Toyota GT86
The Toyota GT86 is all about pure, raw driving, and that seemingly means sacrificing legroom to optimize performance. The low-slung cabin looks cool, but it’s very tight to squeeze into, forcing people to hug their knees to occupy the space. Drivers also find that the pedals are closely spaced, and the bulky transmission tunnel forces their knees even further together.
As for the rear seats, they’re purely decorative and not designed to house any limbs without extreme discomfort. We can’t deny that the driving experience is phenomenal and must be experienced, but you’ll definitely feel like you’re wearing the car, rather than sitting in it.
As for the rear seats, they’re purely decorative and not designed to house any limbs without extreme discomfort. We can’t deny that the driving experience is phenomenal and must be experienced, but you’ll definitely feel like you’re wearing the car, rather than sitting in it.
Kia Picanto
The Kia Picanto is a great little city car that’s ideal for threading through traffic in tight, busy streets, but you won’t be able to feel your legs once you get out! The cabin is very small, making it feel like a shoebox for even relatively tall people, with barely enough front or rear legroom to sit comfortably.
Long journeys quickly become a test of patience, leaving many drivers and passengers with sore, cramped knees. It’s designed to be a small starter car for those who want an uncomplicated ride, but most don’t realize they need to contort their legs to fit inside.
Long journeys quickly become a test of patience, leaving many drivers and passengers with sore, cramped knees. It’s designed to be a small starter car for those who want an uncomplicated ride, but most don’t realize they need to contort their legs to fit inside.
Peugeot 5008
For a car that looks very spacious on the outside, the Peugeot 5008 is the opposite. MPVs are designed to fit in as many people as possible, but the 5008 seemingly neglected to do that comfortably. The third row is particularly squashed in, so it’s only suitable for the shortest passengers.
But all of the seats become less spacious when the seat rails are pushed forward to make space for more people, leading to several awkward road trips. It’s an excellent off-road car, but don’t expect to sprawl out in it.
But all of the seats become less spacious when the seat rails are pushed forward to make space for more people, leading to several awkward road trips. It’s an excellent off-road car, but don’t expect to sprawl out in it.
Volkswagen Touran
The Volkswagen Touran is a sensible family wagon, but the brand seems to have forgotten that families have multiple legs! Any seven-seater car will inevitably run out of legroom, but passengers unlucky enough to sit in the third row will likely be hugging their knees throughout the journey.
It’s decently comfortable for taller drivers, but not as spacious as other large MPVs because it doesn’t make full use of its space potential. Most people also fail to configure the seats to the optimal position, leading to at least one row of people getting squashed in.
It’s decently comfortable for taller drivers, but not as spacious as other large MPVs because it doesn’t make full use of its space potential. Most people also fail to configure the seats to the optimal position, leading to at least one row of people getting squashed in.
Ford Fiesta
It’s fun to drive, looks good, and is generally reasonable to buy. But the Ford Fiesta’s biggest downside? Its astounding lack of legroom. The cabin is famously narrow, the pedal box is tight, and the seats don’t leave much space to stretch out. Passengers get the shortest end of the stick, with extremely limited rear knee space.
Compact cars like the Fiesta are great for solo driving because you have the entire cabin to yourself, without multiple people squashed into each other. Close rivals like the Seat Ibiza and Honda Jazz are more spacious, so they’re superior options for those who prefer more space.
Compact cars like the Fiesta are great for solo driving because you have the entire cabin to yourself, without multiple people squashed into each other. Close rivals like the Seat Ibiza and Honda Jazz are more spacious, so they’re superior options for those who prefer more space.
Toyota Supra
Sports cars aren’t known for having big cabins, but many still manage to carve out some important legroom for drivers and passengers. Unfortunately, if your legs are longer than the car’s manual, they won’t thank you after a ride in a Toyota Supra. The low seating position is amazing for performance, but not for comfort.
Getting in and out is also a tricky task because the entire car is low-slung and compact, with cocooned seats and small doors. We’d definitely advise having a pre-drive stretch before you take even the shortest journey in a Toyota Supra.
Getting in and out is also a tricky task because the entire car is low-slung and compact, with cocooned seats and small doors. We’d definitely advise having a pre-drive stretch before you take even the shortest journey in a Toyota Supra.
Lucid Air
You’d expect a futuristic luxury sedan like the Lucid Aid to give your legs the first-class treatment, but its cab-forward design is a little more snug than it looks on the outside. The ultra-long dash encroaches on the front seating space, and the sloping roofline also eats into headroom, forcing taller people to slouch.
Your legs end up jammed or tangled, and even the gorgeous plush interior can’t take away that knee pain. Drivers and front passengers will find themselves trying to arrange their limbs around car controls in cramped areas that prioritize looks over comfort for the most part.
Your legs end up jammed or tangled, and even the gorgeous plush interior can’t take away that knee pain. Drivers and front passengers will find themselves trying to arrange their limbs around car controls in cramped areas that prioritize looks over comfort for the most part.
Jeep Liberty
It replaced the Jeep Cherokee, but the Liberty rejected the traditional body-on-frame SUV build. The inside feels a lot snugger than it should be, considering drivers and passengers need to sit comfortably during rugged off-road journeys, and bulky interior panels also eat into precious stretching space.
Rear passengers have the worst position, though, wedged between vertical seatbacks and lacking knee room. The Jeep Liberty definitely expects the people inside to tough out every journey and stretch their legs only once they reach their destination.
Rear passengers have the worst position, though, wedged between vertical seatbacks and lacking knee room. The Jeep Liberty definitely expects the people inside to tough out every journey and stretch their legs only once they reach their destination.
Lexus CT200h
Compact car by name, compact car by nature! The Lexus CT200h feels like it was designed around performance first, human limbs second, and it’s your legs that will suffer most for it. The interior is sharp and sporty, with a sloping dash that intrudes on knee space, and a center console that fences your legs in.
Much of the interior volume is taken up, so passengers can’t fully stretch out in the front or back of the car. Shorter people might be okay, but taller passengers don’t get that luxury. The CT200h is a top commuter, but your legs are treated like an afterthought.
Much of the interior volume is taken up, so passengers can’t fully stretch out in the front or back of the car. Shorter people might be okay, but taller passengers don’t get that luxury. The CT200h is a top commuter, but your legs are treated like an afterthought.
Kia Forte
It may try to be a practical compact sedan, but long-legged passengers may disagree with the Kia Forte’s sense of proportions. The front seats sit close to the dash, leaving the knees awkwardly pushed against it, or uncomfortably tucked up. Rear legroom is even more shrunken, with tight front seats leaving little room to move.
The fact that all of the seats are so upright doesn’t help, either, because it forces passengers to sit up straight at all times, instead of allowing them to relax. We know that the Forte is a great daily driver, but its interior space is mostly functional.
The fact that all of the seats are so upright doesn’t help, either, because it forces passengers to sit up straight at all times, instead of allowing them to relax. We know that the Forte is a great daily driver, but its interior space is mostly functional.
Honda Civic Hatchback
The Honda Civic Hatchback is a smaller version of the sedan, but it still looks like it should be roomy. The sloping roofline and aggressively-styled interior steal usable legroom, especially the expansive center console that juts into people’s knees. Rear legroom becomes even tighter when the front seats slide back.
Even the sporty driving position demands a bit of leg origami that isn’t ideal for long trips, especially if you have long legs. It’s a practical, fuel-efficient car, but definitely not the most spacious Civic on the inside.
Even the sporty driving position demands a bit of leg origami that isn’t ideal for long trips, especially if you have long legs. It’s a practical, fuel-efficient car, but definitely not the most spacious Civic on the inside.
Audi A3
It’s all sporty vibes, luxury finishes, and premium touches, but the Audi A3 feels more like an executive-compact car when you’re sitting in it. The driver’s area is narrow, thanks to the chunky dash and console taking up space, and there’s no real comfortable position to angle your legs into.
And if you’re sitting in the back? Don’t expect to flex or stretch anything more than your toes. The entire cabin is sculpted and sleek, with hard edges that leave no room for adjustment. It has a very high-end feel, but the A3 was clearly designed with a concept in mind, rather than being built around physical human needs.
And if you’re sitting in the back? Don’t expect to flex or stretch anything more than your toes. The entire cabin is sculpted and sleek, with hard edges that leave no room for adjustment. It has a very high-end feel, but the A3 was clearly designed with a concept in mind, rather than being built around physical human needs.
Hyundai Kona
It’s chock full of personality, but adequate legroom didn’t quite make the cut when the Hyundai Kona was built. Everything feels like it has been crammed into the Kona, leaving the dash and console awkwardly close to your legs and narrowing the entire cabin. The limited legroom is acceptable for short trips, but definitely not longer journeys.
The upright seating position also means that legs end up stuck in one position for a long period of time, increasing the likelihood of them becoming numb or sore. It’s definitely a fun car to drive, but more for city stints than road trips.
The upright seating position also means that legs end up stuck in one position for a long period of time, increasing the likelihood of them becoming numb or sore. It’s definitely a fun car to drive, but more for city stints than road trips.
Mazda CX-30
The Mazda CX-30 is an interesting car because it’s like a cross between a sports car and an SUV, but it maintains the former’s lack of spaciousness in the latter’s build. It feels tailored for minimalism, with a jutting center console that steals legroom and a sloping roofline that subtly compresses occupants.
The front seats adjust to accommodate taller people, but those in the back become even more squished, with their knees pressed against seatbacks. Mazda has incredible driving dynamics, but don’t expect to ride in relaxed comfort.
The front seats adjust to accommodate taller people, but those in the back become even more squished, with their knees pressed against seatbacks. Mazda has incredible driving dynamics, but don’t expect to ride in relaxed comfort.
Volkswagen Polo
It’s neat, efficient, and well-engineered, but the Volkswagen Polo wasn’t built with human legs in mind. Up front, the pedals and console sit close enough that drivers must constantly adjust the seating position, and passengers in the back only get legroom if the front seats are pulled all the way forward.
The cabin is very well-built, but it’s all on the smaller side of comfortable. You can easily enjoy short rides in the Polo, but it’s not the best choice if you’re going to be transporting lots of people or making long journeys regularly.
The cabin is very well-built, but it’s all on the smaller side of comfortable. You can easily enjoy short rides in the Polo, but it’s not the best choice if you’re going to be transporting lots of people or making long journeys regularly.
Fiat 500
We all recognize this popular city car for what it is: an ultra-compact daily driver that puts its quirky style before everything else. The cabin is so compact that it’s near-impossible to shuffle your legs around, and even the adjustable padded seats don’t provide a comfortable angle for tall drivers to use the controls.
The footwells are all tiny, and there isn’t a lot of room to stretch out your other limbs, either. The Fiat 500 is ideal for short drivers who usually drive alone, but its retro charm will quickly wear off for anybody who doesn’t enjoy being squashed into a box.
The footwells are all tiny, and there isn’t a lot of room to stretch out your other limbs, either. The Fiat 500 is ideal for short drivers who usually drive alone, but its retro charm will quickly wear off for anybody who doesn’t enjoy being squashed into a box.
Alfa Romeo 4C
If you like stripped-down performance from a responsive engine, you’ll love the Alfa Romeo 4C. But you can probably tell just by looking at this low-slung sports monster that it isn’t designed for your comfort. The cabin is incredibly tight, with a seating position that practically puts you on the ground, forcing legs into a locked-in stance.
The tub-shaped seats don’t leave much room to adjust your position, so knees are firmly wedged in, giving drivers and passengers an authentic racecar experience. It’s probably one of the coolest cars ever, but those thrills come at the expense of even short-term comfort.
The tub-shaped seats don’t leave much room to adjust your position, so knees are firmly wedged in, giving drivers and passengers an authentic racecar experience. It’s probably one of the coolest cars ever, but those thrills come at the expense of even short-term comfort.
Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius is a sleek, good-looking car, but it’s more like a sardine can on the inside than a spacious vehicle you can spread out in. Those on the taller side find themselves slumping down in their seats due to the sloping roof, which makes the already-limited legroom even less generous.
The newer models are even more sporty and low-slung than their predecessors, so you can be sure that your legs aren’t Toyota’s main priority. But we’ll give it to the Prius, it’s fun to drive, with regular stretching breaks of course!
The newer models are even more sporty and low-slung than their predecessors, so you can be sure that your legs aren’t Toyota’s main priority. But we’ll give it to the Prius, it’s fun to drive, with regular stretching breaks of course!
Jeep Renegade
It looks tall and boxy on the outside, but don’t let that fool you; the Jeep Renegade is surprisingly lacking in interior space. The seats are set into an upright position, which gives the illusion of space while narrowing footwells and knee room. In the back, knees regularly collide with the front seatbacks.
For a car that should be spacious and comfortable for any journey, the Renegade’s cabin is almost an afterthought. It’s vertically spacious, but has no room to stretch your legs out, so that extra headroom goes to waste. It looks great, but it’s definitely not designed for long drives.
For a car that should be spacious and comfortable for any journey, the Renegade’s cabin is almost an afterthought. It’s vertically spacious, but has no room to stretch your legs out, so that extra headroom goes to waste. It looks great, but it’s definitely not designed for long drives.
Lotus Exige
Everything about the Lotus Exige is sculpted and sharp, which is great for looks and performance, but not so much for your legs! Getting in requires some angling, and there’s not a lot of room to readjust once you’re seated. The tiny pedal box and footwells hold legs captive throughout the journey.
In the Exige, you must be constantly race-ready, which means no stretching your legs or sprawling out. It’s exhilarating to drive, but comfort didn’t factor into the design, and your legs will be counting down the seconds until they’re free.
In the Exige, you must be constantly race-ready, which means no stretching your legs or sprawling out. It’s exhilarating to drive, but comfort didn’t factor into the design, and your legs will be counting down the seconds until they’re free.
