Top 3 Small Cars Perfect for the Retired Lifestyle

Congratulations! You’ve retired and it’s time for working to take the back seat and to decide where your free time will take you.

Retirement opens up a world of possibilities where you can finally pick up new hobbies, explore unchartered territories, and pamper yourself with life-changing experiences It is also likely that some of your financial and health priorities have changed. Why not indulge in a smaller car that’s tailor-made for this exciting chapter of your life? 

When looking, you’ll want to find something that is comfortable and accessible. Something that can take away the pressures of parking, has low running costs, and makes you feel confident while driving.

Suzuki has an excellent range of compact vehicles with some fantastic features and unique designs. Let’s take a look at our top 3 small cars recommended for the retired lifestyle.

1. The Suzuki Swift

Everyone knows New Zealand’s favourite small car is fun, easy to drive and fuel efficient, but did you know the latest Suzuki Swift has stacks of advanced safety features and technology?

 To start with, you get all the essentials, like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and traffic sign recognition as standard. Ease the stress levels further with keyless entry and push-button start, and automatic headlights that turn on exactly when you need them too. 

If you go for the top Swift RSC, you’ll score helpful extras like blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, climate control air-con and heated front seats. Driving with total confidence and in total comfort has never been easier.

Inside, the Swift’s technology cleverly integrates all the features that make driving to your favourite destinations effortless. The large 9-inch touchscreen is super simple to use, with built-in Sat Nav for finding your way. Making calls safely and listening to your favourite music or podcast is a piece of cake with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Parking around city centres can be a little stressful, especially when manoeuvring a large car. It’s no problem for this cheerfully compact hatch at only 3,860mm long. You’ll squeeze into smaller car parks, townhouse garages and make u-turns with ease.
Not only do all new generation Swifts come equipped with a very handy reverse camera, they all have parking proximity sensors, giving you the added luxury of knowing what’s happening around you. You’ll cosy right in close to the curb with confidence knowing you’re not going to back into anything.

For that extra sense of security, there’s a Guide me light that turns on and off the headlights when you lock and unlock your car, making it easier to get to and from your door.

Using only 4-4.3L of fuel per 100km (3P-WLTP conversion), this affordable car is the most fuel efficient option in Suzuki’s range. And as a self-charging hybrid, it runs like a dream, giving you that feel-good feeling. Plus, there’s no plugging in to recharge the battery, so you don’t need to worry or pay for those pesky road user charges. 

While driving on $100 of petrol (at $2.70 a litre), this translates to a massive 861km of travel – how convenient! Now you can spend less time at the petrol station and more time indulging in hobbies and spending quality time with friends and family. 

2.The Suzuki Ignis

If you are looking for something a bit out the box that’s just as fuel efficient as a Swift or starting to feel the strain of getting in and out of your car, consider this game-changing super-compact SUV, the Suzuki Ignis. With a high entry and ride height, all-round driving visibility and outstandingly roomy interior, this 3,700mm mini-SUV has got all the bases covered. 

The Ignis is safe, economical, and delivers in spades when it comes to ease of parking and manoeuvring through tight streets and narrow spaces such as single garages or parking buildings.

Six airbags, ESP, cruise control, speed limiter, and a reversing camera (Autos only) work together to optimise the safety of you and your passenger to give you a superior awareness of what is happening around you. And while these features help to reduce driver fatigue (perfect for those long journeys!), they also improve fuel efficiency by eliminating unnecessary acceleration and braking.

 The compact size and lightweight frame means this SUV is a fantastically economical option. The Ignis GLX Manual has a fuel economy rating of 5.2L of fuel per 100km (3P-WLTP conversion), while the GLX or Ltd Auto has a rating of 5.4L per 100km. It will be so long between fill-ups that you’ll forget where the fuel cap is!

This is a case of one size fits all, as this car can be just as comfortable on the longer road trips. Not only does it have 271L of boot space (505L when the rear seats are folded) and plenty of room in the back with sliding rear seats (Ignis LTD), it’s also topped with sleek roof racks to ensure you can get away for some fun holidays without having to leave anything behind.

Funky on the outside and functional on the inside, this car is packed with options for all sorts of audio and smartphone connectivity that’ll make both short and long drives far more entertaining.

3.The Suzuki Fronx

With its quirky name, bold design, and personality to match, the Suzuki Fronx makes a big impression, especially if you’re looking for a small SUV with X-factor.

An all-round package, this crossover-SUV hits the sweet spot in terms of size, features galore, and exceptional value for money. You’ll find it’s spacious and supremely comfortable for all those fun road-trips and daily outings around town.

With 304L of luggage space that doubles up to 605L with the seats folded down, you’ll have more than enough room for garden centre buys, Christmas presents, and luggage when you head out to visit the family during the holidays. If you’re taking friends or pets with you, they’ll also appreciate the extra leg room and space in the back.

Not only is the Fronx an enjoyable long-distance travelling car, its clever compact design gives it the benefit of doubling as an equally competent city car.

Much like the Ignis, this high riding SUV is easy to park, turn, and navigate through traffic or cruise on the open road. And like the Swift, the Fronx comes equipped with the full advanced safety assist suite, as well as a 360° reverse camera with parking sensors, giving you a wider range of vision when manoeuvring around.

Inside, you’ll find a refined and upmarket dual-toned cabin with a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless phone charging, and a heads-up display that shows key info without taking your eyes off the road. Add to that a fully adjustable steering wheel, heated front seats, and easy-to-reach climate controls and you’ve got yourself a dream ride!

At 3,995mm in length with a 1.5L engine and 6-stage auto, the Fronx has all the benefits and get up and go of a much larger SUV, but without the high running costs.

Its mild Smart Hybrid system is self-charging, so you have the benefits of low emission and efficient driving (4.9L per 100km 3P-WLTP conversion), and none of the range anxiety. That works out to around 686km for $100 of petrol (at $2.70 per litre), saving you money for the more important things – like where you are going on your next out-of-town adventure.

One last thing, it is important to remember that the way you drive, the condition of your car and the roads you drive on have a considerable influence on fuel efficiency. Different drivers can achieve different economy levels so the fuel economy figures mentioned here a guide only.

Suzuki has a fantastic range of options including our range of options, which will help make your retirement days easier, more fun, and more economical. Ensure you do your research and ask our friendly team for some advice. We’d also recommend test-driving to make sure you’re getting a car which suits your needs.

For more information on finding the right car for you, check out our Complete Guide to Buying a New Car today.