5 New Cars Retirees Should Avoid Buying in 2025
Written by
Josephine Nesbit
Edited by
Cory Dudak
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The right new car can bring retirees years of enjoyment, but the wrong one can be an uncomfortable or costly mistake.
According to Kelley Blue Book, retirees should consider accessibility, visibility, comfort, convenience, noise, maintenance costs, safety and the adjustability of the steering wheel when selecting a new vehicle. Your new car should provide a comfortable, safe environment so that you can concentrate on the road while not breaking the bank.
Here’s a look at five new cars retirees should avoid buying in 2025.
Mercedes S Class
According to Melanie Musson, auto industry expert with CarInsurance.org, the Mercedes S Class may be popular with retirees, but it’s not cheap to own.
“The S Class has one of the biggest depreciation rates of any vehicle at over 50%,” Musson wrote in an email. “Since Mercedes vehicles tend to come with high repair costs thanks to the German-made parts, the cost of owning one is a lot more than the cost of purchase.”
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is iconic, but Joe Giranda, a car expert and director of sales and marketing at CFR Classic, said it’s not a practical choice for retirees.
“The high step-in height can be challenging to navigate, and the ride quality is rough, especially on city streets or highways,” Giranda explained. “Its limited cargo space also makes it less versatile for everyday use or road trips.”
If you want something comfortable and easy to drive, Giranda recommended the Subaru Outback or Toyota Highlander.
Chevrolet Silverado
Getting into and out of a truck can be a challenge for retirees as they get older. “Risking a fall is a good reason to avoid pickup trucks,” Musson wrote. “The Silverado also has a history of problems that can make the driving experience unsafe, like a rear-wheel lock-up.”
Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R is a high-performance sports car with a hefty price tag, but it may not be the most practical car for a retiree.
According to Musson, “They don’t handle adverse weather conditions well. There isn’t extra room for passengers or luggage. And they’re hard to get into and out of because of how low they sit.”
The GT-R also has a high cost of ownership, partially due to expensive insurance premiums. “If you’re on a budget, you have to consider more than the purchase price,” Musson added.
Chevrolet Camaro
Production for the Chevy Camaro ended in 2024 to make room for an all-electric lineup. “It may seem like a collector car, but I doubt it will end up as one, and you will spend a lot of money to have to hold onto it for many years to get it to turn into an investment as long as you can keep the miles off,” Chris Pyle, an auto expert with JustAnswer, wrote in an email.
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