The best cars for empty nesters: How to choose

Once the kids fly the coop, it’s a time of change for parents. For many, it can be a time to do things they’ve dreamed about doing ─ traveling or resuming a sport or hobby they’d set aside.

While some might dream about what they’ll do, others dream about what they’ll drive. A family car, SUV or minivan might have been essential while the kids were still living at home, but parents find they can begin looking at smaller, more performance-based cars now.

One of the greatest changes for the empty nester is that this is, quite likely, the first time in years that you’ve been able to think about buying a car specifically for your needs. 

It’s no longer about how much sports equipment you’ll need to haul around or how many kids are going to pile in for a family vacation. It’s going to mean asking yourself an entirely different set of questions as you set out to buy.

Is now the right time to upgrade your ride?

For some, the idea of buying a car you want – instead of focusing purely on necessity and practicality – takes some getting used to. But the fact is, your living space isn’t the only thing you can look at downsizing once your children strike out on their own. This might be the time you start seriously looking at that sporty two-seater you’ve coveted since the moment you installed a child safety seat in your minivan. 

Or you may have fewer day-to-day expenses; this could be the time you consider a luxury car. If it’s been a while since you’ve shopped for a car that didn’t have to include kid-friendly amenities, you might be surprised to find just how all-encompassing the luxury market is.

What features to consider when buying a new car

With so many options available to you, just defining what you want is a good start. Remember that what you want and what you need may be two different things; you might have to put some thought into both of those areas before coming up with your final answer. Some important considerations for empty nesters include:

Technology

It’s a different world out there, particularly if you haven’t looked at new cars for a couple of years. Today’s vehicles do far more than transport you from point A to point B. Advances in automotive technology have reshaped the driving experience, with features designed to enhance safety, simplify daily routines and keep you seamlessly connected.

Below are some of the most common and impactful technologies you’ll encounter, along with guidance on what they do and who they’re best suited for:[1]

• Plug-in powertrains could be appealing ─ If you want some of the benefits of electric driving without giving up gasoline altogether, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) offers a flexible solution. Most provide about 20 to 40 miles of all-electric range, often enough for daily errands or commuting, before a gas engine takes over for longer trips, helping reduce fuel use and ease range anxiety. For drivers ready to go all in, fully electric vehicles (EVs) rely solely on battery power and eliminate gasoline altogether.
• Biometric access is convenient (with limits) ─ Some newer vehicles, including select Genesis models, offer biometric access using facial recognition and fingerprint scanners to unlock and start the car without a key. While futuristic and convenient in ideal conditions, these systems don’t always work seamlessly in tight spaces, poor lighting or with wet hands — making a traditional key fob a helpful backup.
• Gesture controls are innovative but optional ─ Gesture controls allow drivers to manage infotainment functions, such as adjusting volume or answering calls, with simple hand motions. BMW has been a leader in this technology, though adoption is spreading. Some drivers enjoy the hands-free approach, while others find it unnecessary and prefer physical buttons or touchscreens.
• Driver-assist safety offers meaningful protection ─ Safety technology has advanced significantly in recent years. Forward collision warning systems alert drivers to potential crashes using visual, audio or tactile signals. Automatic emergency braking (AEB) goes a step further by applying the brakes if a collision appears imminent. Systems vary in speed range and capability, but regardless of brand-specific names, AEB means the vehicle can brake on your behalf to help prevent or lessen an impact.

Ultimately, the right technology isn’t about having the most features; it’s about choosing the ones that genuinely fit your lifestyle and driving habits. As you shop, focus on tech that adds confidence, comfort and convenience to your everyday routines, and don’t hesitate to skip features that feel more distracting than helpful.

Safety

Car safety features seem to be improving every day, and that’s reflected in the drop in the number of deaths caused by car accidents as technology improves. Modern vehicles increasingly focus on active safety — technology designed to help you avoid a crash altogether — while still relying on familiar basics such as airbags, seat belts and crumple zones. These advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are now common and can meaningfully reduce risk, especially when you understand what they do (and what they don’t).

Key safety technologies to look for include:[2]

• Electronic stability control (ESC) ─ A foundational safety feature that helps maintain control during skids or sudden maneuvers, ESC has been shown to cut the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes roughly in half and has been standard on new vehicles since 2011.
• Automatic emergency braking (AEB) ─ It uses cameras and radar to detect an impending collision and automatically apply the brakes if you don’t react in time. It can significantly reduce rear-end crashes and is increasingly effective at recognizing pedestrians and cyclists. This is one of the most impactful safety features available today.
• Lane departure warning (LDW) ─ This technology alerts you with sounds or vibrations if the vehicle drifts out of its lane. Some drivers find it helpful, while others disable it due to frequent alerts — making it a feature worth test-driving before committing to.
• Lane centering assist (LCA) ─ This feature, often paired with adaptive cruise control, helps keep the vehicle centered in its lane, often paired with adaptive cruise control. While it can reduce fatigue on long drives, it’s not proven to reduce crashes on its own and still requires full driver attention.
• Blind spot monitoring ─ This technology warns you of vehicles in adjacent lanes that you may not see in your mirrors, helping reduce lane-change accidents. It’s particularly useful in heavier traffic.
• Rear automatic emergency braking ─ Designed for low-speed situations such as backing out of a driveway or parking space, this feature can automatically stop the vehicle if an obstacle is detected behind you, greatly reducing backing-related incidents.
• Rear cross traffic alert ─ This technology provides warnings when vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians are approaching from the side as you reverse, making tight parking lots and driveways safer to navigate.

Ultimately, the most valuable safety feature is an engaged driver, supported by technology that helps prevent mistakes from becoming accidents.

Visibility

Vehicle design has changed dramatically, and not always for the better when it comes to what drivers can see. Recent research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that many modern cars, trucks and SUVs have significantly worse forward visibility than vehicles built just 25 years ago. Higher hoods, bulkier styling and larger mirrors have increased front-end blind zones, particularly in SUVs and pickups, making it harder to see pedestrians, cyclists and low obstacles — especially at low speeds.[3]

In some modern SUVs, drivers can see more than 50 percent less of the area directly in front of the vehicle compared with older models. While taller vehicles may feel like they offer a better vantage point, the data suggests the opposite. This reduced visibility may be contributing to rising pedestrian and cyclist fatalities nationwide[3].

When shopping for a new vehicle, take time to evaluate outward visibility — not just on the road, but when parking or maneuvering in tight spaces. Features such as front-facing cameras, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking can help compensate for what you can’t see. Good visibility doesn’t just improve safety; it also makes a vehicle easier and less stressful to live with day to day.

Final thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for empty nesters when it comes to buying a car. Some may want to buy a restored version of the car they longed for when they were teens and couldn’t afford. Others may want the latest and greatest. Whichever route works for you, make sure you do your homework.

As your car needs change, your car insurance needs may change too. Make sure you’ve got the right protection on the road and, most importantly, remember to enjoy the ride.

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