Trend of larger cars: for or against
Many new generations of the same car model are larger than the previous one. For this reason we open a place for debate here to give your opinion on this trend of larger cars. So, what do you think? are you for or against?
Larger dimensions mean greater interior space, greater boot capacity and greater confidence on the road, but it also means less ease of parking, greater consumption and less agility in the city.
If manufacturers offer new generations of larger cars to the market it is because there is demand for it. If so, why do we need bigger cars now than before? Or is it that there is less variety of small models and we buy cars larger than what we need? How to manage the two types of uses of a car in the same size: contained dimensions during the work week and larger sizes for weekends and holidays?
Examples:
• The second generations of the BMW X2 in 2024 and the Peugeot 2008 in 2020, significantly larger than the first ones.
• The current generation of the Volkswagen Polo is larger than the first generation of the Volkswagen Golf.
• The second generations of the BMW X2 in 2024 and the Peugeot 2008 in 2020, significantly larger than the first ones.
• The current generation of the Volkswagen Polo is larger than the first generation of the Volkswagen Golf.
Percentage for and against larger cars: 👍11.2% and 👎88.8%
Curious to know the trend of opinions elsewhere?
👍11.9% - 👎88.1%
👍7.5% - 👎92.5%
👍7.6% - 👎92.4%
👍30.3% - 👎69.7%
👍26.2% - 👎73.8%Latest opinions
Bournemouth, 17-06-2025 👎
Streets aren't getting wider, so why are the cars getting bigger and heavier. It makes no sense for parking or weight, tearing up tarmac!
Streets aren't getting wider, so why are the cars getting bigger and heavier. It makes no sense for parking or weight, tearing up tarmac!
Lublin, Poland, 13-06-2025 👎
My 2010 RAV4 (long wheel basis variant) may be long for a C-segment SUV but it still manages to have more usable cargo space than some new D-segment SUVs, always larger cars. And for my old 1999 Yaris - it is shorter than the new Aygo (which is a crossover now, because the tiny city car has to be one apparently) and it still manages to be much more spacious in the back. Also the width growth is the worst - European parking places are just not wide enough to park a few modern SUVs next to each other and have place to get out without having to barely squeeze through the door (and it comes from a thin person). I understand that safety regulations are a thing and that legal loopholes in emission standards are often to blame but the trend is really doing more harm than good.
My 2010 RAV4 (long wheel basis variant) may be long for a C-segment SUV but it still manages to have more usable cargo space than some new D-segment SUVs, always larger cars. And for my old 1999 Yaris - it is shorter than the new Aygo (which is a crossover now, because the tiny city car has to be one apparently) and it still manages to be much more spacious in the back. Also the width growth is the worst - European parking places are just not wide enough to park a few modern SUVs next to each other and have place to get out without having to barely squeeze through the door (and it comes from a thin person). I understand that safety regulations are a thing and that legal loopholes in emission standards are often to blame but the trend is really doing more harm than good.
Portsmouth , 13-06-2025 👎
No. I dislike the trend for larger cars. They impact visibility and are a danger to vulnerable road users. It just seems excessive.
No. I dislike the trend for larger cars. They impact visibility and are a danger to vulnerable road users. It just seems excessive.
Stuttgart, 11-06-2025 👍
I prioritize safety, a higher seating position with a panoramic view to enjoy the landscape and luxury.
I prioritize safety, a higher seating position with a panoramic view to enjoy the landscape and luxury.
Fareham, 10-06-2025 👎
I am an aging driver having to change my car so that I can carry my wheelchair and my grandchildren. One of my concerns about changing cars is the difficulty I will have with parking a substantially larger car in the same small parking spaces I have been using for the past 50 years.
I am an aging driver having to change my car so that I can carry my wheelchair and my grandchildren. One of my concerns about changing cars is the difficulty I will have with parking a substantially larger car in the same small parking spaces I have been using for the past 50 years.
Dorking, 09-06-2025 👎
Wider cars are a right pain in narrow country lanes. Plus they won't fit in my garage.
Wider cars are a right pain in narrow country lanes. Plus they won't fit in my garage.
Gothenburg, 09-06-2025 👎
A larger car is a heavier car. Heavier cars have worse breaking performance, carry more mass in impacts, uses more energy to move and produces more damage to road surfaces. If everyone drove lighter and smaller vehicles safety would also improve without needing any changes to current car design.
A larger car is a heavier car. Heavier cars have worse breaking performance, carry more mass in impacts, uses more energy to move and produces more damage to road surfaces. If everyone drove lighter and smaller vehicles safety would also improve without needing any changes to current car design.
Stavanger, 07-06-2025 👎
Big car sucks.
Big car sucks.
Athens, 07-06-2025 👎
Not ideal for cities. Maybe for zombie apocalypse.
Not ideal for cities. Maybe for zombie apocalypse.
Paris, France, 07-06-2025 👎
Larger cars are more dangerous, take up more public space that's precious in dense cities, eat up more resources and energy. They are bad. I hate them with a passion.
Larger cars are more dangerous, take up more public space that's precious in dense cities, eat up more resources and energy. They are bad. I hate them with a passion.
Annecy, 07-06-2025 👎
Ecological nonsense.
Ecological nonsense.
Paris, 07-06-2025 👎
It's an horrible trend. It goes against all logic.
It's an horrible trend. It goes against all logic.
Athens, Greece, 06-06-2025 👎
It doesn't make a lot of sense. I understand that enlarging the car has structural and safety advantages. But our cities and parking spots are not designed for so big (and heavy for electric) vehicles.
It doesn't make a lot of sense. I understand that enlarging the car has structural and safety advantages. But our cities and parking spots are not designed for so big (and heavy for electric) vehicles.
Wisconsin U.S., 06-06-2025 👎
People in the U.S. seem to want larger cars and pickup trucks, seemingly reversing a trend since the mid-'seventies. Some believe larger cars are safer, generally true of monocoque cars, but not necessarily frame-based vehicles. Some of the desire for larger cars may stem from an aging population, some from a more conservative population of all ages less concerned about ecological damage and care for others and the future.
People in the U.S. seem to want larger cars and pickup trucks, seemingly reversing a trend since the mid-'seventies. Some believe larger cars are safer, generally true of monocoque cars, but not necessarily frame-based vehicles. Some of the desire for larger cars may stem from an aging population, some from a more conservative population of all ages less concerned about ecological damage and care for others and the future.
london, 04-06-2025 👎
tax cars according to size and weight. They have 3 negative effects - Vehicle life CO2 is higher, They are more damaging in accidents to other road users esp. pedestrians and They cost the rest of us a lot of money taking up space and damaging roads.
tax cars according to size and weight. They have 3 negative effects - Vehicle life CO2 is higher, They are more damaging in accidents to other road users esp. pedestrians and They cost the rest of us a lot of money taking up space and damaging roads.
Glasgow, 02-06-2025 👎
Sports cars are now comically large, nimble and stylish they are not, all positive attributes beyond straight line speed have been nullified. Despite their ballooning size, interior and storage space shrink, this takes long-distance touring in a modern sports car off the table. SUV's are just road tanks for vaccuous people with no imagination, or style, there is no excuse for those things. Saloons are too long and wide, and should go the way of the Dodo. Hatchbacks and estates seem the only options for daily use, and that should not be the case.
Sports cars are now comically large, nimble and stylish they are not, all positive attributes beyond straight line speed have been nullified. Despite their ballooning size, interior and storage space shrink, this takes long-distance touring in a modern sports car off the table. SUV's are just road tanks for vaccuous people with no imagination, or style, there is no excuse for those things. Saloons are too long and wide, and should go the way of the Dodo. Hatchbacks and estates seem the only options for daily use, and that should not be the case.
Austin TX, 02-06-2025 👎
Given that most cars seem to be used by the driver alone most of the time, I question the energy efficency of using such large vehicles. I also question the size of all the enormous pick-ups on the road and what they can do to other vehicles in a collision.
Given that most cars seem to be used by the driver alone most of the time, I question the energy efficency of using such large vehicles. I also question the size of all the enormous pick-ups on the road and what they can do to other vehicles in a collision.
St Albans, 01-06-2025 👎
tax cars according to size and weight. They cost the rest of us a lot of money taking up space and damaging roads
tax cars according to size and weight. They cost the rest of us a lot of money taking up space and damaging roads
Glasgow, 01-06-2025 👎
What do millions of women want ? A well made affordable small narrow car with high ground clearance that can squeeze into supermarket car park spaces between the increasing numbers of huge suv's parked on either side, and can clear the UK's cracked patchworked potholed roads.
What do millions of women want ? A well made affordable small narrow car with high ground clearance that can squeeze into supermarket car park spaces between the increasing numbers of huge suv's parked on either side, and can clear the UK's cracked patchworked potholed roads.
Hobart, 31-05-2025 👎
Cars are getting wider and stupidly heavy. More dangerous to pedestrians, cyclists or small car drivers and they won't fit old-school garage doors easily if at all. Car parks and narrow roads are a real hazard (car dooring at carparks is an issue). Some of us want a smaller car that isn't as fat as the larger ones.
Cars are getting wider and stupidly heavy. More dangerous to pedestrians, cyclists or small car drivers and they won't fit old-school garage doors easily if at all. Car parks and narrow roads are a real hazard (car dooring at carparks is an issue). Some of us want a smaller car that isn't as fat as the larger ones.
East Grinstead, 30-05-2025 👎
Why this trend of larger cars?
Why this trend of larger cars?
Tavira, 30-05-2025 👎
I own a 2023 Citroen C3 Aircross (4.16m) - my parking space in my apartment garage requires parallel parking between 2 concrete pillars. I can do this quite comfortably, and if I move forward after reversing in I can get the tailgate open. Parking the 2004-current model (4.395m) would be more difficult, and I'm not sure I would have room to open the tailgate. This means I don't really have an option of replacing my car with the new model, and would have to look for something more compact like an Opel Mokka. Although most people aren't so constrained by length, on-street parking will be more difficult for many. People tend to have smaller families now and the times when you need to take a lot of luggage are rare, so I'm not sure if this trend is about genuine need..
I own a 2023 Citroen C3 Aircross (4.16m) - my parking space in my apartment garage requires parallel parking between 2 concrete pillars. I can do this quite comfortably, and if I move forward after reversing in I can get the tailgate open. Parking the 2004-current model (4.395m) would be more difficult, and I'm not sure I would have room to open the tailgate. This means I don't really have an option of replacing my car with the new model, and would have to look for something more compact like an Opel Mokka. Although most people aren't so constrained by length, on-street parking will be more difficult for many. People tend to have smaller families now and the times when you need to take a lot of luggage are rare, so I'm not sure if this trend is about genuine need..
Nottingham, 29-05-2025 👍
Great looking cars.
Great looking cars.
Dumfries, 28-05-2025 👎
Really dislike the absurd growth in vehicle size. They are particularly inappropriate in a lot of historic towns and villages in the UK. The extra width also means they don't easily fit a lot of old parking spaces.
Really dislike the absurd growth in vehicle size. They are particularly inappropriate in a lot of historic towns and villages in the UK. The extra width also means they don't easily fit a lot of old parking spaces.
Kidderminster , 27-05-2025 👎
Not suitable for UK town roads or public car parks. Too big with a very poor turning circle.
Not suitable for UK town roads or public car parks. Too big with a very poor turning circle.