I’m not just talking about pickup trucks that have gotten huge, but rather cars in general. Take a look at the 5th generation Honda Civic hatchback and compare it to the newest Honda Civic Hatchback model. Not only did the car gain approximately 1,000lbs/453Kg, but its length, height, and space drastically changed. Sure it’s a 30 year difference but even other car models from the early 2010s compared to their same models today are way bigger and heavier in just under a decade Why is this?
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Trucks are for EPA reasons and fuel economy/wheelbase restrictions. Cars and crossovers/SUVs are bigger because people want more room, and it’s a fairly easy way to out do your competition by making the car larger over time.
I think there’s a phenomenon where a particular model gets slightly bigger with each update, maybe to appeal to repeat buyers. Usually a smaller model gets introduced under the previously smallest, eg the Honda Fit.
Trucks are for EPA reasons and fuel economy/wheelbase restrictions. Cars and crossovers/SUVs are bigger because people want more room, and it’s a fairly easy way to out do your competition by making the car larger over time.
I think there’s a phenomenon where a particular model gets slightly bigger with each update, maybe to appeal to repeat buyers. Usually a smaller model gets introduced under the previously smallest, eg the Honda Fit.
Bigger people, more amenities, and more safety features would be my guess. All that space leaves room for crumple zones, soundproofing and all the extra airbags. We had a 94′ civic and while it was a great commuter and fuel efficient car (49mpg) it was built like a tin can. There just wasn’t a lot of room if you got hit and good luck on any soundproofing. The safety of modern cars is lightyears beyond what we had thirty years ago. And the antiskid, ABS and other safety features are way beyond of what most cars had back even 20 years ago.
Crash standards- Interior volume had to grow, especially around the head area. Small cars had to get big inside. But we need cheap and expensive cars so to respond, big cars had to get even bigger inside. And since we don’t drive a Tardis, the outside got bigger too.
Money- here’s a dirty secret. It cost about the same to make a little vehicle and a big vehicle. Scrap steel is cheap. Maybe you have 2 more cylinders on the big vehicle but it’s still round about the same number of parts and the same amount of labour to assemble it. The parts are just a bit bigger.
So the auto makers lobbied the EPA to calculate mileage based on the square footage of the wheelbase. *poof* All of a sudden, a 4 door long box pickup truck gets better mileage pet square foot than a mid sized van. Because it has a big empty box out back. It’s really that fucked up. And this is why rugged compact ‘work horse’ regular cab trucks and vans like the astro van died.
Bigger people, more amenities, and more safety features would be my guess. All that space leaves room for crumple zones, soundproofing and all the extra airbags. We had a 94′ civic and while it was a great commuter and fuel efficient car (49mpg) it was built like a tin can. There just wasn’t a lot of room if you got hit and good luck on any soundproofing. The safety of modern cars is lightyears beyond what we had thirty years ago. And the antiskid, ABS and other safety features are way beyond of what most cars had back even 20 years ago.
Looking at a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross with tears in my eyes asking why they ruined such beauty.
Looking at a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross with tears in my eyes asking why they ruined such beauty.
Bigger people, more amenities, and more safety features would be my guess. All that space leaves room for crumple zones, soundproofing and all the extra airbags. We had a 94′ civic and while it was a great commuter and fuel efficient car (49mpg) it was built like a tin can. There just wasn’t a lot of room if you got hit and good luck on any soundproofing. The safety of modern cars is lightyears beyond what we had thirty years ago. And the antiskid, ABS and other safety features are way beyond of what most cars had back even 20 years ago.
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