for tall drivers in this article. If you’ve got multiple tall people who are camping out in the second and third rows, you’ll have to do a bit more research there while car buying. But it’s important to understand how that third row impacts the overall dimension of a vehicle. We get into that in the midsize SUV category.
We looked at headroom and legroom in most of the vehicle classes and came up with a list of vehicles that work for those who range beyond the average height of 5’10” for American males.
The Best Cars for Tall People in 2024
- Infiniti Q50
- Nissan Sentra
- Subaru Impreza
- Genesis G80
- Kia K5
- Ford Bronco Sport
- Subaru Forester
- Ford Explorer
- Genesis GV80
- Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL
- Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500
- Ford Maverick
- GMC Hummer EV Pickup and Hummer EV SUV
- FAQs
Best Compact Cars for Tall People
Most vehicles in the compact class hit around 79 inches of combined head and leg room, but these two vehicles beat that average by almost three inches. There are a few caveats to consider when you decide which trim level to select, though.
Infiniti Q50
The Infiniti Q50 is a “compact executive car” that doesn’t share a platform with any other Nissan sedan here in the United States. Its rear-driven platform is shared with cars like the Nissan Z and Skyline. It also has incredible room inside, featuring a maximum of 39.5 inches of headroom, and 44.5 inches of legroom. The power glass moonroof is a standard feature on all Q50 trim levels, so there’s no penalty for letting the sunshine into the cabin. Power-adjustable and heated front seats come standard.
Infiniti Q50 Review
Nissan Sentra
When the Sentra had a full redesign in 2020, the interior space expanded to a substantial degree. Headroom is fairly standard for the class at 38.9 inches, but there’s an SUV-level 44 inches of maximum legroom, so if you’re a track star, this could be the compact car for you. Manual tilt and telescopic steering is standard. One thing to note is that the maximum 38.9 inches of headroom is only achieved if you pass on the moonroof. That takes 1.4 inches off the top. On the downside, you’ll have to step up to the top-tier SR trim and add the Premium Package for a power-adjustable driver’s seat.
Nissan Sentra Review
Subaru Impreza
The dimensions of the Subaru Impreza are nominally the same as the Sentra, but skew toward headroom vs. legroom. Where the Sentra provides 44 inches of legroom, the Impreza is a bit less at 42.9. But it favors the tall of torso with a maximum of 39.8 inches of headroom, versus the Sentra’s maximum of 38.9. Choosing a moonroof is going to kill the advantage, though. The moonroof takes 1.1 inches of headroom out of the passenger cabin, so you’ll want to take that into consideration when selecting the option. Another plus for the Impreza is that it’s only available as a hatchback, which also provides compact crossover SUV-like cargo space. The RS trim, the top-spec model, plus the Optional Package, will get a power-adjustable driver’s seat.
Subaru Impreza Review
Best Midsize Cars for Tall People
You might think the midsize class offers a big jump in interior volume for both front and rear seats, but you wouldn’t know that from the dimensions of the top sellers. The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry barely offer the space of the cars listed above in the compact class. The Kia K5 (formerly known as the Kia Optima) takes the top spot, but its virtual twin the Hyundai Sonata is very close. The Genesis G80 takes the top spot for midsize luxury cars.
Genesis G80
Luxury cars from BMW, Audi and Mercedes might seem like the go-to here, but in actuality, they’re pretty tight inside. The G80 rides on exactly the same Hyundai-Kia “M3” platform as the Sonata and the K5, so naturally, you’d assume the interior dimensions would be similar. They are, though you do lose a lot of maximum legroom, with just 42.5 inches to the K5’s 46 inches. The G80 has a bit more headroom than both the K5 and Sonata at 41.1, though you lose 1.7 inches of that if you select the panoramic moonroof. Power-adjustable and heated front seats come standard.
Genesis G80 Review
Kia K5
The K5 came along to replace the Optima in 2021, and for the 2024 model year, its interior dimensions are unchanged. The K5 offers a good amount of headroom at 40.2 inches, but legroom is where it shines, with an available 46.1 inches to stretch out in. Note that the sunroof is standard on the EX and GT trim, which cuts headroom by 1.8 inches. The GT-Line is the most affordable model to offer a power-adjustable driver's seat.
The K5 is only available in a gas engine. If you’re looking for better fuel economy, the Hyundai Sonata is essentially the same car, with an available hybrid driveline that provides significantly improved fuel economy.
Kia K5 Review
Best Compact SUVs for Tall People
The compact crossover segment has long been prized by people who want to get in a vehicle without smashing their noggin on the window frame. All of the vehicles in this class offer decent headroom and a much more upright seating position than the sedans in the compact and midsize class.
Ford Bronco Sport
The Ford Bronco Sport was all-new for the 2021 model year, and for 2024 nothing changes in terms of interior volume. It’s the class leader with 83.9 combined inches of head- and legroom, but that figure will drop by 2.1-inches when adding a moonroof. The shape of the Bronco Sport affords a significant interior size advantage over the Escape that it’s based upon. If you want a power-adjustable driver’s seat, budget for at least the Big Bend model with the Convenience package.
Ford Bronco Sport Review
Subaru Forester
Honorable mention goes to the Subaru Forester, which is a pretty staggering $4,000 cheaper than the Bronco Sport, and features standard all-wheel drive, which the Bronco Sport also does. You gain 0.6 inches of overall room as well as 0.9 inches of legroom in the front row, important for tall people who have longer legs. The Premium trim, just a step up from the base model, comes with a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and reclining rear seats.
Subaru Forester Review
Best Midsize SUVs for Tall People
There is no official “class” of midsize SUVs, so dimensions can be all over the place, and so can seating capacity, ranging from five in some trim levels of the Dodge Durango to eight in vehicles like the Subaru Ascent. Headroom and legroom can be generous, but in some vehicles with a third row, first row legroom can be less than some sedans.
Ford Explorer
The Explorer has a third row, but here’s where that third row of chairs impacts the space available for the driver and front passenger. The Explorer is massive for what’s informally considered a “midsize” SUV, but the combined head- and legroom merely total 83.7 inches, that’s a smidge less than the Bronco Sport. If you opt for a sunroof, your headroom is down to 38.9 inches, exactly what’s offered by the Nissan Sentra. A power-adjustable driver’s seat comes standard, and a power passenger seat and heated front seats are included on the second-tier XLT trim.
Ford Explorer Review
Genesis GV80
If you need seating for up to seven, consider the Genesis GV80. With 40.2 inches of front headroom and 41.6 inches of front legroom, the Genesis is more accommodating of tall people than many other midsize luxury SUVs. It comes with a choice between a turbocharged four-cylinder and a twin-turbo V6, and for 2024 all models come with AWD. Trim packages include Advanced, Prestige, and Prestige Signature, and power-adjustable front seats come standard.
Genesis GV80 Review
Best Large SUVs for Tall People
Here’s where the myth of full-size SUVs starts to come apart. In the front row, the enormous Ford Excursion has almost a full inch less combined headroom and legroom than the Nissan Sentra. The new Jeep Grand Wagoneer has the same dimensions inside as the Excursion does. The Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon/Chevrolet Suburban family all offers the most head and legroom available in an SUV.
Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL
The Chevrolet Tahoe/Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon/GMC Yukon XL all have exactly the same headroom and legroom in the first row. Headroom is 42.3 inches, and legroom is 44.5 inches, which is definitely big, but that’s only a half inch more than the combined dimensions of the midsized Kia K5. Getting in and out of a Tahoe might be a little easier, but once you’re in there, you may find just as much adjustability and fine tuning in something like the K5. Power-adjustable driver’s seats are basic equipment through this lineup.
Chevrolet Tahoe Review
Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV
It’s the same story with the Cadillac Escalade. These vehicles are just ultra-luxurious versions of the Chevrolet Tahoe, and all the dimensions are exactly the same. There are no other SUVs that we could find that had more than 86.8 inches of combined head and legroom. You’ve got a lot more access to super-high end options in the Escalade, like the 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference audio system, which you need to hear to believe. Standard features include power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, power-folding second- and third-row seats, and heated second-row seats.
Cadillac Escalade Review
Pickup Trucks
We hear it all the time: “I bought a full-size truck because I’m tall and I can’t fit in anything else.” Yet the RAM 2500 – which seems to be the vehicle of choice for tall folks – has just 81.8 inches of combined head and legroom, almost a full inch less than the Subaru Impreza. Like the full-size SUV class, the GM pickups seem to offer the most head- and legroom of any other vehicle in the class, but we’ve got a surprise, too.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500
Like everything else with a pickup truck, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you to figure out what the best choice is. Our $36,800 list price is misleading, because that’s for the regular cab, which has significantly less head- and legroom than the double-cab does, which offers the most headroom and legroom of all the Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra configurations. Power-adjustable seating is included on all but the bare-bones configurations.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Review
Ford Maverick
The first thing we noticed about the Ford Maverick was how roomy it felt inside, thanks to a lot of headroom and a lot of driver’s seat adjustment, compared to other small trucks. The Maverick offers headroom in the first row that’s within 0.5 inches of the massive RAM 2500 Mega Cab, and almost two inches more effective legroom than the RAM 2500 Mega Cab, at 42.8 inches to the RAM’s 40.9. Look at the XLT model with the Luxury Package for a power driver’s seat and heated front seats.
Ford Maverick Review
GMC Hummer EV Pickup and GMC Hummer EV SUV
The GMC Hummer EV is available in both Pickup and SUV formats. Both contain two rows of seating, for a maximum capacity of 5. Impressively, at 88 inches combined, the Hummer EV Pickup and SUV have the most combined head- and legroom of any other vehicle, including vehicles like the Ford Transit.
GMC Hummer EV Review
What Not To Buy
If you’re a tall driver, there are some obvious vehicles to avoid. Roadsters like the Mazda MX-5 Miata and BMW Z4 aren’t likely to offer you comfortable seating or driving ergonomics, whether you’ve got long legs, a long torso, or both. Small, sporty cars are likely to be terribly uncomfortable for tall drivers.
Yet, finding a comfortable car isn’t as easy as simply steering clear of small convertibles and sports coupes. Consider a vehicle like the Jeep Wrangler, which might seem like it would be just fine for tall drivers. There are always factors besides leg room and head room to consider, however. In the case of a vehicle like the Wrangler, side and rear visibility may be impaired by the SUV’s chunky pillars and roof structure, or, worse, may actually hit a tall driver’s head during off-roading adventures, as noted by Consumer Reports. Furthermore, the manually-adjustable seats limit how much a driver can adjust to find the perfect position.
Let these details serve as a reminder as to why test drives are so important. Numbers like legroom and headroom can help you narrow down your shopping list, but you’ll never really know if a vehicle feels good until you’re sitting in it and using it in real life conditions.
FAQs
How do you know if a car will be good for a tall person?
It’s not enough to simply look at the vehicle’s EPA class to know if it'll be suitable for taller drivers. That basically tells you nothing in the 2024 model year. For example, the Chrysler 300: It’s classified as a “Large” car by the EPA, but it’s long been criticized for its low roofline and its impact on interior volume, even in the second generation that attempted to address it. It only has 38.6 inches of headroom and 41.8 inches of legroom up front. That’s only a half an inch more headroom than the compact Nissan Sentra, and significantly less legroom, and may leave taller drivers wondering what’s going on with all that interior space.
Does specifying a sunroof make a difference if you're a taller driver?
Another consideration in the best cars for tall people is the impact that a sunroof has on headroom in the front seats. In the compact classes, a sunroof typically cuts 1.5 inches of headroom off the maximum. If you’re looking for upper body room, keep an eye on whether the option lowers the interior height, particularly in a small car.
Does electric seat adjustment give taller drivers more space?
Taller people should certainly consider vehicles with electronic seating adjustments. You can find plenty of room in some cars if you’re able to adjust settings like seat height and lumbar support, in addition to forward-and-back sliding, but typically those adjustments are limited to vehicles with electronic drivers seats. Sometimes, you may have to use the touchscreen to find the right settings through the infotainment system, but it’s well worth the effort for the right car.