Hacker News Reader

Comment by seanmcdirmid | Hacker News Reader

The RAV4 been gaining bulk over the years. I remember in the late 90s it really was a small SUV. It went from 148-164″ L x 67″ W x 65″ H in 1998 to 180″ L x 73″ W x 65-67″ H in 2013. Today it is 181-182″ L x 73″ W x 67-69″ H.

View on HN

Almost every vehicle has, even sedans.

Thank you EPA wheelbase loophole that reduces he MPG target by increasing the vehicle size.

It's not just the EPA fuel economy requirements. Safety requirements mean cars need a lot bigger doors, more crumble zone etc.

I think it’s mainly because each new mode year has to be “better” than the last. It’s easier to be “better” (more head room, more boot space etc) when you’re bigger.

So individual models grow and then new ones come in below. For example the rav4 used to be Toyotas smallest suv, now there’s the CHR, and even the Yaris Cross

I'm sure I'm slightly misremembering/exaggerating, but RAV4s of recent years seem like a similar size to how I recall the Highlander from that time period, and now Highlanders are more like how I recall those older 4Runners(?).

The 4Runner is now 190-191″ L x 76″ W x 72″ H, in 1998 it was 179″ L x 67-71″ W x 68-69″ H. So today's RAV4 is slightly larger than 1998's 4Runner.

My wife had a 2012, 2017, and 2020 (2017 was totalled in an accident). The 2020 was dramatically bigger than the 2012. (if not in wheelbase, in perception)

She actually likes the fact that her current car, a 2023 VW ID.4, is closer in size to the 2012.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com