What is the deal with vehicle legroom these days?

We need to get a new vehicle so that a 16 year old son can drive it. He is just over 6 feet and still growing (just turned 16 too). Currently, he has a choice of driving our newer pickup or Honda CR-V. The truck is too hard for him to start out learning on. The real problem is that when he sits in the CR-V, his knees hit the dash, the steering wheels hits his thighs, and he can't stretch his legs out enough to operate the gas and brake pedals properly. It's unsafe for him to drive.

We want to get another SUV, but as we have learned, SUVs do not have good front legroom. Since they are considered a "truck", I would have thought that they would generally have good legroom. We also want to get something with all-wheel drive and that also has a tailgate that is not too high off the ground so that our dogs can hop in and out more easily (one has arthritis).

We tried a Subaru Forester (they have the highest advertised legroom), but it doesn't quite seem to fit him all that well. We have thought of a car just for him, but the insurance for teenagers is quite expensive here.

I don't quite understand how vehicle manufacturers measure and market their legroom numbers. The Ford truck has an advertised legroom that is less than the CR-V, but when the son sits in it, his legs are nowhere near the dash or steering wheel. So, does one have to basically try out every vehicle you have in mind to ensure you can fit into it okay? I don't understand how tall people (6 feet and up) fit into SUVs - it's a major handicap when it comes to driving one.

We are now even thinking of a station wagon, but the availability in all-wheel drive ones is pretty limited. Anyone have recommendations on what to look at?

TIA
Gil
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