We got our 6’3” son a 2019 Volvo SC60 with 5k miles on it pre-owned certified. He has tons of legroom, it’s super-safe and our ins. rates haven’t gone through the roof.

Have him test drive a bunch of cars and let him decide.

Dh is 6’3 and hasn’t ever had any trouble in any car he’s driven. In fact precovid he drove a shitty rental car every week when he went on business trips and didn’t have an issue. Short people are the ones with issues

I’d ask your son what his dream car is and go from there. I wouldn’t want my parents picking out a car for me.

Subaru Outback

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Budgeting $30K for an 18 year old's car. So many thoughts come to mind, most not good. I just can't.

Why? This is a cheap car for some. Not everyone wants a junker parked in front of their house.

A $15k car is a junker?

Anonymous wrote:Budgeting $30K for an 18 year old's car. So many thoughts come to mind, most not good. I just can't.

Why? This is a cheap car for some. Not everyone wants a junker parked in front of their house.

Budgeting $30K for an 18 year old's car. So many thoughts come to mind, most not good. I just can't.

Anonymous wrote:Yup! My husband is 6’4 too. Have him go and try out a bunch of cars to see what is most comfortable. If it’s a surprise, I would find a friend, relative or car salesman that’s 6’4 so you can see what would work.

+ 1 My husband is 6’4 too and had to try out a ton of cars before he found one that was comfortable/he could sit in without the top of the window blocking stoplights, etc.

Yup! My husband is 6’4 too. Have him go and try out a bunch of cars to see what is most comfortable. If it’s a surprise, I would find a friend, relative or car salesman that’s 6’4 so you can see what would work.

Honestly, for a tall person, I'd take him to Carmax and having his sit in a variety of vehicles. PPs are exactly right - it has nothing to do with the size of the car and all to do with how the legroom/headroom fit one person's particular size. (My husband is 6'3" and very long-legged. I will not buy a family car without testing out how he fits into it. We have a minivan, which doesn't meet your criteria, and an Accord. His equally tall brother travels/drives more than half the week and has driven a Camry for years.)

On size, it depends on the build. I am 6'2, but with a long torso. Most people my size have a 34-36" inseam, but I am 32. Practically, that means headroom is my issue, not legroom.

I have found, in general, Subarus to be good -- particularly Outback/legacy/Forester.

I have found GM's (as rentals) generally do a crappy job with head room (at least smaller ones). Fords seem good, but the (non suv) fords have bad ergonomics for my size.

Nissan Rogues work well for me.

And every Toyota has been fine (even the corolla, which surprised me).

VWs are tight on headroom, at least with a sunroof.

Caveat:
Most are from rentals. I own Subarus and had a VW GTI.

Anonymous wrote:The size of the car doesn’t really dictate how well a tall person will fit.

Volkswagen are good for tall people in my experience

+1. It depends on body vs. leg length; how he sits while driving; whether or not the car has a sunroof (lowers cabin ceiling height); etc. etc. For example, my 6'2" DH's head hits the ceiling in his parents' Explorer. He can sit comfortably with plenty of headspace in our Outback.

Both he and my 6'5" brother drive Camrys.

I think it's crazy to buy a new car for HS graduation but that's another thread...

Have you asked him?

The size of the car doesn’t really dictate how well a tall person will fit.

Volkswagen are good for tall people in my experience

Our budget is probably $30,000, but we could be flexible.

What would you buy? We want it to be big enough to fit him comfortably, and not be too much of a "mom car." We're hoping he can use it for many years.

Thank you.