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Small car with a high seating position: how to choose the right type and check easy access

Raised hatchback, small MPV or crossover? How the types differ, four used models worth a look and how to check easy access when viewing a car.

October 23, 2026

Small car with a high seating position: how to choose the right type and check easy access

Key takeaways

How easy a car is to get into depends on the height of the seat cushion above the ground, the width of the sill and the size of the door opening. Ground clearance and overall body height tell you surprisingly little.
The most upright seating and the easiest access come with a small MPV such as the Hyundai ix20 (2010–2019). New small MPVs are no longer on sale, but used ones are easy to find.
A small crossover such as the Škoda Kamiq (from 2019) or the Suzuki Vitara (from 2015) is more versatile and comes as younger used cars. The raised Dacia Sandero Stepway hatchback (from 2020) is 4,099 mm long, so it keeps the footprint of an ordinary small car.
A higher seating position doesn't call for all-wheel drive or a big engine. The front-wheel-drive Škoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 85 kW has a combined fuel consumption of 5.4–5.8 l/100 km.
A short test during the viewing tells you how comfortable the car really is. Get in wearing your everyday shoes and open the door only as far as your usual parking space allows. Then adjust the seat and steering wheel and check the view diagonally ahead. If you carry a child, try your own child seat.

A small car with a high seating position appeals above all to older drivers who struggle to lower themselves into a low hatchback, to parents who strap a child into a car seat every day and to drivers who want a better view in town traffic. Behind that wish, however, sit quite different cars: the raised hatchback, the small MPV and the city crossover. Each type shares out the space between floor, seat and roof differently, and so each one is entered differently. With a used car, it pays to choose the body type first and only then look for the model, engine and equipment.

Which small car with a high seating position suits your needs?

If easy access is the priority, a small MPV is the best place to start. It has the most upright cabin layout and a tall roof. If the car will also cover longer trips and you want a younger used car, a small crossover makes sense. A raised hatchback suits anyone who wants the size and price of an ordinary small car and only needs to sit a little higher.

Type of car	When it makes sense	What to expect	Purchase and running costs	Typical compromise
Raised hatchback	Town driving, shorter trips, smallest possible exterior size	Compact body, more clearance under the car	Usually the cheapest of the three, fuel consumption like an ordinary small car	The cabin is often only slightly more upright than in a regular hatchback
Small MPV	Getting in and out often, carrying passengers and changing loads	Tall cabin, practical interior, often sliding rear seats	Used examples are older and therefore cheaper to buy	Older design and equipment, more age-related repairs
Small SUV or crossover	An all-rounder for town and trips	Raised seating, wide choice of engines and trims	Younger used cars cost more, all-wheel drive raises fuel consumption	Chunky sills, raked pillars and sculpted seats can make access harder

Small MPVs have disappeared from new-car price lists because buyers and manufacturers moved on to more stylish SUVs. The boundaries between the types are blurred anyway, and the shape of the cabin tells you more than the label in a listing. In a direct comparison, the Hyundai ix20 had its driver's seat higher than the Hyundai Bayon crossover.

When easy access matters most

Look for a seat cushion of moderate height, free space in front of the seat and doors that don't get in the way as you turn your body. A floor that sits too high cancels out part of the benefit of a higher seat, because you have to lift your leg over the sill and tuck it under the steering wheel.

When you put a child into a car seat

Here the rear door opening matters more than the driver's position. A tall roof and doors that open wide both help. A low upper edge to the opening or a steeply raked rear pillar makes lifting a child in awkward, even in a car that looks tall from the outside.

When you mainly want a better view

From a higher eye point you can see over some of the surrounding traffic. The view diagonally ahead, however, is limited by the front pillars and door mirrors, and small windows restrict the view to the rear. A reversing camera covers the area behind the car, but it can't replace a good view from the driver's seat.

A high seating position and ground clearance are two different things

Ground clearance describes the distance between the underbody and the road. Seat height describes where you sit. A raised suspension can lift the whole cabin, but it doesn't change the relationship between the seat and the floor and does nothing to make it easier to swing your legs in.

The third-generation Dacia Sandero Stepway has a ground clearance of 201 mm unladen and 174 mm laden. Those figures describe the space under the car, not the height of the seat. For comfortable access, these four things count:

Seat cushion: at the right height you sit down in one smooth movement, without a deep squat and without having to haul yourself up.
Sill: a wide sill lengthens the movement of your leg into the cabin and easily dirties your clothes.
Door opening: there must be room above your head and in front of your knees.
Seat and steering-wheel adjustment: even in a higher position there must be enough headroom, and the controls must stay within easy reach.

The overall height of the car is therefore only a rough guide. Bodies of the same height often have floors at different heights, differently shaped seats and different adjustment ranges.

Which used models deserve a place on the shortlist?

The four models below represent four different routes to a higher seating position. This is not a ranking: each one meets a slightly different need.

Model and years of production	Who it suits	Why shortlist it	What to check
Škoda Kamiq, first generation from 2019	Drivers who want a versatile small crossover	You sit more upright than in a low hatchback. A length of 4,241 mm and a width of 1,793 mm excluding mirrors are fine for town. It is also a common car: Škoda delivered 125,900 Kamiqs worldwide in 2025.	Seat shape and adjustment range in the chosen trim
Dacia Sandero Stepway, third generation from 2020	Buyers looking for a compact raised hatchback	At 4,099 mm long, it has the dimensions of an ordinary small car	The seat cushion is lower than in an MPV, so test the access yourself
Hyundai ix20, 2010–2019	Those who put easy access and a versatile cabin first	A small MPV with a high-set driver's seat and rear seats that slide fore and aft with adjustable backrest angle	Petrol engines can suffer from a disintegrating catalytic converter, and the steel fuel tank may corrode. Check the rear-seat mechanisms too.
Suzuki Vitara, generation from 2015	Drivers who want a proper small SUV	Raised seating and a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive	Legroom when getting in. Only choose all-wheel drive if you will really use it

For easy access and a practical cabin, the Hyundai ix20 is the place to start. The Škoda Kamiq is the more versatile choice among younger used cars, and the Dacia Sandero Stepway is the most compact route to a higher seat. The Suzuki Vitara completes the shortlist for anyone who wants a small SUV.

What is worth paying extra for?

Money is better spent on a comfortable seat with height adjustment and on useful equipment such as parking sensors than on SUV styling. A taller body has more aerodynamic drag, but fuel consumption depends more on the engine, weight, gearbox and tyres.

The Škoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 85 kW with a six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive has a combined WLTP fuel consumption of 5.4–5.8 l/100 km. At 10,000 km a year, that works out at roughly 540–580 litres of petrol. All-wheel drive is unnecessary for a higher seating position. It adds weight and increases both fuel consumption and maintenance demands, so for town driving the front-wheel-drive version is the sensible choice.

How to check easy access during a viewing

A few minutes are enough for the test. Get in wearing your everyday shoes and open the door only as far as your usual parking space allows. On an open forecourt, even a car that is awkward to get into at home can seem easy.

Get in without leaning on the steering wheel. The movement should be smooth, with your foot clearing the sill and your knee clearing the dashboard.
Set the seat for driving. With the pedal fully pressed, your leg should stay slightly bent and your back should rest against the backrest.
Bring the steering wheel closer. Your shoulders stay against the backrest and your knees have room under the wheel.
Check the view. Focus on the area diagonally ahead, where the pillar and mirror can overlap, and on the view when reversing.
Get out and sit down again. You should be able to swing your legs out comfortably and stand up without pulling yourself up on the door frame.
For a family car, try the rear seats with your own child seat. Only then will you see how much room is left for lifting a child in.

A position that makes sitting down easy may not suit you on the move. A seat raised right to the top reduces headroom and makes the steering wheel harder to reach.

What to watch out for with a used car

A worn seat changes how easy the car is to get into. Tired padding or damaged side bolsters can make one car harder to get out of than another example of the same model. Play in the seat mountings and a non-working height adjuster are faults, not characteristics of the model.

A door opened wide hides a car's weakness. In a car park between two other cars, the opening will be smaller. With long doors and a chunky sill, a higher seat won't help much.

Big wheels are not part of a high seating position. Low-profile tyres reduce comfort over bumps and tend to cost more in larger sizes. For everyday driving, sensible standard wheels and tyres make more sense than cosmetic extras.

A comfortable cabin doesn't make up for a neglected car. With any used car, the condition of the individual example is determined by its service history, engine, gearbox, suspension and any accident repairs. With older small MPVs, that applies twice over. Choosing the type of car and inspecting the chosen example are two separate parts of the purchase.

Carvago: from the right model to an inspected used car

Small MPVs are no longer made, and used examples with a specific combination of engine, gearbox and equipment are becoming scarcer. Carvago offers around one million cars from dealers in several European countries, so the choice in practically every segment is larger – usually by an order of magnitude – than on the local market. A Hyundai ix20 with an automatic gearbox or a Škoda Kamiq with parking sensors no longer has to be found among a handful of cars nearby.

Before it is sold, every car is checked by a technician as part of CarAudit™ with up to 270 checkpoints. The inspection covers the available information on the car's history and legal status, the exterior, the interior, the technical components, diagnostics and a test drive. You know the result before you decide to buy. Carvago guarantees the condition of the vehicle stated in the CarAudit™ certificate. Problematic models on the Carvago Blacklist are not included in the offer at all.

Carvago buys the car from the original seller before the sale, becomes its owner and takes on its risks, so customers buy directly from Carvago. Anyone who buys a used car privately has to arrange the change of ownership themselves, and the procedure and fees vary from country to country. Once the purchase is approved, Carvago uses a power of attorney to arrange the registration of the car in the customer's country, including all the paperwork. As standard, the car is delivered right to the customer's door and can be driven away straight after handover.

FAQ

How can I test access if I'm buying the car from abroad?

Ease of access depends mainly on the model, generation and type of seats, not on the individual car. Try the same model and version in your own country, for example at a friend's or at a dealer, and narrow down your choice accordingly. The inspection will then describe the condition of the seats and interior of the specific car you choose.

Does the gearbox matter for a high seating position?

It has no effect on seat height or on the shape of the door opening. An automatic, however, takes away the work with the clutch, which makes driving in town more comfortable. It is a separate choice based on where and how you drive.

Do all versions of the same model have the same seats?

No. Sports seats often have more pronounced side bolsters, which are harder to slide over. Adjustment ranges differ too. Your experience of one trim level of a model may therefore not match the used car you have your eye on.

Can a sunroof be a problem for a tall driver?

Yes, its mechanism takes away headroom. If you need to raise the seat high, choose a version without a sunroof.