I’m currently driving around Iceland. I have seen a Renault Megane, a plethora of newer Yaris’, one Yaris Cross (I lost my damned mind) and a crap ton of Suzuki Jimnys. Now, I’ve driven in some awful conditions in the states. Blizzards in Montana, Tornadoes in Texas, hail storms in the South and ridiculous wind in Arizona. I have driven in all of that in this tiny country, all in a short wheel base Kia Sportage. I was also outpaced by a fucking Yaris today, absolutely bombing down the mountain in 1c weather. Mind you, it was not a GR so AWD was out of the question.
I am so impressed by this Kia and all of the insanely capable Jimnys I am seeing coming off of F-roads.
If a harsh place like Iceland can coexist with RAM 2500s and modern Yaris’, why can’t we?
Oh, and when I say around I don’t mean poking around Reykjavik, I am literally driving the Ring Road around an entire country. Coolest experience ever.
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The US laws prefer large vehicles.
Look into the 25% import tax on small work trucks- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
Also, larger SUVs and trucks get preferential treatment under gas mileage standards. Someone more familiar can explain better.
FYI - my daily is a 24 year old Subaru.
Once a vehicle is over a certain size, vehicles get exempted from fuel economy standards and taxes because they’re classified as “light trucks”, which was originally intended for work vehicles.
Do you have the same light bulbs in your instrument cluster as the 01? Fuckin tachometer and speedo lights went out in my Forester and I’m a little salty. I had a ford fiesta, loved it, hated it, sold it before we moved so we wouldn’t have to tow it. Got an 01 Forester. Miss having subcompact hatches so hard, so we found an 01 Honda insight, but it’s rouuugh lol.
There are a few out but I can still see. The light on the radio annoys me because it is out entirely and I haven’t gotten around to replacing the radio yet.
People are constantly surprised when I tell them my GTI is great in winter with snow tires. These are the same people who tell me their SUVs are perfect for snow rocking bald all seasons cause FoUr WhEeL dRiVe.
I’ve been driving front wheel drive hatchbacks for almost 20 years in 62+ degrees north latitude. This winter was the first time I got stuck when we suddenly shattered the october snowfall record and it overwhelmed the snow removal capacity. I’d still want a AWD, but it’s really not necessary. It’s probably faster and safer to ski to work in conditions where AWD is a must.
I don’t doubt that at all; I had a civic si that was the best car I’ve ever owned in the snow and I only had all-seasons on it. One time, I stayed at work way later than I should have when a blizzard was hitting and made the 20 mile drive home without an issue. As I got within 5 miles of my house there were very few other vehicles on the road except for an occasional truck and they weren’t having any easier of a time than I was.
It’s pretty uncomfortable to drive around the city in 4x4 mode. I’d much rather have an AWD drive vehicle unless you’re really driving through deep snow or going off-road. The clearance on trucks is nice though.
The success of the Maverick gives me hope we will see more attempts at small vehicles going forwards.
There are tornadoes in Iceland?
Sure felt like it! Winds were kicking at 40km sustained on the west coast. Absolutely killed our mileage that day. But no, no tornadoes
Think the smallest modern car we got was the Toyota Yaris which was a rebranded Mazda2. And that got axed due to low sales. Consumers need more of an incentive to downsize
How about: America needs less and smaller cars
We had the Jimny here for a bit, called the Suzuki Samurai. There was also the upsized cousin, the Suzuki Sidekick/Vitara and Geo/Chevy Tracker into the 00s. That’s what I have and love it. I wanted some 4wd capability but not the fuel consumption or parking space for a normal suv/pickup. It weighs less than a modern Miata and is shorter, too. As a 2 door variant, it suits my primary driving need: solo and single-passenger short trips with less than a seat-full of cargo. The average car-owning household in the US owns something like 2.3 cars and is in the suburbs/semi urban. They don’t all have to be 7-seat or 8ft-bed trucks. And this whole fear of snow… Don’t go out. Stock up food before storms. US suburbs fare just fine with modern communication and snow removal as long as it’s not Texas. Your job won’t miss you if you die in a blizzard
Can’t go wrong with some hot hatchbacks, Fiesta, Corsa, Clio, Golf, Astra, Focus, Civic, Yaris.
Some fantastic cars which some of them can be pretty fast, handle well, and being hatchback have a decent amount of room. And cheap as shit to run.
A Kia Sportage is a small crossover. That category is one of the most popular in America. There are already a huge number of them on the roads and the models like the Rav4 and CRV are often among the top 5 models in terms of new cars sold.
As a sidenote please do not buy a Kia. The company just simply isn’t committed to quality. Every few years it’s revealed a huge number of their models has some fatal flaw. The company always refuses to fix everything until they get their ass sued into oblivion.
Very true but we don’t have this Kia. The Sportage here is a shorter wheel base than what we have in the states. I want to say 6 inches shorter overall.
I drove that thing to a Glacier today. Was doing 45km/h on large river rocks. Handled it like a champ! I am thoroughly impressed.
I really think the Duster could be a huge hit over here. I rented a turbodiesel duster in Iceland and that thing is dog slow but they’re around $12k with loads of ground clearance, 4WD, plenty of interior space, and gets around 45 mpg. I went on some pretty gnarly “mountain vehicle only” F-roads and it handled them like a champ with only a little rubbing on the rocks.
Ironically, though, Iceland competes with the USA in size and number of SUVs and trucks. The country is crawling with “superjeeps” on big lifts and 44”+ tires that dwarf the average American brodozer.
Yeah, I am shocked by the amount of larger F150s and RAM trucks I’ve seen. Even witnessed a GMC Sierra in Akureyri.
The Duster is a sweet little ride. I’d snag one if they brought it to the states.
It makes sense though if you think about it. From talking to the locals, of the small cars seem to be either tourists or citydwellers because much of the country is inaccessible in the winter without large low pressure tires and high clearance.
I hope the volvo ex30 has a lot of success with it’s size, price and speed.
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Bet. A friend lives in Missoula and routinely drives to Butte in his Kona and says it handles the roads just fine.
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So the biggest trucks had to pull over for weather but it’s the Jimny that’s too small? And the coolest thing about little trucks is they float on snow. It’s funny you think a Jimny will get stuck in snow “over it’s headlights” when you can’t drive through 3ft of snow, either. And you nailed it about Montana snow, really did, by showing a map that indicates the route between OP’s friend’s two destinations is literally the highest category. Nailed it.
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Ground clearance is over 8" but I’m not sure why that’s relevant since you’re driving through the snow. Are you clearing over it or are you plowing it? And I feel like you don’t understand how a smaller, lighter vehicle can get by all the same with a smaller engine. You should also really go out with a tape measure and see how low the bottom of a bumper and how low the actual ground clearance a big boy truck is. And don’t go into lift kits and other mods because the global functional aftermarket for a Jimny is as big as a US pickup’s options are for actually leaving pavement.
But why would we want smaller cars? We have room for bigger cars, and they feel better to drive.
Smaller cars are better in terms of fuel efficiency, road durability, handling, and not starting an arms war with bigger and bigger cars. Large trucks and SUVs are far more dangerous to pedestrians and people in smaller cars, but I guess if they “feel better to drive” it doesn’t matter if you smash some people in a compact, right?
fuel efficiency
True
road durability
Wtf does that even mean? Bigger cars are usually more durable in general.
handling
Mate youre talking about tiny cheap cars, they dont handle well, theyve never handled well.
not starting an arms war with bigger and bigger cars.
Cars and trucks have been the same max size for decades. Hell, have you seen the land barges from the 70s? The '74 Caddilac El Dorado was 21 feet long! The ford trucks maxes out at 20 1/2 feet with a crew cab and long bed. Cars are smaller these days. Not by much, but smaller.
it doesn’t matter if you smash some people in a compact, right
Modern safety rating make that point moot. And pedastrations, if you get hit by car, youre going to die no matter if its a Kona or a Silverado.
road durability
Wear and tear on roads and bridges themselves. Heavier vehicles cause dramatically more damage to pavement.
handling
SUVs and trucks turn and stop like total crap compared to smaller vehicles. Longer braking distance, wider turn radius, harder to park, and far more likely to turn over in a collision or when driven poorly.
And yes, I actually had a 76 Lincoln 4 door. Perhaps you noticed that trend reversed in the 80s and 90s.
One of the reasons some drivers cite for buying SUVs and trucks is it makes them feel safer in an accident. They are, it’s true, while people in smaller vehicles are much more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a collision with these larger vehicles. As for your next claim, of course getting hit by a 7,000 lb truck is worse than a 3500 lb passenger car. It’s also more likely since many trucks and SUVs are too tall to see say, a 4 foot kid in front of the vehicle. Also, taller vehicles hit pedestrians in the chest which is likely to cause more serious injuries, as bad as it is to be struck in the legs.
You are so spot on with all of this!! Very intelligent responses. Better with the words than I am.
makes them feel safer in an accident
tldr: selfishness
The degree to which you’re wrong is truly astonishing.
You’re a wise man, mister Rogers.
Thanks neighbor! I hope you have a wonderful day.
Modern safety advances don’t make pedestrian impacts moot. I’m over 6 feet tall. If I got run over in my car, a small hatchback, the car would hit my legs below the knee, and I’d be tossed onto the hood and windshield. This will increase the impact time, reduce the acceleration my body experiences, and decrease my injuries.
Meanwhile, a modern stock full sized pickup truck will hit me square in the chest. I’d basically be dead. I’m lucky enough to be tall enough that my head appears over the hood, so the driver would have a chance to see me. Shorter adults and children have much worse odds at being seen.
For giggles, I stood next to a coworker’s Kona. If it hit me, I’d be hit in my mid to upper thigh.
Modern safety advances are only so good. If my small car is hit by a stock pickup truck, their bumper is going to miss my bumpers at best. At worst it’ll go through my windows.
There is a place for large vehicles, but honestly most people don’t need them. And those that do would be better served with a safer designed vehicle (like a minivan).
I’ve managed to fit 4 college aged men in an early 2000s Honda Civic, along with a month’s worth of Costco purchases for them without much difficulty. I’ve never thought, “I want a bigger vehicle.” If I do need a bigger vehicle, I can rent it.
What do you mean small cars have never handled well? Honda built their entire brand on small, affordable, reliable, well handling cars. Small cars have less mass to get in the way of good handling. What mass small cars do have is lower to the ground, which improves handling. Unlike large American vehicles, small cars have innovative features, like independent suspension. That improves handling. The only poorly handling small car I’ve ever driven was a Smart car, and that was only because I got seasick from the short wheelbase and soft suspension rocking me back and forth.
I’ve driven a variety pickups, jeeps, large SUVs. All felt as sure footed as a toddler learning to walk. They flobber about. 600 year old buildings lean less than them in corners. Steering inputs are suggestions. Empty truck beds lead to poor traction. The brakes leave a lot to be desired.
What do you mean small cars have never handled well? Honda built their entire brand on small, affordable, reliable, well handling cars. Small cars have less mass to get in the way of good handling. What mass small cars do have is lower to the ground, which improves handling. Unlike large American vehicles, small cars have innovative features, like independent suspension. That improves handling.
I agree with most of your points except this.
Innovative features like independent suspension? Almost every single sedan or crossover since the 90s has been equipped with fully independent suspension. This isn’t the least bit unique to small cars or foreign vehicles. Even many large American SUVs like the Expedition and Tahoe have IRS these days. The one common exception, besides pickups and off road focused SUVs that need solid axles for practical reasons, is small cars. Many small economy cars have torsion beam rear suspension which is generally bad for ride and handling but lightweight and cheap.
You are right that it’s easier to make smaller and lighter cars handle well, most of my vehicles have been light sports cars like the Miata. However, damper design, suspension geometry, weight distribution and chassis design are every bit as important. Cheap econoboxes often suffer in this regard.
You can make a tall and heavy vehicle handle remarkably well. See sporty SUVs like the Porsche Macan. The Honda Performance Development team has road raced minivans and mid size SUVs, and they are quite quick.
On the other hand, you can make a small vehicle handle like absolute garbage. The issue with very small family cars is they often tend to be cheap and sacrifices must be made to hit a price point. Many of the lightweight econo cars I have driven have handling as bad as my lifted, solid axle, 5000 lb Land Cruiser. This includes the base Toyota Yaris, Fiat Aygo, Suzuki Jimny, and Dacia Duster to name a few.
Wtf does that even mean? Bigger cars are usually more durable in general.
This is pretty much what I expected from someone who likes large cars. The idea that their car does damage to the road doesn’t even enter their mind. Note the immediate jump to “my property is more durable, fuck your/public property”.
bigger cars have bigger blind spots
they feel better to drive
Hard disagree. My dad’s grand caravan feels straight up unsafe most of the time because it’s so heavy, like I’ll just plow through things instead of getting out of the way or stopping. My Mazdaspeed3 in comparison can zip around hazards and stop on a dime because it’s literally almost half as heavy.
Thats because its a chrysler. A grand caravan at that. No minivan has ever drove well.
is joke right
No, it isn’t.
