5 Cars With the Best Back and Lumbar Support in 2025


Cara Carlone is a licensed P&C agent with 20 years of experience. She has her P&C license in RI and TX and holds CPCU, API, and AINS designations.

People look for many things when purchasing a new car. They look for a vehicle with great gas mileage or ample room for their families. They look for a car that is loaded with features or that has an intuitive dashboard. Many also look for something they will be happy to see parked in their driveway or garage.
It's also common to evaluate the comfort of the vehicle, particularly in terms of how much back and lumbar support it provides for the driver. A car may feel extremely comfortable during a 15-minute test drive, but if it lacks the proper support, longer drives can lead to back pain and discomfort.
Here we list some vehicles with great back and lumbar support. And remember, before you choose any car, make sure you inquire about getting it covered with car insurance. A local independent insurance agent can help you get the coverage you need.
Why Is Back and Lumbar Support 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, 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?
The best seats for back comfort provide substantial lumbar support, leg support, and a high degree of adjustability. A smooth ride is also important; rough or bouncy rides can make back pain even worse.
Many car manufacturers design comfortable car and SUV seats to provide 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 who 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 newer 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 adjust the back and neck support to allow for a slight recline or an upright position. No one seat position 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 and SUVs for Back and Lumbar Support?
These days, many vehicles offer fantastic back and lumbar support. It's pretty difficult to narrow a list down to the five best. We chose the following vehicles as among the best out there if you're looking for superior back and lumbar support.
Lexus LS460
The Lexus LS460 flagship sedan is inherently comfortable with an exceptional ride quality and a wide range of seat adjustments.
The luxury sedan features a standard 16-way power driver seat with fore/aft slide, up/down, seat cushion front-tilt up/down, seat cushion height up/down, seat cushion firmness, cushion length, lumbar support, and fore/aft recline adjustments.
Volvo S60
Volvo has a long history of creating seats with safety and comfort in mind. The Volvo S60 sedan has seats that were developed by orthopedic specialists to provide outstanding comfort and support during long drives.
Ford Fusion
The Ford Fusion offers a refined ride quality and seats that stay comfortable even after long hours on the road. Ford takes pride in creating seats that support the natural curve of the spine.
Nissan Altima
Nissan Altima offers "zero-gravity" seats created with NASA research. They provide continuous support from the pelvis to the chest to help reduce muscular and spinal loads. The manufacturer also boasts that the Altima's seat design fosters improved blood flow, helping to reduce fatigue during long drives.
"Zero-gravity" seats are also available in the Nissan Rogue and Nissan Murano.
Buick Enclave
If you're looking for an SUV, the Buick Enclave features a comfortable ride and accommodating seats that have been tested for comfort on people of all shapes, sizes, heights, and weights.
The Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia are built on the same platform and can be expected to feature the same level of comfort.
How to Create Your Own Lumbar Support
Just because you currently own a vehicle that provides mediocre back or lumbar support does not mean you need to trade it in for a more supportive model. There are things you can do to increase the comfort 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 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.
Get Car Insurance With Help From an Independent Insurance Agent
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.
With any new car purchase, you need the right car insurance, too. You can get the coverage you need with the help of an independent insurance agent. Independent agents work for you, not the insurance company, so you can feel confident you're getting the right policy for your needs and budget.
https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/the-best-vehicles-for-drivers-with-back-pain.html