Top 5 Best Cars to Fit a Wheelchair in the Boot
When you require a wheelchair to get about, it's important to find a new car that can easily accommodate it.
By choosing one of the best cars to fit a wheelchair in the boot, you have greater independence to travel without having to rely on someone else to get around. In some cases it also means you don't need to disassemble and reassemble the chair every time it needs to be transported, saving effort and time and being much more convenient.
In this article, we look at the top five cars with room for a wheelchair. This includes the Renault Megane Sport Tourer, Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda CR-V and the Kia Soul. Each has been picked based on their spacious interiors and other features that make them ideal for carrying a wheelchair. We’ve also included some handy tips on considering your next car and protecting your boot from wear.
Important Car Features for Wheelchair Users
When you are choosing the best car for your wheelchair, there are a few things you need to consider. These are also the criteria we have used to create our list of best cars for wheelchair users:
Minimum Boot Space for a Wheelchair
Space-wise, the car boot needs to be at least 120cm wide and 70cm deep in order to accommodate a wheelchair. In addition to the dimensions of the car boot, it is also important to consider the accessibility features for wheelchair users. This may include a low loading height to ensure ease of transferring from the wheelchair to the car, as well as a wide and unobstructed opening to allow for smooth entry and exit.
Accessibility of the Boot
Another thing you need to consider is how accessible the boot is. You want it to be easy to get to and put the wheelchair in, with plenty of space and a wide berth. Think about how the boot opens, how high it is and how easy it will be to manoeuvre the chair in.
Ease of Transferring From Wheelchair to the Car Seat
Transferring from a wheelchair to a car seat is an important part of choosing the right car. You need to consider if certain modifications can be made to facilitate the transfer, the height of the vehicle, the width of the door openings and its layout. If the vehicle is larger, it provides more space to move.
Safety Features for Disabled Passengers
There are a few safety features you'll need to consider. This includes whether or not it has a 3-point seat belt, a high-quality wheelchair lock and adequate head and neck protection. You can also have modifications made to the car including safety bars and straps, ramps and swivel seats so see if the car can accommodate for this.
Availability and Cost of After‑Market Modifications
Transferring from a wheelchair to a car seat is an important part of choosing the right car. You need to consider if certain modifications can be made to facilitate the transfer, the height of the vehicle, the width of the door openings and its layout. If the vehicle is larger, it provides more space to move.
5 Best Cars for Wheelchair Users
Below we have put together five of the top cars that can fit a wheelchair in the boot and will make your life that bit easier.
Renault Megane Sport Tourer
The Renault Megane Sport Tourer is a contemporary estate vehicle that has consistently comes out top when looking for cars that can fit a wheelchair in the boot. Similar to a hatchback, the sill is just 598mm off the floor which means it's easy to load the chair into the boot and it can fit in either folded or unfolded. The doors for both the passenger and driver doors open to a 72 degree angle meaning there's a good berth to get in and out.
Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer
The Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer is another fantastic option when looking for a car that can fit a wheelchair. It includes a host of features including comfortable seats, a large front windscreen and three middle seats which slide independently and two back seats that fold easily into the floor. This offers 793 litres of boot space which is perfect for carrying an unfolded wheelchair in the boot. You can also easily fold the middle row for additional room if needed. Other features include Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink, speed limit sign recognition, blind spot mirroring and autonomous emergency braking to prevent collisions when driving at low speed.
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Sante Fe is a midsize SUV that is popular due to its spacious interior and many features ideal for those with wheelchairs. It includes wide-opening doors, a low floor height and a high roof which means it's even easier than ever to enter and exit the vehicle. The boot size of the Santa Fe is 571 litres in five seat mode, or 1,649 litres in two seat mode meaning there is ample space for an unfolded or folded wheelchair.
Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is another SUV that's ideally designed to maximise space. With a low floor height and wide doors it makes it a lot easier to get in and out of the vehicle, while the rear seats can fold completely flat allowing extra space to load up your chair. The car also allows for enhancements and modifications such as ramps or lifts to assist with putting your wheelchair in the boot.
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul is an SUV that packs in plenty of features and space, but is still considered to be in the more reasonable price range. Features include Apple CarPlay, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and more. Its boot space is 315 litres when the seats aren't folded, but with the seats down you get 1,339 litres making it ideal when you need to take your wheelchair out with you.
Additional Tips for Wheelchair Users
A car boot mat or liner will prevent your car from being damaged and keep it in the best possible condition. There are many boot liners you can select and they will make a real difference when loading and unloading your chair.
Be sure to test drive a car before committing to it. You might think the features sound ideal but find you don’t like the way it drives or it’s harder to get your wheelchair than you thought.
Some vehicles are better for adaptations than others, so be sure to find out what mobility aids (such as lifts and ramps) can be added.
Getting the Best Car for Wheelchairs
Each of these are a great choice when looking to ensure you have a car that can fit a wheelchair. Ensure when you search for your new to car that it has enough head and boot space and is able to fit the correct safety features that ensure you’re well equipped for a safe journey.
Make sure to see any car in person before committing to buying it and taking it out for a test drive. It’s a big purchase so you want to ensure you’re completely happy with it before you commit.
