Driving needn’t be a chore. Over successive decades, motoring manufacturers have changed their designs to appeal to the average motorist. The more popular cars, like the Ford Fiesta and Nisan Qashqai, have tended to be the ones that are the easiest to drive. This is achieved through a range of design decisions.
How does streamlined design improve the easy driving experience?
One factor that’s fundamental to effective motor-vehicle design is the air we drive through. Think of the way that an oar flows through a body of water. When it’s held flat, it has to push through more water to get from one position to the next. When it’s held edge-on, it can cut through the water much more easily.
The same applies to the air that your car drives through. Boxy, angular vehicles tend to have to push their way through the air, while sharp, streamlined ones will push it aside. At higher speeds, these considerations can make a big difference to fuel economy, performance, and overall driving experience.
What are the easiest cars to drive?
Several models stand out as especially forgiving, and enjoyable, for the average motorist.
Ford Fiesta
We’ve already mentioned the Fiesta, which is among the most popular vehicles of all time. The controls have been honed to perfection, and the wedge-shaped design strikes a great balance between streamlining and convenience. As of 2022, it was by far the most popular car in the country, with more than 1.5 million of them registered on British roads.
Nissan Qashqai
This is the car that helped to supercharge the trend toward family SUVs. It provides an elevated driving position, meaning you can take stock of your surroundings much more easily. What’s more, it’s affordable: you can pick up a used Nissan for a very reasonable sum.
Fiat 500
The bulbous chassis of this Italian classic shows us that aerodynamics doesn’t always mean a sharp-looking car. It’s amazingly chic, and a perfect match for built-up city driving. If you have charging facilities available, the electric one might be a sensible choice.
Jaguar I-Pace
Here we have a luxury electric vehicle that’s within reach of the average motorist. It comes stocked with a range of features designed to make the driving experience that little bit more enjoyable. You’ll get a heads-up display, an adaptive speed limiter, and a rear-view camera.
Volkswagen Up
This neat little city car is compact, manoeuvrable, and crammed with the engineering you’d expect from some of Volkswagen’s larger and more prestigious offerings. You get rear parking sensors and an accompanying camera, but there’s never a sense that all of the interior gadgets are overcomplicating your life in the driver’s seat.
