If you’re a recent retiree or entering retirement soon, your next car could be the last vehicle you ever buy — if you choose wisely. The 2026 model year has options that are so reliable and durable that you’ll probably have to worry more about outliving your nest egg than you will your vehicle. The key is knowing what to look for in a new set of wheels at this stage in your life.
Kelley Blue Book (KBB) recommends retirees prioritize features like easy entry and exit, strong visibility, advanced safety tech and fuel efficiency. Choosing a car with low long-term ownership costs and proven reliability can help you enjoy your retirement years without worrying about frequent repairs or replacements. Here are the best 2026 cars for retirees that deliver on both value and peace of mind.
2026 Ford Maverick
- MSRP: $29,840 to $43,120
Many retirees can’t or won’t trade a lifetime in a pickup for a seat behind the wheel of a sedan or some sporty crossover. For them, the Ford Maverick is the truck to beat. The Maverick Truck Club has an entire thread dedicated to senior Maverick owners, who offer tales, wisdom and knowledge about life on the road in their trusty compact pickups.
The Ford Maverick gets up to 30 mpg and it’s also available with a hybrid engine that consumes fuel in tiny sips. Small and maneuverable enough for city driving and simple parking, its available 4,000-pound towing strength and 1,500-pound payload capacity qualify it as a legitimate work truck and retirement toy hauler.
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2026 Toyota Camry
- MSRP: $30,195 to $37,920
Larger, roomier and more powerful than the wildly popular compact Corolla commuter car, the Camry consistently ranks as one of the best — and bestselling — midsize sedans.
Its infotainment system has a simple and user-friendly interface with plenty of physical buttons and dials for seniors who want tech that’s functional but not flashy. It’s also economical. Its base standard hybrid powertrain gets up to 51 mpg, and the Camry’s legendary reliability makes it easy on the nest egg long term.
2026 Hyundai Tucson
- MSRP: $30,800 to $42,275
Hyundai of Cumming, Georgia, markets the Tucson directly to seniors because the compact SUV has high seating for excellent road vision, a luxurious and comfortable interior, impressive standard driver assist and safety features like blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.
U.S. News and World Report ranked it No. 1 on its Best Compact SUV for 2025 and 2026 for those reasons and several others that can benefit new retirees, including reliability, cargo capacity and safety.
2026 Subaru Forester
- MSRP: $31,445 to $43,045
The 2026 model brings more of the same classic style and reliability people have come to expect from Subaru. For seniors driving in winter weather or whose retirement takes them off the pavement, the Forester offers excellent ground clearance and — like all Subarus — standard all-wheel drive. Its large windows provide excellent visibility on all sides, and its high perch provides a commanding view of the road, yet it’s not hard to climb into or out of.
A bevy of driver-assist features reinforces the brand’s already renowned reputation for safety, and the Forester joins all Subarus in being synonymous with reliability, which means low long-term ownership costs.
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
Editor’s note: Starting MSRP sourced via Car and Driver and is accurate as of Dec. 3, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 New Car Models Recent Retirees Should Consider Buying in 2026
