Bumpy Rides Vs. Blissful Cruisers
Motion sickness ruins even the shortest trips, and some cars make it worse. Harsh suspensions, jittery handling, and cramped cabins create a recipe for nausea. Others, though, offer buttery-smooth rides that calm your senses. We’ll have a look at 10 motion offenders first, then tell you about the cars you should look at instead if you suffer from motion sickness.
1. Jeep Wrangler
Rolling over asphalt in the 2024 Jeep Wrangler feels like off-roading on gravel. Its solid axles and short wheelbase punish you on pothole-filled streets. Passengers often report motion sickness in the rear seats due to the bouncy suspension and limited forward visibility. You’ll feel every rut.
2. Ford EcoSport
Tipping the scales at 3,021 to 3,300 pounds, the Ford EcoSport (especially the 2020 model) feels unstable at speed. Its high stance and twitchy handling make highway crosswinds a nightmare. Add a choppy suspension, and you've got a commuter that doesn’t believe in comfort.
3. Nissan Juke
Remember the 2015 Nissan Juke? Its turbo engine screamed performance, but the suspension screamed, “Brace yourself.” Sharp cornering caused a sudden body roll. That combo made passengers woozy fast. Quirky design aside, it was one of those rides that affected your stomach more than potholes did.
4. Toyota C-HR
Strap into a 2022 Toyota C-HR and prepare for bounce. Its stiff suspension delivers every road ripple straight to your spine. Rear-seat passengers complain most—tight quarters plus abrupt cornering equals nausea. This isn’t the ride you want post-meal.
5. Chevrolet Spark
Size can be deceiving. The 2021 Chevy Spark may look cute, but its ride quality is brutal. Weighing just 2,278 pounds and sporting a short wheelbase, it hops across cracked pavement. Even road testers have noted its stiff and busy ride. You won’t forget this one.
6. Mini Cooper S
Flick the wheel, and the Mini darts like a squirrel. That’s fun—until your stomach flips. The 2023 Cooper S has a taut suspension and quick reflexes. For drivers, it’s thrilling. For passengers, not so much. One tight turn too many, and it’s barf bags out.
7. Scion xB
Boxy styling isn’t the only sharp edge here. The 2013 Scion xB offers minimal suspension travel and a firm ride that jars through cracked pavement. Taller passengers feel it most. It’s spacious, sure, but riding in it feels like bouncing inside a shipping crate.
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8. Mitsubishi Mirage
It's budget-friendly but not motion-friendly. The 2021 Mirage is plagued by jittery handling and low-rent dampers. Wind gusts toss it around like a balloon, and MotorTrend dubbed its ride “unsettled.” Add in the loud cabin noise, and motion sickness might hit before the next stop sign.
9. Fiat 500
Try backseating a 2016 Fiat 500 across pothole-lined streets. The short wheelbase and taut springs convert imperfections into gut punches. It may turn heads downtown, but it turns your stomach just as easily. Style over stability? In this case, your lunch might vote no.
10. Chevy Colorado ZR2
Built to conquer canyons, the 2023 ZR2 doesn’t care for asphalt courtesy. Its Multimatic shocks work magic off-road, but unfortunately, feel harsh and restless on highways. Big tires amplify the thump over speed bumps. Sure, you can drive it to the trailhead, just don’t bring grandma along.
After all the stomach-churning, it's time to breathe easy. The next 10 cars deliver calm, cushioned drives that even motion-sensitive passengers can enjoy.
1. Lexus ES 350
Luxury meets levitation in the 2023 Lexus ES 350. Its adaptive suspension system absorbs rough roads like memory foam while noise-canceling tech keeps things hushed. Even rear passengers stay serene. You’ll glide through traffic without jostling your internal organs.
2. Chrysler Pacifica
Hauling kids shouldn’t feel like battling motion sickness. The 2022 Pacifica nails family comfort with plush seats and smooth gear shifts. The cabin noise is impressively muted. Chrysler even offers a hybrid version that enhances low-speed smoothness. With the Pacifica, road trips get dramatically easier for everyone.
3. Honda Accord
The 2023 Accord plays the long game. Steering is precise, the suspension is forgiving, and the chassis feels confident without ever being harsh. You’ll barely notice cracked asphalt or freeway seams. Car and Driver even called it a “comfort champ.” Perfect for picky passengers!
4. Lincoln Navigator
Full-size doesn’t mean full-shake. The 2023 Navigator uses adaptive damping and rear air suspension to make 6,000 pounds feel like a spa massage. Even at 70 mph, road noise vanishes. This SUV simply glides like a rolling hotel suite, where third-row riders get treated like royalty.
5. Tesla Model S
Electric calm redefined. The 2023 Model S delivers a near-silent cabin, no gear shifts, and whisper-smooth acceleration. Air suspension flattens bumps before you feel them. Passengers often ask, “Are we even moving?” That’s what happens when silence and sci-fi engineering come together on four wheels.
6. Toyota Avalon
Comfort defines the 2022 Avalon. Toyota gave it a plush suspension and thick insulation that absorbs both sound and shock. On torn-up roads, it still glides like warm butter over toast. One ride in this cruiser, and you’ll stop dreading long highway hauls.
7. Buick Enclave
Soft-spoken but not soft-spined, the 2023 Enclave moves through suburbia without disturbing your coffee. Buick’s QuietTuning tech shuts out noise, while a refined suspension keeps things settled. Think of it as a recliner hidden cleverly inside an SUV.
8. Hyundai Palisade
Cushy doesn’t have to mean boring. The 2024 Palisade delivers luxury-level composure at family-SUV prices. Multi-link rear suspension smooths out potholes, and cabin silence rivals Lexus. No rattles, no rocking. Even the in-laws won’t gripe—unless they miss their exit in total comfort.
9. Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Engineered for serenity, the 2023 E-Class knows how to behave. Its AIRMATIC system adjusts suspension on the fly, turning rough patches into barely-there ripples. At highway speeds, it’s hypnotically quiet. You’ll arrive rested, not rattled. German precision has rarely felt this soft and soothing.
10. Subaru Outback
The 2023 Outback offers generous ground clearance and a plush ride thanks to long-travel suspension. It eats up uneven terrain without drama. Add in soft seats and a hushed cabin, and you’ve got a wagon that handles trails like therapy.
