What are the best and most practical cars?

[mmhg]

I'm looking for a car that has a several different qualifications. Namely:
1. I think I should have a car that is new enough that the airbags / seatbelts / model keep you safe, but old enough that it cannot be digitally hacked from a distance. In my mind, this would mean a car model made between the years 2000-2010 give or take.
2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.
3. Probably this car should be fuel-efficient for its size.

I think of the ford excursion with a 6.3 diesel engine as the ideal, but I have never had a car like that. If anyone has had a car like that, I would love to get feedback.

Thank you in advance!

[Neto]

I have heard a number of mechanics say that there was a major proliferation of computerized 'innovations' (things that will kill off a vehicle when it gets older, and fails) starting with many of the 2019 models. If there is interest in pickups, then I would mention the continued 4th generation RAMs (kept alongside the new 5th gen RAMs), called the RAM Classic. (We own a 2019 model, and they continued to build these pickups until around the end of 2024. It has a few features I don't care for, but not the 'invasive' ones like automatic braking, lane mitigation, etc.)

But if you would want to be sure that no one (including the government) can just automatically make your vehicle inoperative, then you need to go with pre 1984. (according to popular opinion during that era). But there are many safety features like air bags that you will not find in many vehicles before the early 1990's. (I think airbags became mandatory in the late 90's, but the 93 Chrysler Town & Country we had did have the frontal ones for the driver & front seat passenger.)

EDIT: Vehicles built in countries like Brazil maintained a much higher owner repair capability, and vehicles more than 25 years old are easier to import. Still not cheap, however.

[JohnH]

I'm looking for a car that has a several different qualifications. Namely:
1. I think I should have a car that is new enough that the airbags / seatbelts / model keep you safe, but old enough that it cannot be digitally hacked from a distance. In my mind, this would mean a car model made between the years 2000-2010 give or take.
2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.
3. Probably this car should be fuel-efficient for its size.

I think of the ford excursion with a 6.3 diesel engine as the ideal, but I have never had a car like that. If anyone has had a car like that, I would love to get feedback.

Thank you in advance!

Speaking as a cybersecurity professional, I would never worry about out a car being hacked.

A diesel Ford Excursion doesn’t sound fuel efficient to me. They are also absurdly expensive. I was extremely happy trade my last diesel vehicle (a 2000 VW Beetle) for a 2012 Super Duty van - flex fuel, gasoline.

Gets 18MPG, and it’s got plenty of space to recline an entire family in the back. I’m pretty sure the seller had been living out of it.

[Grace]

I'm looking for a car that has a several different qualifications. Namely:
1. I think I should have a car that is new enough that the airbags / seatbelts / model keep you safe, but old enough that it cannot be digitally hacked from a distance. In my mind, this would mean a car model made between the years 2000-2010 give or take.
2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.
3. Probably this car should be fuel-efficient for its size.

I think of the ford excursion with a 6.3 diesel engine as the ideal, but I have never had a car like that. If anyone has had a car like that, I would love to get feedback.

Thank you in advance!

Our Mechanic friend says that the Honda CRV's made before 2016 are great. Also, the Toyota RAV4.

[R7ehr]

I'm looking for a car that has a several different qualifications. Namely:
1. I think I should have a car that is new enough that the airbags / seatbelts / model keep you safe, but old enough that it cannot be digitally hacked from a distance. In my mind, this would mean a car model made between the years 2000-2010 give or take.
2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.
3. Probably this car should be fuel-efficient for its size.

I think of the ford excursion with a 6.3 diesel engine as the ideal, but I have never had a car like that. If anyone has had a car like that, I would love to get feedback.

Thank you in advance!

6.3 diesel is not an engine that Ford put in the Excursion. Those years, Ford put in 6.0 and 6.4, which are both horrible engines. The 6.3 is aftermarket. If you are open to aftermarket, or seeking out aftermarket engines, why not a Cummins?

Some time around 2005ish, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems started being installed. If you are worried about tracking, there are surveillance systems that have the capability of using TPMS as identifying factors as you drive past.

[ohio jones]

2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.

Seats that recline to a lie-flat position are quite rare. Second- and third-row seats that fold forward to form a flat floor are frequently found, most commonly in Mopar minivans.

If fuel efficiency is a consideration, a truck-based vehicle is probably not the place to look.

[Southerner]

I'm looking for a car that has a several different qualifications. Namely:
1. I think I should have a car that is new enough that the airbags / seatbelts / model keep you safe, but old enough that it cannot be digitally hacked from a distance. In my mind, this would mean a car model made between the years 2000-2010 give or take.
2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.
3. Probably this car should be fuel-efficient for its size.

I think of the ford excursion with a 6.3 diesel engine as the ideal, but I have never had a car like that. If anyone has had a car like that, I would love to get feedback.

Thank you in advance!

Are you a bot?

[JohnH]

I'm looking for a car that has a several different qualifications. Namely:
1. I think I should have a car that is new enough that the airbags / seatbelts / model keep you safe, but old enough that it cannot be digitally hacked from a distance. In my mind, this would mean a car model made between the years 2000-2010 give or take.
2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.
3. Probably this car should be fuel-efficient for its size.

I think of the ford excursion with a 6.3 diesel engine as the ideal, but I have never had a car like that. If anyone has had a car like that, I would love to get feedback.

Thank you in advance!

Are you a bot?

As a sceptic I can confirm a significant level of humanness.

Either that or an extremely sophisticated AI.

[mmhg]

Are you a bot?

No, what kind of question is that?

[Neto]

2. I think this car should have the ability to recline a seat back far enough that it lays flat like a bed.

Seats that recline to a lie-flat position are quite rare. Second- and third-row seats that fold forward to form a flat floor are frequently found, most commonly in Mopar minivans.

If fuel efficiency is a consideration, a truck-based vehicle is probably not the place to look.

I have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan that has the Stow-n-Go seats that fold down completely into the floor. This gives a 4 x 8 area in the back.