The CUV/SUV carnage continues unabated!
Green Car Reports says there will be no Prius V wagon in the U.S. for the 2018 model year, owing to the Rav4 hybrid taking its sales.
EPA ratings:
- 41 MPG (combined) -- Prius V hybrid
- 32 MPG (combined) -- Rav4 hybrid
Sadly, this is just one more example of a passenger car being replaced by a less efficient CUV option. (Ironically, often the CUV is even based on the same platform.)
EG:
- Chrysler has completely dropped the 200 and Dart sedans to focus on CUV/SUV's;
- Mazda abandoned established plans to bring their Mazda2 to the U.S. to focus on CUV's;
- Ford is replacing the Fiesta with the EcoSport;
- GM has scaled back production of the Sonic, while sales of the Trax/Buick CUV based on the same platform take off;
- Hyundai has cancelled the Accent hatchback for the U.S.
I guess buyers like the CUV/SUV image, or want to sit up higher because it "feels" safer (so they can stare at the tinted rear window of the CUV ahead of them). Also, with an aging population with ever creakier bones, there's no argument a CUV/SUV is easier to get in & out of.
Too bad the CUV/SUV options are objectively more expensive to buy & run, and arguably less safe in extreme maneuvers (more prone to rollovers).
Source:
Toyota Prius V hybrid wagon ends U.S. run; RAV4 Hybrid took its sales