cars for short people

[short person]

Can any short people help please?
I'm looking for a small s/h hatchback to replace my much-loved-but-ancient VW Polo. But I am having a lot of difficulty finding one I can drive comfortably.
I'm 5'2"", rather dumpy(to put it politely) with short legs. If I push the seat far enough forward to reach the pedals then the steering wheel is pushing into my lap!
Please can someone suggest a make that might suit - anything sensible and reliable will do.
The more upright seat position of the old Polo suited me fine, but I doubt it'll pass another MOT!

[rebeccapollo]

I have a Citroen AX (that is a G reg so very old but it is my first car which is tiny! Im 5ft7 so my head touches the ceiling almost. Its a very compact little car, my brother sits in it pretending to drive and reaches all the pedals with ease (he's 14). Maybe Citroen have made a more recent version that is of a similar size? Im looking forward to moving up to a bigger car as I think im outgrowing mine! Maybe you could go to your local garage and do some test drives of cars that appeal to you? You might be able to see how easy it is to adjust the seats etc then and whether they would be of any use to you

[sobagirl]

What about a 'Smart Car'!
Sorry couldn't resist!
I can only suggest you keep trying different ones.
I'm 5'10" so occasionally have the opposite to you, with head actually touching the roof!
What about another Polo?
Also check different models of same cars, as sometimes, fancier ones come with more seat adjustments.
Oh yes, and also maybe a model with an adjustable steering column, that makes your steering wheel go in a higher or lower position.
My mum had the same problem, only being 4'11", but she never went in for her test!
Good Luck in your search!

[cubic]

I'm 5ft 3 with short legs and have a peugeot 106 which seems fine for me.

[sam maxwell]

Im 5ft 1 and my P reg corsa is ideal for me.

[sharon]

I am a bit short too and I got on really well with my Peugeot 106 too, its was diesel and did loads to the gallon

[SteveW]

I saw this problem come up in the mototing section of the Telegraph a few weeks ago and Honest John suggested a Toyota Yaris.

[Hebs]

What about the ford ka, I'm 5'8 and went to try one a few years ago but my knees were on the steering wheel. I think the ka's are better suited to small people.

[eilrex]

I am 5ft and have short legs. When I lived in the UK I drove a Fiesta which was great. Now I live in France I have to share my husband's Citroen Xzara estate. No trouble reaching the pedals though and I just ignore the length behind me. Only one small accident so far when I reversed into a concrete post!!!

[Nickernow]

im 4ft 11 and 3/4, and i drive a toyota truck which is huge but i cope fine, my last car was a astra, the one before a sierra estate, also in the past i have driven a variety of different taxi's, vauxhalls, hyundais, sierra's, skodas, nissans, plus many more i've forgot, my first car was a mk 3 escort, then a mini, then a mk 2 escort, i also drive my hubbys transit van, the largest thing ive driven is a 52 seater coach which was quite hard but as long as the vehicle has got a good seating position you'll be fine, the hardest one i found was a seat leon cupra which gutted my hubby as he desperately wanted one but my short little legs could just not get on with sporty seats

[short person]

Many thanks to you all for your ideas, I'll check some of them out.
Thank you Nickernow for sharing your experience, that was particularly helpful - you're quite right, I can drive my OH's Astra quite happily, I just can't fit with the sportier style of some of the more recent hatchbacks. I'll look at a wider range of cars next time!

[karen]

citroen saxo my husband says the peddles are seriously close together and my friend who is five foot nothing loved hers till it was totalled now she drives a corsa