For most of us, hitting the open road offers the chance to easily leave our cares behind for a while. But for those who use a wheelchair, deal with chronic pain, or have other challenges with mobility, driving – and choosing a car – isn’t always so easy. This week, though, Edmunds.com, the comprehensive site for buying a car, announced its 2010 Buying Guide, including recommendations for those with mobility challenges:

2010 Top Recommended Mobility Vehicles

• 2010 Toyota Prius (sedan)

Please see news (2/9/10) regarding Toyota's recall of 437,000 of the 2010 Toyota Prius for brake problems.

• 2010 Chevrolet Impala (sedan)
• 2010 Ford Transit Connect (full-size vans & minivans)
• 2010 Ford Taurus (sedan)
• 2010 Chrysler Town and Country (full-size vans & minivans)
• 2009 Honda Element (wagons & SUVs)
• 2009 Dodge Sprinter (full-size vans and minivans)

“These days there are more automotive options for mobility-challenged drivers than ever before,” says the Edmunds.com site, “and a wide array of conversion-ready vans, minivans and SUVs for drivers using wheelchairs.” For example, the Toyota Prius, reports Edmunds.com, has “lots of technology features that will be useful to those wrestling with arthritis,” while the Honda Element’s “wide-opening clamshell doors are wheelchair-friendly.”

Check out Edmund.com’s Mobility Buying Guide recommendations and its 2010 New Car Buying Guide.