Why Have Cars Become So Big?

Cars are relentless increasing in size these days, but what's driving this automotive trend towards larger vehicles and is there any sign of it slowing down?

#Cars #Car #BigCar

[richardbarber]

Agreed 100% You may not remember the Ford Anglias, Escorts, Prefects, Standard (not Vanguard) BMC's tin boxes all and most larger cars were safer. When My family moved to Canada in 1985 we were advised to buy a big older car because they were safer. We started with a Chrysler Cordoba 5.9 litre V8 with 2 doors to keep the kids in. It was a nice car but only15 MPG so only minimum. PS my parents had a Ford Granada, also a really nice car.

[Paul]

A lot has to do with the ever so stringent safety regulations. But if I look at a BMW X1 for example, I just figure they don't give a shit anymore.

[brianwhelan]

Safety in cars increasing!....does that include EVs? or have you done any research into that and if so where do you do your research? mainstream or alternative? A cargo ship sank off the coast of the Azores maybe 3 to 4 years ago because it was carrying 400 high end EVs, one of the EVs went on fire and eventually all the cars were on fire, the crew were airlifted to the Azores and the ship sank!

[a]

Not all cars is larger, some have just gotten more heavy... Like for example the 2 seater "sports car" Mercedes SLK that is now 2000kg. My 3, 2m tall and 6, 5m long Ford Transit Box van is only slightly more heavy.

[fuzzhypno]

Remember also, , Most english roads were made for horse traffic as opposed to say america where most of there roads were made for 'big' cars, , , resulting in smaller cars 'back in the day' in the uk, , resulting in more problems in the uk with bigger cars on small country roads, parking space sizes garage door size etcetc, , , , (would have been nice to see some pics side by side of older + new styles) always shocks me when i see an ols mini or other stuff, even an old escort in a carpark next to modern suv's, look like dinky toys ;)

[shadeburst]

It is 100% consumer preference. In the socialist paradise we would all drive Ladas but when people are allowed to choose they buy the biggest that they can afford. For a lot of people status is the most important thing in life.

[drstevej]

Because no one would ever make a new model that is smaller. People like the idea of getting something bigger. Moreover a bigger car is a must since everything else is getting bigger. Moreover the cost of fuel has declined in terms of cost adjusted for inflation. Engines are far more fuel efficient which makes it possible to make bigger cars without paying more for fuel.

[gbone]

American influence, have a look at pickups aka utes, bakkies or trucks, they are monsters now and fugly!