I was always a "car guy". Crossovers & SUV's are ending that.

[freebeard]

Thank you for the informative post.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

The last car remarkably lighter than its competitors that I can remind right now is the last-generation Ford Escort.


Ford is not my cup of tea anyway, but it's important to consider how cars got too heavier without some valid excuse, since nowadays a lot of higher-strenght yet lower-weight materials became cost-effective enough for mass production.

As far as trucks go, nowadays that full-sizes often exceed the GVWR limit for a regular driver license in Brazil, even though their payload might not become greater than compact trucks, some models that would be considered a compact or a mid-size in the U.S. are outnumbering full-sizes here.

[JSH]

The new Ford Escape is larger than the existing model but 200 lbs lighter.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by JSH

The new Ford Escape is larger than the existing model but 200 lbs lighter.

How does it compare to the competition when it comes to weight and aerodynamics? Its competitor I see more frequently is the Chevy Equinox. On a sidenote, it does surprise me the fact that versions of the Equinox with the 1.5L engine still resort to a 6-speed transmission, while the smaller engine would eventually benefit even more from a 9-speed one with a wider gear-spread than the 2.0L does.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

How does it compare to the competition when it comes to weight and aerodynamics? Its competitor I see more frequently is the Chevy Equinox. On a sidenote, it does surprise me the fact that versions of the Equinox with the 1.5L engine still resort to a 6-speed transmission, while the smaller engine would eventually benefit even more from a 9-speed one with a wider gear-spread than the 2.0L does.

No idea on aero.

Weight:
3299 - Escape
3307 - CR-V
3325 - Equinox
3370 - RAV4

I suspect the Chevy uses a 6 speed in the 1.5L Equinox to keep the cost down for the entry level model.

[jcp123]

SUVs are just today’s vanilla sedan, only now they are hatchbacks with a lift and body cladding. What’s really changed is buyers’ tech fetishes way overshadowing how good anything actually is. Otherwise, people who haul would get wagons, people who haul more would get minivans, and people who haul the most would just get a real truck, like a Tahoe. The fact that crossovers are hopeless compromises doesn’t mean that the pendulum won’t swing back around someday.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by njlou

No it is not just you!!
Todays cars /trucks are victims of manufacturers' laziness and apathy.
Yes they all look the same. After 10 years, my wife still confuses her car with others. More importantly, a great enthusiasm killer is the price/reliability.
It seems that the only "new" features are some cheaply made electronic gizmos. Sometimes I think they are just marking time until electric cars are the norm.
BTW: the lack of interest (for me) extends to today's music.

It’s government-driven. That entity long ago captured. Whittling down possibilities so shareholders don’t take a tremendous bath once the planet is down to 3-4 manufacturers. Several drivetrain configs, thus a shell that accommodates any.

(“Music” hasn’t been musical since your first crunchy bowl of beetles in 1964. To claim otherwise is to tout the superiority of McDonalds to all other food choices)

.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by jcp123

SUVs are just today’s vanilla sedan, only now they are hatchbacks with a lift and body cladding. What’s really changed is buyers’ tech fetishes way overshadowing how good anything actually is. Otherwise, people who haul would get wagons, people who haul more would get minivans, and people who haul the most would just get a real truck, like a Tahoe. The fact that crossovers are hopeless compromises doesn’t mean that the pendulum won’t swing back around someday.

Personally I think that the USA’s long term fascination with the space inefficient sedan design helped the rise of the CUV. When people decide the want a more useful vehicle there are no wagons or hatchbacks left so they turn to a CUVs which is just a hatchback or wagon lifted a bit.

The other reason is the CUVs are treated as light trucks under CAFE so they are held to less stringent fuel economy standards

Here is an interesting and very useful vehicle I saw yesterday. Lifted a bit much for my tastes but still cool.

[Kingofwylietx]

Originally Posted by JSH

Here is an interesting and very useful vehicle I saw yesterday. Lifted a bit much for my tastes but still cool.

That is the Audi Allroad. I like it and the very similar Volvo V60 Cross Country.
My wife thinks they are too wagon-ish for her tastes, but they look very sensible to me. I think they would be a choice for road trips with the family, without being too big around town. Plus, being about 2" higher than a standard wagon, I think they look a bit better.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Kingofwylietx

That is the Audi Allroad. I like it and the very similar Volvo V60 Cross Country.
My wife thinks they are too wagon-ish for her tastes, but they look very sensible to me. I think they would be a choice for road trips with the family, without being too big around town. Plus, being about 2" higher than a standard wagon, I think they look a bit better.

It is an Allroad with an extra lift. Lifted wagons are pretty common here in the Pacific Northwest.

I like the VW Alltrack except that it only comes with AWD and the inefficient 1.8L engine. Plus it has that tacky black plastic cladding. I plan to lift my Sportwagen 2 inches when the warranty expires next summer to get the extra ground clearance of the Alltrack without the negatives.