Easy-Chair Rider
Q: My parents will be arriving soon to spend the next year with us, and during that time we’ll be taking long road trips back to their home several times. This makes me think we should consider buying a vehicle with reclining rear seats, if possible, as my dad has back and hip issues that are worsened by long periods in the same position. Do many vehicles have this feature and what do you recommend?
A: Reclining rear seats have become a fairly common option, now offered by many carmakers.
You didn’t specify if you want a current model year vehicle or a somewhat older one. But here are some you can check out for some years and some models. In most cases, you’ll find that reclining seats are an option. And be aware this is only a partial list, to indicate the broad range of makes available; there are many more beyond this: Subaru Forester, Ford Edge, Hyundai Equus, Toyota Venza and some Audis.
A little additional tip: Some of these seats recline to a much greater degree than others. So you’ll want to check out several different makes and models to be sure you get the recline range that works best for your needs.
Q: Big debate during a lunch among old-timers the other day: one said one model of Toyota sold in this country is manufactured in France. Sounds unlikely. What say you?
A: The Toyota Yaris, Toyota’s tiny car and its least expensive, is, indeed, built (not to mention designed) in France. I hope someone’s getting a free lunch out of this one!
Q: We have had a Buick Enclave for a couple of years, love it and are seeing lots and lots more of them, to the point we believe it might be the top seller in its category. Are we right?
A: Not quite. The Enclave is, indeed, a big seller in the premium/luxury SUV segment in the U.S.: it was number 2 seller in 2014. More than 60,000 of them were sold.
However, the Lexus RX topped the Enclave in numbers sold last year (and previous years): more than 100,000.
What’s your question? Sharon Peters would like to hear about what’s on your mind when it comes to caring for, driving and repairing your vehicle. Email Sharon@ctwfeatures.com.