First and foremost the car has to be an auto but not by choice but by disability.
Then as a disabled driver comes the safe operation of the car with auto lights, auto wipers, reversing sensors or camera.
Then come the ability to load a fully assembled 39” > 42” length pavement scooter with a hoist.
Then comfort of seats being one but something I never seem to get right because I only find there not as comfortable first thought after doing my first drive over a 100 plus mile journey but 90% of the time there it’s OK. Ease of getting in and out so not too low or high, found my first three cars to be too low being Golf derived cars but I guess with age creeping up on me and coping with disability I was causing too much damage to the seat and door trim of these cars and to my back. Goes without saying extra height of my car came hand in hand with it’s ability to carry the scooter.
Extras I have that I thought would help me in my daily life are heated seats and is one I wouldn’t bother with in future unless it come as a bundle anyway. There OK but not worth extra cost for the few days in a year it gets used. Reversing camera is another one that came with the cars trim but although nice extra I would not pay extra for it as long as the car had the reverse sensors.
Heated steering wheel, now this is an odd one for me being a one hand driver? I never thought it would be any good for me but as it came with the trim of the car (KIA Caren’s Trim level 3) I’ve really found it useful for warming my mits while driving in a straight line while my left-hand has its own heating system between my legs.
One other thing that is high on my list for the next car is Electronic Handbrake with Auto-Hold. This is something I had in my 64 plate Golf and I’ve really missed it and how it works seamlessly with the DSG box and one of the main reasons for returning to a CW derived cars next renewal because the KIA’s two second auto hold just don’t cut the mustard, that and those horrible big levers with a button on the end.
So that’s most of the things I need and some I thought I needed but never lived up to expectations.?