5 Cars & SUVs with the Most Comfortable Seats for Bad Backs

People look for many things when purchasing a new car. They look for a vehicle that gets great gas mileage or that has ample room for their families. They look for a car that is loaded with features or has an intuitive dashboard. They look for something that they will be happy to see parked in their driveway or garage. But how many people consider the vehicle’s long-term comfort in terms of back and lumbar support?

A car may feel extremely comfortable during a 15-minute test drive, but if it lacks the proper support, longer drives may become very hard on you physically. This is why it is also important to look at what the car manufacturer offers in terms of back and lumbar support in the seats. Also, make sure you're covered with an affordable car insurance policy.

Why Is Back and Lumbar Support So Important?

The average American’s lifestyle includes a lot of sitting, whether at home watching TV, at work sitting at a desk or in a car during long commutes or road trips. This can put a lot of stress on your lower back, particularly if you have poor posture and tend to slouch.

When you are sitting, you force your lumbo-sacral discs to carry three times more weight than they do when you are standing. If you are not properly supporting this part of your back, through either an ergonomic chair or a lumbar support pillow or other means of support, you will be placing a lot of stress on the soft tissues and joints in your spine. This can lead to, or exacerbate, lower back pain.

How Do Car Manufacturers Provide Back and Lumbar Support?

Manufacturers design comfortable car and SUV seats to provide great back support. Of course, people come in all shapes and sizes, so what works well for one person may not be very effective for another. To increase the number of people that can get good back support with their seats, car manufacturers include the ability to adjust car seats in many ways.

In many of today's new cars, drivers have the option to move their seats forward, backward, up and down. They can also tilt the seat bottom to raise or lower their knees and can adjust the back and neck support to allow for a slight recline or an upright position. There is no one seat position that is right for everyone, so it is important to work with your car’s adjustments to try to achieve the one that is best for you.

What Are the Top 5 Cars & SUVs for Back Pain and Lumbar Support?

These days, an extremely large number of vehicles offer fantastic back and lumbar support. It is therefore difficult to narrow a list down to just five top cars. We chose the following vehicles based on the number of customers who have raved about the comfort and back support offered by the car seats in their own vehicles:

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BMW X-5 

You could describe the driver’s seat in this car as a throne because of how comfortable and supportive it is. Throw in the fact that you can adjust these seats in a number of different ways, can set their heating or cooling and can activate a vibrating massage feature, and you have one of the most comfortable SUV seats for bad backs.

Volvo S80L

Volvo has a long history of creating seats with people in mind, as opposed to style. Like the BMW X-5, the multi-way adjustable seats in these vehicles also offer a massage feature, making it one of the best cars for bad backs. They are reportedly extremely comfortable.

Lexus LS460L

These cars come equipped with standard power seat adjustment features that allow for 16-way seat variations. They are well renowned for their comfort on long drives.

Volkswagen Golf GR

This vehicle's car seats prove you do not need to spend a lot of money on a vehicle just to get a comfortable and supportive seat The sport-style driver’s seats found exclusively in the R model provide an amazing amount of back support.

Ford Taurus SEL, SHO or Ltd

The seats in these cars offer drivers 6-way lumbar support and include the option of a rolling-type massage feature. The Taurus’s seat massage is unique in that it focuses not only on the lower back but on the upper legs as well.

Create Lumbar Support in Your Car Seat for Added Comfort

Just because you currently own a vehicle that provides mediocre back or lumbar support does not mean that you need to trade it in right away for a more luxurious model. There are things you can do to increase the efficacy of your car’s seat:

• Adjust your seat: It is altogether possible that you simply have the seat adjusted in a less-than-ideal way. Some cars even include a lumbar support mechanism that their owners are completely unaware of. Be sure to read your owner’s manual to find out what your car can and cannot do. Then work with your car’s seat adjustments to attain a position that provides the most comfort and support possible.
• Use a lumbar support pillow: You can buy lumbar support pillows online or through most physical therapists. They are tube-shaped pillows that rest in the small of the back, keeping the normal curvature of your spine. If you do not want to spend the money on one of these pillows, you can often achieve the same effect by rolling up a hand towel.
• Car seat supports: Available online and in many retail stores, these supports are inflatable or moldable back supports designed specifically for use in cars. Before purchasing one, it is a good idea to read customer reviews as some are much more effective than others are.

Support Your Back and Your Back Will Support You

There are a number of advantages to having the proper lumbar support while driving. In addition to reducing back pain, it also helps to decrease driver fatigue, which, in turn, increases concentration. It can also improve breathing functionality, and hip and neck comfort. Overall, it is extremely beneficial to your health and well-being.

Speaking of support, independent insurance agents can help you get car insurance for any model car you have. Their connections can help you feel snug, safe, and supported no matter where you go on the road today.