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The $25k car is going extinct?

(media.hubspot.com)
319 points pseudolus | 3 comments | 29 Jun 25 15:59 UTC | HN request time: 0.467s | source
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puzzlingcaptcha ◴[30 Jun 25 06:20 UTC] No.44420041[source]▶
You can still buy a new subcompact car (like a Renault Clio or Skoda Fabia) in Europe for under 20k EUR.

The more interesting question is why these cars disappeared in the US. And while many of the factors discussed here are true for both EU and US (inflation, interest rates, manufacturer profit margins etc) I am surprised no one mentioned the 'SUV loophole' of US regulations that effectively boosted the SUVs (off-road vehicles are classified as non-passenger automobiles with everything that entails, notably much less stringent emission standards) and made the small cars unprofitable to make in comparison.

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dismalaf ◴[30 Jun 25 07:59 UTC] No.44420656[source]▶
Because a big part of owning a vehicle is summer roadtrips, ski vacations, visiting family, moving stuff. An SUV is simply more convenient. I've also found road maintenance is getting worse where I live, it's almost necessary having an SUV or truck just to navigate the suburbs.

Also the (semi) compact crossover has kind of killed the compact car. You get more space, better ground clearance, for a decent price.

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lotsofpulp ◴[30 Jun 25 11:35 UTC] No.44422013[source]▶
99% of people with an SUV will never use the "sport utility" aspect of it, and they could do all of the things you listed better with a minivan (Sienna/Odyssey/etc).

But the driver would have to sit lower in a minivan. Which is what SUVs are really about, the ego boost one gets from sitting higher up (and the associated feelings with being able to not have to settle for a minivan, and being able to waste a little money).

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LUmBULtERA ◴[30 Jun 25 13:39 UTC] No.44423149[source]▶
I don't follow this logic at all. We have a Model Y SUV. We use the space of its hatchback and frunk frequently, and it's much more efficient to drive than a Sienna or Odyssey. There's no logical reason to conclude a minivan would be better for our purposes.
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1. lotsofpulp ◴[30 Jun 25 17:38 UTC] No.44425935[source]▶
A model Y is not anywhere near an SUV, regardless of classification for tax purposes. It's also not comparable because it is all electric.

The form factor of a typical SUV, such as an X7 or Land Cruiser or Explorer or Suburban, is inherently more wasteful than a minivan. The only thing those offer 99% of people is that they allow the driver to sit higher up, and be able to say they are not driving a minivan. Otherwise, the minivan provides more utility in every way.

>summer roadtrips, ski vacations, visiting family, moving stuff.

All of this stuff (in the manner 99% of people use their vehicle, i.e. not climbing rocky terrain like in the commercials) is easier to do in a minivan than an SUV. And I'm sure an electric minivan would be better than an electric SUV, except at signaling you can afford to forego the extra utility.

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2. LUmBULtERA ◴[30 Jun 25 19:18 UTC] No.44426855[source]▶
The Model Y is commonly understood to be a SUV. You can't just make it not so because it doesn't fit your narrative.
3. LUmBULtERA ◴[30 Jun 25 19:20 UTC] No.44426869[source]▶
Also no, an ID Buzz in an electric minivan, and I wouldn't inherently say it's better than an electric SUV. It gets pretty poor range and efficiency, and so a smaller SUV like a Model Y can make more sense if you don't need that extra storage capacity.