SMOOTH OPERATOR

Is there an especially smooth riding car available in Australia? A few years ago I damaged my neck, and ever since I’ve become very conscious of bumpy roads. A bus causes agony, taxis aren’t good and the best result so far has been the back seat of a Lexus where the seat has a cushion.

Richard Hill, email

Neck pain is no joke. Limousines such as the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes S-class offer superb ride quality, but are unaffordable to most. The latest Mazda3’s seats were designed to maintain the spine’s natural S-shaped curve, better stabilising the head, so that’d be worth a test. Also, Citroen’s C5 Aircross SUV is one of the standout cars I’ve tested in recent years for comfort. Entry-level models across all brands tend to have higher profile, more impactcushioning tyres. Avoid more fashionable lowprofile tyres to be kind to your neck.