[Fox Business]: The 7 Best Cars for the Budget-Minded Retiree

Choosing the seven best cars for retirees isn't easy simply because carmakers don't target seniors. To do so in the car business is the kiss of death. Just ask anyone who worked at Oldsmobile.

Car companies invest money and energy appealing to buyers in the 18-to-45 age range. Still, there are features and attributes that make some vehicles better suited for older drivers.
Bankrate relied heavily on Consumer Reports to narrow the possibilities. It recommended every vehicle on this list. It rated as "very good" the driving position of each, while giving high marks for front- and rear-seat access. All also scored high for ride quality and interior noise control.

Each received the top Insurance Institute for Highway Safety score of "good" for front-offset and side-impact crash tests.

Although we didn't filter based on price or fuel economy, the goal was to keep both reasonable. Only the most expensive is priced more than $36,000, and each gets average or above-average fuel economy for its class. All have automatic transmissions and full power accessories.

The list is representative of several segments from hybrid to sport utility vehicle.
Finally, vehicles featuring power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, Bluetooth connectivity and extra safety features scored higher.

2013 Kia Optima SX
Price: $26,800
Gas mileage: 22 mpg city/34 mpg highway
"Value" is the mantra of the 2013 Kia Optima SX. It's a nearly ideal passenger environment transported by an aggressive, fuel-efficient powertrain wrapped in a highly stylized exterior skin covered by a remarkably long warranty. That's value in our book.

A 274-horsepower, 2-liter, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine provides the go through a six-speed automatic transmission. A wide trunk opening swallows more than 15 cubic feet of cargo.

We chose the SX model because that's the one Consumer Reports recommends. It also has features we think more mature drivers appreciate, such as keyless entry and start and dual-zone automatic climate control, absent in the base model.

Other senior-friendly features include eight-way, power-adjustable driver's seat with power-adjustable lumbar support, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated outboard mirrors with integrated turn signals, Bluetooth connectivity with voice command and five years of free roadside assistance.

Article and image courtesy of Fox Business Online.