The US has a strange obsession with massive cars.
However it was not the european style small cars I ment when I referred to small cars but rather the 4000 USD electric cars, the article is refering to. Those you do not see in Europe at present.
In fact, the only Chinese EVs I have seen are the MG ZS EV and Volvo Polestar - both big cars.
The small electrics are things like the VW Up electric and the Fiat 500 electric, both European.
If the car you ended up getting was large, as implied, I'd be interested in looking at how sh!te the small car must have been.
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/167786-2014-chevrolet-cr...
Here you go. I can persoanlly attest that the diesel Chevy cruze easily gets 45-50 mpg. I also paid less for it than a smart car.
Like I said, I was not opposed to it, but I'm not spending more for a smaller car that is more fuel inefficient.
But I don't accept the smart fortwo as a typical small car.
If those are its numbers, then its a horrible car, both in terms of mpg and everyday practical use. It looks good as a quick city run around and that's it.
In Europe, a typical small car might be a Toyotal Yaris or Peugeot 208, both hitting 70-90mpg
https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/toyota/yaris/hybrid/14351...
Yeah that was why I had that disappointment, I was expecting gas milages closer to what you said. If I could get a car like that in the States, that would be awesome. I would love to get a car that gets 70-90 mpg.
To Europeans used to small, cramped spaces - the great open roads and huge comfy cars of America are much appreciated.
I actively avoid driving in the UK. I adore driving in the US.
edit: Downvoting an outside perspective, how very Reddit!
It's not strange... it's survival (plus federal regulations about crash safety, bumper height) require the size vehicles I'm used to here. (The SUV thing is just crazy, though)
It is not unusual in the USA on a road trip (vacation) to drive 1000 km/day (or more) at 120+ kph.
How is something smaller than a 1999 Honda Civic (1100kg) going to safely share the road with 40000 kg Tractor-Trailer rigs?
Here's the smallest car I ever owned... it was silver, with a hatchback... I loved that car, and miss it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Civic_(sixth_generation)
It is true that generally people don't tend to drive as long distances in Europe as they do in the US, but it's not unheard of to drive 1000km on holiday. It's not as if everyone in Europe spends their lives pootling around cobble-stoned towns in Fiat 500s with a crusty baguette sticking out the window. There are large highways and plenty of heavy traffic.
I think the difference is that people in Europe tend not use their oversized vehicles as daily drivers. Many people don't even own a large car at all, preferring to rent or borrow one for specifically when they do go on holiday. Driving a large car seems like less of a status symbol in Europe. I don't buy that it's a safety thing for Americans, when most Americans are just driving their SUVs to the shops or to work every day.
In my mind, that conjures up a 1972 Buick Electra Station Wagon. They are 2320 Kg, more than 2 of the 1999 Honda Civic.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/buick/full-size_buic...
SUVs in the US are out of hand, I totally agree with that. I thought you were saying that our Sedans are huge.
It would be interesting to see if the move toward larger cars in general has been offset by the increase of "sub-car" vehicles like electric tuk-tuks, e-bikes and so on.
[0] https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/investigation-wh...