Currently have a brand new 2012 equinox. Great on gas! The Seats go up and down I keep it all the way low so it's not too difficult to get in and out. It perfect height. The car is not too high or too low. Heated and air conditioned seats, telescopic steering wheel, lumbar support, the head rest moves forwars and back. The arms rest on the door and the center consol or perfect hight. My arms used to get tingly and fall asleep in other cars cause they were too high or too low. And when I sit in the passenger seat I love that the seat moves so far back I can stretch out my legs. Also have a Cadillac CTS and the car has the same features as the Equinox so I can move the steering wheel in and out, the seat goes up and down just not too good on gas. I have had alot of cars and none of them really worked out for my back. The thing I really like about both our Vehicles is I can set all my settings to me and my husband can set all his to him. We have a 1 & 2 button on the door so before I get in I can just hit the number on the door with my settings and I never have to adjust anything. Also everytime your turn the car off the seat moves back to give you room to get out of the car. It's a pretty nice feature :)
I had a...
Honda Civic - Standard and hurt my back to drive stick in traffic It would cripple me on a busy traffic day.
Ford Expedition - Too high to get in and out of and I found the seats were too high and where they hit my pressure points in the backs of my legs I would find my feet falling asleep. I needed something where I was sitting a little lower to the floor of the car so my legs could stretch out instead of on a 90 degree angle.
VW Golf - Too small to get in and out of and when in passenger wasn't enough leg room for those long drives when you just need to stretch out.
Pontiac Montana Van - Seats were very uncofortable, back hatch too hard to pull down, again my legs were on a 90 degree and it was pretty high to get in and out. Also very bad on gas.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide on :) Happy shopping!

I loved my Nissan Xterra, but I traded it because of the gas mileage.  I wish I had it back.  I now have a Nissan Maxima, and I hate it.  They're not made like they used to be.  It's jerky and built for a very big person (seriously, the seats were made for those giant stone statues on Easter Island).  I thought I was doing the socially responsible thing by trading the SUV for the sedan, and it does use less gas....  I just wish I didn't hate it so much.  Well, I guess I should feel lucky that I have a car at all because some of my countrymen don't right now.  I'll be done complaining.

I have only ever owned American cars because my father would punch me in the face if I bought otherwise.  I own a 05 Pontiac Grand Am and it was my 150 mile a day work car for a few years.  I am six foot six and 240 pounds with my shoes off but I used to love driving it.  I had to quit driving it as I became sicker because I would be in tears from pain after 30 minutes.  I am now driving an 06 Chevy Blazer but because of a recent transfer my drive to work is only about 30 minutes.  For some reason my left shoulder and neck are killing me after that short drive.  Both vehicles are paid for and I really do not want another car payment each month.  I don't think my answer helped you but if you find an awesome car please let me know.

Thanks everyone for all your great answers. Not sure I can still find a 1988 BMW but I will certainly look at all the other suggestions.

I finally gave up my older convertible BMW because it was just too damned difficult to get out of, particularly when my hips flared up.

My new Ford Edge was perfect - my 6'2" frame just slides in and out. No craning my neck to look upwards - and since it's a crossover, it's not enormous. It's basically built on a car chassis. And such comfy seats with seat warmers - great to loosen up a tight, painful spine and SI joints.

Gas mileage ... Well, not horrible, but it's no compact car. I love it - it's made a huge difference for me.

Before you make a decision to buy and you have narrowed it down to a couple of choices I would rent that model of car for a few days and drive it. Sometimes when I rent cars I find it is not that easy to get in a particular car.  Try getting in as a driver and driving and try and then get in a be a passenger.  Last time we were out of town and rented what I thought would be an OK full size car I wacked my head everytime I tried to get in and out.  It didn't matter which side either.  The car I drive now has heated seats and a special lumbar support that also engages when you go around a corner.  Heated seats are a must for me and I use them in the summer too with the AC blowing.  Good luck in your search

I drive a civic, my neck makes it a pain in the neck to get out sometimes.

I have an AWD toyota Venza  Love it.  Has lumbar adjustment, heated seats for my lower back, and the whole seat goes up and down as well front and back.  Makes it perfect to adjust to whats most comfortable.  I live in Chicago, so going through the snow is easy.  Has traction control and variable speed control.  Love it!

Mini suv or mini van. I have a Hyundai Tucson. Trick is to be able to enter or exit with minimum climbing or bending of back, hips, or neck.

I'm an old lady but love my Kia sportage. Good mileage and perfect height for climbing in and out of car. They have a nicer model that might do better in snow. I'm in Texas.

BMW 735I 1988. Great car, smooth,  comfortable, easy in and out, lots of room, rear wheel. Cheap to buy and cheap to maintain.

Toyota Rav 4! I love it! It rides comfortably, easy on gas, easy to get in and out of, lots of room and lots of bells and whistles. It has been the only vehicle that I have been able to ride in with out hurting, (Nice ride) lots of leg room and it's at just the right height to get in and out of with out a lot of trouble. I have Lupus, AS, RA and IBM. Used to have a Subaru and hated it. Relatives and friends have  have cadilacs, Ford Crown V and Lincolns. I would take the Rav 4 over any of them. Just my opinion. Good luck!