The best new cars for over-70s that aren't complicated by tech (and one to avoid)

Telegraph

24-05-2025

It can be dizzying to climb into a new car these days, especially if you've grown up with the simplicity of vehicles designed in the 1950s and Sixties. Most current models greet you with a bewildering lack of buttons, their functions packed instead into one of the many hulking screens that dominate the dashboard.
If you're of a certain age, this new technology can feel like an assault on the senses; trying to understand it all can seem like learning to drive all over again. You may well long for something simpler – and no wonder.
However, it's not easy to find a car that's uncomplicated – pretty much every new car has a touchscreen of some sort, for example. But some are easier to understand and operate than others. These are usually those in which 'proper' physical buttons are used in preference to touchscreens, while some have screens but they are clear and easy to navigate.
Here are some of our favourites – and one at the other end of the scale that is far too complicated.
Honda Jazz
It seems like a cliché, but the modern Jazz is still a smart choice for anyone looking to simplify their new car, regardless of age.
For one thing, the latest Jazz has all the benefits of previous models – namely, a high seating position to ease access, excellent visibility and intelligently designed rear seats that make it very flexible.
This latest model has a touchscreen, but it's not overbearing, while there are separate, physical controls for the heating and air-conditioning, as well as traditional switches for the lights, windows and most other major functions. All modern Jazzes are automatics, too; their hybrid powertrains and excellent reliability record should keep running costs to a minimum.
Citroën C3
The latest C3 can't quite boast the simplicity of its predecessor, whose monochrome touchscreen and back-to-basics dashboard layout made it an incredibly easy ownership proposition.
But this new version has a simple touchscreen that's easy to find your way around thanks to the on-screen shortcuts. There's a proper climate control panel, too, while a simple, black-and-white readout displays the major driving data. This is particularly gratifying, as it eschews the fancy graphics of most modern 'virtual dials' in favour of a much simpler, easier-to-read solution.
The C3 is also one of the most comfortable small cars, with a smooth ride and memory foam seats – and the high seating position makes getting in and out a breeze. But the best thing has to be the way Citroën has made it easy to switch off the most irritating of the nannying driver aids.
The buttons for the lane keep assist and speed limit warning, the two systems that are mandated to turn on every time you start the car, are next to each other – so a simple two-fingered press is all that is required to turn them off.
Dacia Sandero
For simplicity, few cars can match the Sandero. Dacia's Fiesta-sized hatchback has become a byword for budget motoring and, as you would expect with a cheap car, fancy frills are off the menu.
The entry-level model doesn't even have a touchscreen – although the alternative solution, with the radio operated using the dashboard display and steering wheel controls, takes some getting used to.
Better, perhaps, to go for the touchscreen instead, then – particularly given that the screen is pretty simple to operate, a by-product of the fact that the Sandero doesn't come with many extra features.
Dacia Duster
…Or perhaps you desire the simplicity of a Sandero with a bit of extra ride height, to aid getting in and out. In that case, you need a Duster. This is Dacia's small SUV and beneath its blocky styling it's both practical and likeable.
As with the Sandero hatchback, there's a basic version with no touchscreen, though this only comes with the bi-fuel LPG/petrol powertrain, which adds a bit of complexity back in. To get a pure petrol version you have to go for the next model up, which contains a touchscreen – although, as with the Sandero, that's not necessarily a bad thing given how simple the system is.
The Duster is a great all-rounder, with a reasonably comfortable ride and a boot that's a good size. And as with all Dacias, it's terrific value.
Hyundai Kona
The styling might not be to your taste, but look beneath the skin and the Kona makes a lot of sense.
That's particularly the case with the electric version; the excellent range and standard heat pump allow you to go farther on a charge than in some rivals, while the smooth ride will cosset you as you do so. The hybrid is less impressive to drive, but should still offer frugal and reliable service.
It's inside where the Kona really shines. There is a touchscreen – but beneath it you will find lots of physical buttons, all banked into clear and intuitive groups to make them easy to navigate. What's more, they are a good size and easy to read, which makes it a doddle to find the function you want on the move.
Think of the Kona a little like a big-button telephone for the road – even if you don't find it pretty, it will make your life so much easier that you won't care.
Mazda CX-30
For something that combines ease of use with styling that's a little more eye-catching than the norm, the CX-30 fits the bill.
Think of the CX-30 as Mazda's answer to the Nissan Qashqai: a tall, SUV-esque hatchback with higher seating that aids access. But unlike the Qashqai, the CX-30 is wrapped in Mazda's signature jinba ittai design language, giving it sweeping curves and a shark-like nose.
Inside it's a similar story, the smart interior being clad in high-quality materials. But crucially it's brilliantly laid out, making everything easy to find.
What's more, there's no touchscreen. Mazda has banned touchscreens from its cars, believing them – rightly – to be distracting. Instead, the screen is controlled by a central dial that can be used to scroll and select the required function – much easier than trying to prod the right bit of a screen as you traverse a bumpy road.
And the one to avoid…
Omoda 5
This Chinese SUV might seem tempting thanks to its relatively low price and generous equipment. The trouble is, it isn't great to drive, with a sluggish automatic gearbox and steering that feels as though it's attached to the front wheels only by the hopes of its engineers.
But the big turn-off for most will be the enormous touchscreen on the fascia, into which are packed the vast majority of the car's controls. This makes even simple tasks complicated – adjusting the climate control, for example, requires several presses and swipes through the menus.
Worse, though, are the driver 'aids', which are far too sensitive, making it almost a requirement to turn them off before you depart – a process that requires a lengthy excursion into yet another sub-menu of the screen.
If such things fill you with dread, avoid the Omoda 5. Actually, avoid it regardless.