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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You have to remember, cars got smaller because the market demanded it. Cars started getting smaller during the oil crises of the 1970s. Smaller cars, burned less gas, and gas was expensive, so of course people wanted smaller cars … and manufacturers went and did what the people wanted.
I guess all you can say is that today, demand seems to be for larger cars. Why keep making smaller cars when it’s clear people are interested in buying larger ones?
There are two factors at play.
One, stricter safety standards and increased horsepower from better engines leads to heavier cars all around.
Two, is the effect of marketing. Honda has the accord. Every year, the marketing people want to say the accord is slightly better. Better, in the eyes of americans, is just a little roomier, just a little more feature-packed. Over time, this means the accord keeps getting slightly larger and more expensive. This opens up room under the accord, first the civic, then the fit. If you’re comparing the 1976 accord to a more modern Honda car, you would properly compare it to the smallest Honda car available. Comparing the 1976 accord to the modern accord is misleading at best, simply inaccurate at worst.
There are two factors at play.
One, stricter safety standards and increased horsepower from better engines leads to heavier cars all around.
Two, is the effect of marketing. Honda has the accord. Every year, the marketing people want to say the accord is slightly better. Better, in the eyes of americans, is just a little roomier, just a little more feature-packed. Over time, this means the accord keeps getting slightly larger and more expensive. This opens up room under the accord, first the civic, then the fit. If you’re comparing the 1976 accord to a more modern Honda car, you would properly compare it to the smallest Honda car available. Comparing the 1976 accord to the modern accord is misleading at best, simply inaccurate at worst.
You have to remember, cars got smaller because the market demanded it. Cars started getting smaller during the oil crises of the 1970s. Smaller cars, burned less gas, and gas was expensive, so of course people wanted smaller cars … and manufacturers went and did what the people wanted.
I guess all you can say is that today, demand seems to be for larger cars. Why keep making smaller cars when it’s clear people are interested in buying larger ones?
There are two factors at play.
One, stricter safety standards and increased horsepower from better engines leads to heavier cars all around.
Two, is the effect of marketing. Honda has the accord. Every year, the marketing people want to say the accord is slightly better. Better, in the eyes of americans, is just a little roomier, just a little more feature-packed. Over time, this means the accord keeps getting slightly larger and more expensive. This opens up room under the accord, first the civic, then the fit. If you’re comparing the 1976 accord to a more modern Honda car, you would properly compare it to the smallest Honda car available. Comparing the 1976 accord to the modern accord is misleading at best, simply inaccurate at worst.
Car manufacturing is almost entirely riven by consumer demand. Almost every change in styling, technology, design, price, fuel economy, entertainment systems, type of seat covering, size of the steering wheel, lumens of the headlights, are all made because they are following what is selling.
Cars have gotten bigger in the last 10-15 years because bigger cars sold better. Ford stopped making cars altogether, because SUVs and Trucks sold better.
Car manufacturing is almost entirely riven by consumer demand. Almost every change in styling, technology, design, price, fuel economy, entertainment systems, type of seat covering, size of the steering wheel, lumens of the headlights, are all made because they are following what is selling.
Cars have gotten bigger in the last 10-15 years because bigger cars sold better. Ford stopped making cars altogether, because SUVs and Trucks sold better.
Car manufacturing is almost entirely riven by consumer demand. Almost every change in styling, technology, design, price, fuel economy, entertainment systems, type of seat covering, size of the steering wheel, lumens of the headlights, are all made because they are following what is selling.
Cars have gotten bigger in the last 10-15 years because bigger cars sold better. Ford stopped making cars altogether, because SUVs and Trucks sold better.
US car companies have done a ton of research and figured out that bigger models are more profitable.
In many places they only sell enough small cars to bring their fleet average within government mileage standards.
In countries where gas is more expensive (I e. nost of the rest of the world) smaller cars are relatively more popular.
P.S. have you ever driven a 1960s or early 1970s “land yacht”? Those things were huge.
P.P.S. while it’s probably not a huge factor, smaller cars take proportionately more damage in accidents with big trucks. This is partly but not completely counteracted by the massive safety improvements across the board. There are still people who feel that bigger cars are safer.
The first generarion accord (77-82), which is honda’s largest sadan (and 2 door hatchback offering then) is the same length, and smaller width and height, as honda’s smallest offering in the us up until 2020 (the fit). Now, it is significantly smaller than the smallest honda (the hrv). The accord now (2018 model) is more than 1.5 times the weight.
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