Car comfort is all about how to have the most comfortable journey in your vehicle.
Comfortable cars are designed to have excellent seating, ride quality, noise insulation, and features to improve your experience.
I’ll be giving advice and tips from my experience of driving through over 30 countries.
But there’s more…
I’ll be talking about the best gear, gadgets, and noise reduction tips to make your journey as enjoyable as possible.
Let’s get started…
Affiliate Disclosure: Thank you for supporting The Road Trip Expert. When you purchase through links on this site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Please see our advertising disclosure for more details.
Comfortable Seating
I’m sure you’ll agree that lower back pain when driving can really make a trip drag and leave you feeling drained when you arrive.
Comfortable seats in a vehicle are absolutely the most important aspect of car comfort!
There are many aspects to consider from the firmness, material, positioning to the lumbar support.
Let’s jump in one by one…
Lower Back Support
Seats come on a spectrum from soft and pillowy to firm and supportive.
Generally speaking, a soft seat will be comfy for a short trip. However, over a longer duration, the lack of support on your back and legs will become apparent.
That’s because softer seats which you sink into tend to lead to an unnatural seating position which can put a strain on certain areas.
If you have soft seats and require more lumbar support to reduce back pain, I’d recommend this product:
LoveHome Memory Foam Lumbar Support Back Cushion
A lumbar support can be fitted to your car seat easily to provide extra support and a better seating position. Check out this support cushion by LoveHome.
- Alleviates lower back pain
- Sturdy and supportive
- Washable with adjustable straps
In addition, taking a regular breaks and moving around is a great way to avoid causing further problems.
Driving Position
Slouching isn’t a big problem on short journeys.
However…
On longer journeys, you will want to try to sit more upright with sufficient back and leg support to prevent back pain. If you are tall like me this can sometimes be difficult but you have to try to sit upright!
Try to sit back with your head and shoulders and with your back against the seat.
Leg Support
Try to sit with your legs supported such they are parallel to the road. Avoid putting pressure on your lower back by having your thighs at an angle
If your knees are higher than your backside that it puts a lot of pressure on your lower back which can cause back pain. This is one of the reasons why, over time, slouching can lead to problems.
Back Seat Comfort
Back seats can often be less comfortable due to the seating position. There is often less space meaning that your knees are often higher than your backside and it’s difficult to sit up straight.
Solutions:
- Stop for regular breaks and move around, do stretches, and complete a range of motion
- Take turns to sit in the front seats. Whilst there, aim to sit up straight with your back in an upright, not slouched, position.
Car Sound Insulation
Noise into a vehicle can come from rattling components, noisy tires, and insufficient insulation.
The best way to soundproof your vehicle is to aim to do the following
- Buy sound deadening mats from Amazon and put them underneath the occupants’ floor mats.
- Buy higher quality tires that can reduce sound.
- Insulate the vehicle doors to reduce vibrations
- Reduce the sound of your exhaust
Noico Sound Deadening Mats for Vehicles
There are clear product instructions on the Amazon page for how to complete the sound proofing of your vehicle.
Car Comfort Accessories
The most obvious and easily accessible car comfort accessories involve music. If your car does not have Bluetooth but you wish to connect it to a smartphone, you can purchase a Bluetooth Receiver like this one on Amazon.
you can also consider a mobile phone holder and an in-car charger.
Luxury Car Accessories
There are a huge number of luxury car accessories to choose from. Here are a few for you to consider!
- High-Quality Vacuum Cleaner
Keeping the car clean and tidy makes it a more pleasurable environment to spend a lot of time in. A vacuum cleaner is a must have!
- Luxury Car Seat Covers
If you want to spice up the interior of your vehicle you could consider some luxury car seat covers such as these from Luckyman. Perfect for a sedan, SUV or truck.
Car Accessories For Kids
Keeping kids entertained in the car is a tall order! We have an article on the best road trip games for kids.
Alternatively, you could consider some accessories to keep them busy during the ride.
- A Travel Tray for the child’s toys to be on.
- iPad Headrest Mount
- Window Shade
Best Car Comfort Features
When purchasing a car, you might often think about performance or style first. Given how many hours you will spend on the road its a good idea to consider car comfort!
Here are some top features to look out for.
- Different Driving Modes
- The Level of Noise When Driving
- Awesome Sunroof
- Electric Seats
- Power Steering
- Great Audio System With Bluetooth
- Rear Passenger Seat Entertainment
- Climate Control
- Leather Seats
- In-Car Seat Massage
- Central Entertainment System
- Long Wheelbase
- Memory Foam Seats
- Heated Seats
- Comfortable Suspension
- Variable Lighting Modes
Taking Breaks
I would recommend taking a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours behind the wheel.
Staying seating for long periods of time can lead to back pain and posture imbalance.
Whilst you are on your break make sure you stretch, move around and get the blood flowing. Movement is the key to preventing injury or discomfort.
Most Comfortable Cars
Generally speaking, if you are looking for the most comfortable car to buy. You will be best off checking out this article by a popular car website.
a popular car review website.
Overall, I would say some of the most comfortable cars I have been in are luxury saloons such as those produced by Mercedes, Jaguar or BMW.
Driving Style for Maximum Comfort
If you are carrying passengers or looking to maximize car comfort for your own journey consider the following ideas:
- Try not to brake or accelerate too sharply
- Gentle gear changes and cornering
- Use cruise control whilst on the highway
- Make sure your mirrors and seat are aligned correctly.
Car Entertainment
Luxury cars can have extravagant infotainment systems built-in as standard to keep you entertained.
Bluetooth streaming is a great way to play your music or audiobook of choice whilst driving. If your audio system does not have Bluetooth you can purchase a Bluetooth receiver like this one from Amazon.
If you are using a smartphone to play the music you can also consider getting an in-car charger and a phone holder for your vehicle.
Vehicle Management and Reliability
This advice is fairly obvious but having a full tank of gas will result in less unnecessary stops along your route and a more comfortable drive on your own schedule.
In addition to this, a well-maintained vehicle is less likely to break down or have mechanical issues. This is important for a stress-free journey.
If you are preparing an old car for a long trip, we have an article for that!
Do you have any tips for maximum car comfort?
Let me know in the comments so I can add it to this resource!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you make a qualifying purchase, but this is at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting The Road Trip Expert.