10 Cars for People with Back Problems

2017 Volvo S90 driving at night ・ Photo by Volvo

One of the many factors new car shoppers consider when buying or leasing a new vehicle is the comfort level. Most car shoppers want a car that provides the most support for their back while they’re on long drives or stuck in traffic during their daily commute. Of course, that’s totally understandable as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke points out that about 80 percent of adults end up dealing with lower back pain at some point in their life.

In recent years, automakers have started paying attention to the demands of consumers for more comfortable seats and have started offering seats with lumbar support to help mitigate back problems. Some luxury automakers have even gone as far as to offering massaging seats.

With that in mind, we decided to take a look at 10 good cars for people with back problems. Let’s take a look.

2017 Lexus LS

The 2017 Lexus LS is the flagship of the Japanese luxury automaker. The large luxury sedan is oozing with some of the most elegant materials and some of the most sophisticated technology on the market. While the seats of the 2017 Lexus LS are already superior to most vehicles in its segment, the rear seats of the sedan take things to the next level. If you opt for the Executive-Class Seating Package or the Ultra Luxury Package on the LS 460 L, the rear seats of the Lexus LS offer shiatsu massaging memory with two-way power lumbar support.

Photo by Lexus

2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is an icon of the large luxury sedan segment, and with it you can be sure that you are getting the best of the best. The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class comes standard with heated 16-way power front seats that have four-way power lumbar support to help you find the most comfortable position. Optionally, you can add on active multi-contour front seats with six massage settings, two of which combine the massage and heat feature for a ‘hot-stone’ effect. Rear seat passengers may also enjoy a nice massage courtesy of the Executive Rear Seat Package.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2017 Lincoln Continental

The much anticipated 2017 Lincoln Continental kicks off a resurgence for the American luxury brand. Besides receiving a complete redesign inside and out, the 2017 Lincoln Continental takes style, luxury, and comfort to the next level. As for comfort and support, the Continental features the brand’s signature front Perfect Position Seats with 30-way adjustable power seats with lumbar support and Active Motion massage. The rear seats offer power lumbar support along with an optional reclining rear seat when customers choose the Rear-Seat Package. No matter where you’re sitting in the 2017 Lincoln Continental, you’ll find a comfortable position to help support your back.

Photo by Lincoln

2018 Audi A8 L

The Audi A8 is no joke in regards to luxury and comfort. The large luxury German sedan goes above and beyond to keep its drivers and passengers in the lap of luxury while offering the most support for their backs. The 2018 Audi A8 L comes standard with 18-way power heated front seats with power lumbar support. If you opt for a higher trim-level or some optional extras, you can get 22-way power adjustable front seats with power lumbar adjustment and the lovely massage function. For rear seat passengers, you can optionally equip the vehicle with power lumbar support and massage capability.

Photo by Audi

2017 Genesis G90

There is now doubt that Hyundai has done an amazing job with its Genesis sedan. So much so, that the nameplate has now spun off into its own luxury brand. Taking on the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Lexus, the Genesis brand is doing all it can to offer you the chance to live in the lap of luxury at a more affordable price tag. Those with back pain will be pleased to know that the Genesis G90 sedan offers 22-way adjustable front seats and power-sliding rear seats with up to 14-way adjustability. An interesting note here is that the seats of the Genesis G90 have been approved by back specialists Aktion Gesunder Rücke, which is a German campaign that promotes healthier backs.

Photo by Genesis

2017 Nissan Altima

Who said you have to shop in the luxury segment to find the most comfortable car for your back? Nissan’s are well known for their Zero Gravity seats and the 2017 Nissan Altima features them as a standard option. The 2017 Nissan Altima’s Zero Gravity seats are inspired by the way the human spine takes a neutral position in zero-gravity situations. The Altima takes comfort and support to the next level with the optional 8-way power adjustable driver seat and 4-way power adjustable front passengers seat. With that in mind, the 2017 Nissan Altima offers some of the most comfortable and supportive seats in the segment.

Photo by Nissan

2017 Cadillac CT6

While the Cadillac CT6 is priced similarly to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6, it competes with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Audi A8. Not only is it priced less than the competition, the Cadillac CT6 holds strong with top-level luxury and comfort features. Each passenger in the Cadillac CT6 has the ability to adjust their seat in any way, including lumbar support and tilting side cushions. To top it all off (depending on the options you choose,) all passengers can enjoy a variety of unique massage functions. With that in mind, the 2017 Cadillac CT6 is one full-size luxury sedan that you should definitely test drive if you’re looking for a more affordable option than the pricier Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Audi A8.

Photo by General Motors

2017 Mazda Mazda6

The Mazda brand has been pumping out some of the most outstanding vehicles we've seen as of recent. Quickly becoming one of the most reliable and dependable mass automakers, Mazda has also beefed up their interiors with some of the most high-quality materials keeping comfort and luxury at the forefront and the 2017 Mazda6 is a great example of this. The 2017 Mazda6 Grand Touring has some of the most comfortable leather seats we've tested all year, and the 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat and the 6-way power-adjustable passenger's seat help you find the most comfortable position for your trip. The driver seat on the 2017 Mazda6 takes comfort and back support to the next level with power lumbar adjustment.

Photo by Mazda

2017 Volvo S90

Volvo’s latest resurgence has the whole industry talking. Launched with the Volvo XC90, the new Volvo design language has passed down to the S90, V90, and the new XC60. We recently had the chance to spend some time with the Volvo S90 and were extremely impressed by the ergonomically designed seats that provide substantial support thanks to the side cushions and extra padding. When equipped, the 2017 Volvo S90 offers heated and cooled power seats with power lumbar support. You can also take comfort to the next level by adding a very impressive massage feature for front passengers. We spent quite some time taking the S90 on long road-trips and were very impressed by the comfort and back support provided by the luxury sedan.

Photo by Volvo

2017 BMW 5-Series

We know what you're thinking - BMW isn't known for having the most comfortable seats. Well, it seems like the luxury German automaker has finally realized that. We recently had the chance to spend a week with the 2017 BMW 540i Sedan and were completely blown away by the incredibly comfortable seats. After spending a couple of hours getting to know our test-vehicle, we noticed it was equipped with the Luxury Seating Package which they describe as: “designed Multi-contour front seats circulate cool or warm air to keep you comfortable, while the seat subtly undulates, helping your muscles from getting stiff.” The seats feature a 20-way power-adjustable setting that allows you to tailor the best fit by electronically adjusting the headrests, upper-backrest, the backrest width, and lumbar support. They also include massaging front seats with eight different massage settings and three levels of intensity.