Yay more SUVs
this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2024
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[Dormant] Electric Vehicles
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Right? I thought cars would get smaller as I grew up
The old land yachts of the 60s and 70s were gigantic. They only had to get smaller because they couldn't keep up with fuel economy. But now that they're going electric and fuel economy isn't a concern, it seems they have no reason to go small.
Depends on where, in the UK, the old Land Rovers are tiny compared to what's out now.
They got smaller because fuel was more expensive...
That was a huge oil shortage in the 80s that led to astronomical prices. This also paved the way for Japanese brands into the US market, as they were already developing more fuel efficient vehicles. You can see this influence to this day in Europe where the gov doesn't have crazy oil subsidies like the US.
EVs still benefit from being smaller, as the batteries become significantly less expensive as the vehicle becomes more efficient.
There are a couple of issues spurring electric SUVs:
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I think people just like them better. They're more capable. The US culture has shifted.
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We're still in the early days of EVs and these are the vehicle types that are ultimately still the most profitable, and they can't afford to sell anything less-profitable.
Shifting your entire production to EVs like Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, etc. streamlines production costs.
I think the problem is, as soon as some (domestic in the case of US because of the recent tariff) automaker makes a cheap electric small car that's got room for 4 and 60-150 miles in range is gonna realize holy shit that's 90% of the driving out there and will drastically undercut the premium market. tens of millions only drive a few dozen miles away from home for most of their activity.
I dunno. Even growing up, American cars were always bigger than European cars. In fact I'd argue the cars from the rest of the world grew to try and fit the sensibilities of America as that's a huge market
Aren't you describing the Bolt?
Which they discontinued, and now the "smallest" offering they have is an electric Blazer. Although I guess you can argue the Blazer is a compact SUV. I think only the Nissan Leaf is left on the compact car category.
There's plenty of smaller EVs to choose from if SUVs aren't your thing.
In the US? Where?
Volkwagen ID. 3 for example. Tesla model 3 ain't that big either. I'm not an expert on the US car markets.
Volkswagen doesn't sell the ID.3 in the US.
I thought I read somewhere that the ID.3 arrives Stateside next year. Am I crazy?
Our options are basically the model 3 or the Leaf. Unless you go crazy expensive with Lucid, and they aren't small. I was hoping you knew something I didn't.
Hyundai also offers the Ioniq 6, but that has a footprint and form factor similar to the Porsche Panamera.
Unfortunately the sedan form factors are limited right now, but looking like an SUV doesn't mean it's definitely a massive car. There's small suvs and large ones. You can have suvs that are even smaller length and width wise than many sedans. Like take a Subaru impreza as an example, in the compact car class. Length is 176.2 inches and width is 70.1 inches. Now let's take a smaller electric SUV, like the Hyundai Kona electric. Length is 171.5 and width is 71.9, so significantly shorter and barely wider than a compact car.
A lot of the electric suvs are in a compact car form factor in terms of their space footprint, but are just trying to get that SUV taller boxy look since that's what is most popular with car buyers right now for some reason. They aren't all like these massive Chevy Suburban type SUVS (length 225.7 inches and width 81 inches for reference).
But anyways the smallest ones in the US are probably like the Nissan leaf, tesla model 3, Hyundai Kona electric, Fiat 500e, mini Cooper electric, Volkswagen id.4, Chevy bolt (was a good option, skipping the 2024 model year though and releasing a redesign in 2025), Kia ev3 launching this year and will be even smaller than it's current options, some of which are petty compact already. Hopefully we'll keep getting more options. I've always been annoyed when Europe gets cool compact options that they don't bother to sell in the US.
I'd kill for an electric hot hatch with ~500 km range, and that supports 800V DCFC.
Me too. I've been holding out for a good hatchback. Europe always seems to get the best hatchbacks.
That or an EV revival of an old JDM. Imagine bringing back the R34 as an electric vehicle...🤤
Me too! I have a Niro EV now, which I like, but it's still bigger than I need and isn't a great road tripper. Comfortable, but slow.
If it's actually a Wrangler-like then yeah, yay, honestly
Wranglers are great off-road vehicles. Is it what most people use them for? No. Does that mean the option shouldn't exist? No.
I'm not lamenting more options, I'm lamenting the opposite.
Unironically though.
No.
People aren't going to magically stop buying SUV. You can accept that, and give them a better option. Or you can pout about how unfair reality is and suck down exhaust. Personally, I'll be happy for "better" if we can't get "best".
In what parallel universe is a Wrangler, electric or otherwise, a competitor to Tesla? Perhaps the article mangled the meaning behind what Stellantis said, but the notion that Jeep is going to convert Tesla owners to Wrangler owners en masse is laughable.
Starting at $78K! For a Jeep? Best of luck with that.
It'll sell fine. Modern jeeps are for people who want to look outdoorsy but can't get a Subaru because people might think they're a lesbian (and, in this case, can't get a tesla because people might think they're a librul). The wagoneer is doing OK, the 4xe trims are doing OK, and none of them are going offroad any further than the dirt trailhead parking lot.
Looks like a Jaguar F-pace from all sides except the front.