mmosbey wrote: Suzuki still makes body-on-frame compact SUVs. If that matters, look for Vitara, Grand Vitara, Sidekick, Samurai, LJ series, X-90, or 01-06 XL7. All above were available with manual transmissions. You can also find rebadged Suzukis, of course, as Chevy Trackers or Geo Trackers.
Why would you choose a body-on-frame SUV? He needs something that is easy to get into and that vertical space that the frame fills up is just that much farther he will have to lift his leg?
The easiest cars to get in and out of are going to be unibody cars with low floors, but high seats and roofs. My mom has serious knee problems and has chosen a Vibe and a PT cruiser, she has a hard time getting into my body-on-frame 4Runner and would never consider getting one as a DD.
I think the Scion xB and Honda Element suggestions are spot-on!