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: 👍11.3% and 👎88.7%
Curious to know the trend of opinions elsewhere?
👍11.5% - 👎88.5%
👍8% - 👎92%
👍8.5% - 👎91.5%
👍27.3% - 👎72.7%
👍25.9% - 👎74.1%Latest opinions
Dundee, 16-10-2025 👎
Read "Big and Bad" but Malcolm Gladwell. Large SUVs appeal to the human Reptilian Brain that craves security, but they lack ANY Active Safety like manoeuvrability, Indeed forcing an attitude to Passive Safety that encourages bad driving
Read "Big and Bad" but Malcolm Gladwell. Large SUVs appeal to the human Reptilian Brain that craves security, but they lack ANY Active Safety like manoeuvrability, Indeed forcing an attitude to Passive Safety that encourages bad driving
koper, 15-10-2025 👎
Xanthi Greece, 14-10-2025 👎
Against the trend of larger cars.
Against the trend of larger cars.
Kelowna, 13-10-2025 👎
Unfortunate that people think they need to drive trucks around cities.
Unfortunate that people think they need to drive trucks around cities.
Madrid, Spain, 12-10-2025 👍
Large cars offer much more functionality as long as their two main drawbacks are not relevant to a particular user: they are less suitable for urban use, and they require a large garage space. I, for example, always use another small car to get around town, and the parking spaces I have at home and at work are very large, so for family trips I have always had cars with lengths of around 5 metres.
Large cars offer much more functionality as long as their two main drawbacks are not relevant to a particular user: they are less suitable for urban use, and they require a large garage space. I, for example, always use another small car to get around town, and the parking spaces I have at home and at work are very large, so for family trips I have always had cars with lengths of around 5 metres.
London, 06-10-2025 👍
Very well designed, comfortable and desirable.
Very well designed, comfortable and desirable.
HARRISTOWN, 06-10-2025 👎
bigger cars and smaller engines.....rubbish
bigger cars and smaller engines.....rubbish
Zurich, 05-10-2025 👎
Especially EVs tend to be much larger. Without a large engine, the need for 5+ meter cars should definitively be over. However, range anxiety dictates the batteries and the car length. Hopefully this will reverse soon with improved battery chemistries
Especially EVs tend to be much larger. Without a large engine, the need for 5+ meter cars should definitively be over. However, range anxiety dictates the batteries and the car length. Hopefully this will reverse soon with improved battery chemistries
Sheffield, 04-10-2025 👎
(1) row/terraced houses have a narrow footprint not matched by cars that are over 5 metres long, (2)Parking options generally are limited when out and about for very long cars (3) Very wide cars cause similar parking issues - try getting in and out of a very wide car in the party parking spaces outside supermarkets and in towns. Now try and get kids in and out of them without risking scratches to car alongside you (3) Once the kids have left home and the car is generally for 1 o2 adults you are lugging a lot of unnecessary weight about for every trip even just to the local shop. This must have an effect on range for both ICE and TVs
(1) row/terraced houses have a narrow footprint not matched by cars that are over 5 metres long, (2)Parking options generally are limited when out and about for very long cars (3) Very wide cars cause similar parking issues - try getting in and out of a very wide car in the party parking spaces outside supermarkets and in towns. Now try and get kids in and out of them without risking scratches to car alongside you (3) Once the kids have left home and the car is generally for 1 o2 adults you are lugging a lot of unnecessary weight about for every trip even just to the local shop. This must have an effect on range for both ICE and TVs
Lisbon, 03-10-2025 👎
By scaling up small cars you leave a gap. There’s always a bigger car and some people really like and need small cars. So, no need to keep making it bigger
By scaling up small cars you leave a gap. There’s always a bigger car and some people really like and need small cars. So, no need to keep making it bigger
Paris, 29-09-2025 👎
Nice to have, but most drivers are incapable of judging the cars width and the up market cars are just antisocial.
Nice to have, but most drivers are incapable of judging the cars width and the up market cars are just antisocial.
Skopje, 29-09-2025 👎
Manufacturers keep upsizing the cars with meaningless plastic. Then after a few years, they need to invent a new small model so they can keep clients that look for a small car...
Manufacturers keep upsizing the cars with meaningless plastic. Then after a few years, they need to invent a new small model so they can keep clients that look for a small car...
Newcastle upon Tyne, 27-09-2025 👎
vehicles are getting bigger on the outside but not necessarily on the inside. Thicker doors and structure provide more room for crash protection but result in greater weight and emissions and poorer economy.
vehicles are getting bigger on the outside but not necessarily on the inside. Thicker doors and structure provide more room for crash protection but result in greater weight and emissions and poorer economy.
|Liverpool, 27-09-2025 👎
The increasing width of new cars means that driving down and parking on narrow residential roads is increasingly difficult.
The increasing width of new cars means that driving down and parking on narrow residential roads is increasingly difficult.
Pau, 24-09-2025 👎
I have grand C4 Picasso bought in 2009, and I’m vey sad about current size trend. None of them is likely to replace my old car. Why should I change it? Except maybe because it is a diesel? If I buy a car today I won’t be happy to do it!
I have grand C4 Picasso bought in 2009, and I’m vey sad about current size trend. None of them is likely to replace my old car. Why should I change it? Except maybe because it is a diesel? If I buy a car today I won’t be happy to do it!
Zagreb-HR, 23-09-2025 👍
Such is the trend, new lifestyle habits, safety, comfort and vehicle carrying capacity. Urban planners and designers must follow this in the design of parking lots, roads and garages. We can see the same thing with boats and airplanes. Also, apartments and houses are not as small as they were 50 or 100 years ago. People like comfort and convenience.
Such is the trend, new lifestyle habits, safety, comfort and vehicle carrying capacity. Urban planners and designers must follow this in the design of parking lots, roads and garages. We can see the same thing with boats and airplanes. Also, apartments and houses are not as small as they were 50 or 100 years ago. People like comfort and convenience.
Norwich, 22-09-2025 👎
Large cars are OK, but garages and urban streets do not change, with the result that people looking for a replacement find their options limited
Large cars are OK, but garages and urban streets do not change, with the result that people looking for a replacement find their options limited
london, 22-09-2025 👎
Getting stupidly large
Getting stupidly large
Hong Kong, 20-09-2025 👎
Cars of all makes and uses are becoming too wide for older urban streets and existing parking.
Cars of all makes and uses are becoming too wide for older urban streets and existing parking.
Australia, 20-09-2025 👎
Small compact sedans and maybe fastback all the way. Also spoilers. I love spoilers.
Small compact sedans and maybe fastback all the way. Also spoilers. I love spoilers.
Sheffield , 19-09-2025 👎
Hate SUVs. Too large - take up too much space eg parking spaces. Too heavy: they wreck road surfaces. An environmental nightmare
Hate SUVs. Too large - take up too much space eg parking spaces. Too heavy: they wreck road surfaces. An environmental nightmare
Novi Sad , 15-09-2025 👍
Humans are getting bigger and bigger. Normally I like bigger car. My height is 188 cm, my daughter is 14 years old and now she is 170 cm.
Humans are getting bigger and bigger. Normally I like bigger car. My height is 188 cm, my daughter is 14 years old and now she is 170 cm.
Sofia, Bulgaria, 14-09-2025 👍
I love family cars and as a person in 4 4-person family, I prefer cars that can fit 4 people and their luggage without issue and bring them where they need to be, in the most economical way. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of the best vehicles that goes well into this description.
I love family cars and as a person in 4 4-person family, I prefer cars that can fit 4 people and their luggage without issue and bring them where they need to be, in the most economical way. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is one of the best vehicles that goes well into this description.
Dudley, 11-09-2025 👎
Car widths are getting out of hand They are hard to park, won't go in a garage and are too wide for country lanes.
Car widths are getting out of hand They are hard to park, won't go in a garage and are too wide for country lanes.
Lancashire, UK, 09-09-2025 👎
The larger trend has been ongoing for decades. I garage my car and size is critical. A 1st generation Audio A4, Toyota Carina E, Ford Modeo 1st generation, all largish family cars of the day fitted OK. Width is a now big issue. A current Yaris is far wider than those mentioned and also I recall has a larger wheel base than a 1st gen Audi A4, so why do cars of similar size to the Audi and which are now classed as 'small' have such appalling levels of noise and vibration. The standard answer is that small cars with a small wheelbase will always be worse... yet the A4 and the Carina, the Mondeo etc had a magic carpet ride level of refinement compared to todays cars of similar size. Bring back the 'small' compact 4 door saloon type.
The larger trend has been ongoing for decades. I garage my car and size is critical. A 1st generation Audio A4, Toyota Carina E, Ford Modeo 1st generation, all largish family cars of the day fitted OK. Width is a now big issue. A current Yaris is far wider than those mentioned and also I recall has a larger wheel base than a 1st gen Audi A4, so why do cars of similar size to the Audi and which are now classed as 'small' have such appalling levels of noise and vibration. The standard answer is that small cars with a small wheelbase will always be worse... yet the A4 and the Carina, the Mondeo etc had a magic carpet ride level of refinement compared to todays cars of similar size. Bring back the 'small' compact 4 door saloon type.