The Age Factor in Ride Comfort: Comparing Younger and Older Passengers’ Perspectives

Paper in proceeding, 2025

This questionnaire study examined the influence of age on factors contributing to overall passenger ride comfort in cars. In total, 1,115 individuals participated, including 269 respondents aged 20–30 years and 260 aged 60–83 years. The questionnaire included two multiple-choice questions about the most and least important factors for front-seat passenger comfort, with eleven factors to choose from. Respondents could provide free-text explanations for their choices. Descriptive statistics quantified selected factors, while thematic analysis explored differences in free-text responses. The results showed that younger and older passengers shared similar preferences, identifying a comfortable seat and feeling safe with the driver as the most important factors. However, preferences differed in the perceived importance of safety features, climate, and functional design, due to variations in life experiences and activity preferences. The findings highlight a shared baseline of factors affecting ride comfort, while also revealing age-specific differences in passenger perception.