We got our first Motability car back in January 2013, a white Ford Focus Estate petrol auto, with no adaptations. My wife had just become a wheelchair user – she has a degenerative condition – and qualified for high rate mobility of DLA. I had osteoarthritis in my hands, left knee and hip. I hadn’t claimed DLA yet, as I could walk more than – the then – 50 metres with my stick, or pushing my wife’s wheelchair, which was like a walking frame for me. We didn’t have much money, so were looking for a cheap estate and the Focus fit the bill. I had no trouble lifting her chair in and out of the back of it.
By the time renewal came around, I was struggling with the wheelchair, and we knew we needed a hoist. We also needed a vehicle higher off the ground, as we were both now starting to struggle getting in and out of the Focus. My wife has a manual chair, meaning a hoist for it needs 82cm clearance in height. Not many vehicles we could afford had that on the scheme – even fewer now! We chose the Zafira 1.4T petrol auto. Bags of room. Very comfortable. But also very boring.
My condition worsened over the years and this made our requirements more complex. I was struggling with the heavy tailgate on the Zafira, as well as reversing and parking. This is because twisting my body hurts – a lot. Getting in and out had become no more difficult for my wife, but much harder for me. So, in addition to an 82cm height tailgate, we added powered tailgate, reversing camera, power seat at least for driver, and park assist. We loved everything except the ride – too stiff – about the SEAT Ateca – Terraco wasn’t out yet – and eventually chose the Kuga 1.5T Auto petrol in top Vignale trim for all the things we required (and more), plus white leather – no longer an option – to relieve the unremitting blackness of the interior. We love this car. It’s extremely comfortable. Only complaints are:
- Muck fe it’s thirsty! 25mpg average. But 90% of our mileage is short trips in town, so diesel made no sense.
- The cockpit feels at least a generation behind cars like the Ateca. Although the voice control is a joy to use and very accurate – even with the windows open.
- The powered driver’s seat moves back automatically when you turn off the ignition. This makes getting in and out much easier for me. OR IT WOULD, except it doesn’t go all the way back and down – by design according to Ford. So I’ve had to set up one of the 3 memory buttons to remember all the way back and down and press it myself.
I think our story illustrates how our needs as disabled drivers and passengers can change over time.
I am especially worried about the next car, given how few choices we had because of the hoist clearance height we need.
Current: MY24 Renault Austral Iconic FHD.
Ordered 5/2/26: Chery Tiggo 8 'Summit' ICE
Previous Motability cars:
2013 Ford Focus estate auto.
2016 Vauxhal Zafira 1.4T SE Auto.
2019 Ford Kuga Vignale 1.5 auto AWD. (Ext lease)