Re:The end of cool small cars
by seanmcdirmid on Wednesday August 30, 2023 @07:20AM
(#37320326)
The model 3 and BMW i4s are both classified as compacts in the American system (same as Honda accords). The leaf, bolt, and i3 are sub compacts (civic class).
I have an i4 now, and I really feel the extra 2 inches in width it has over my previous Acura ILX (basically a fancy Honda civic). None of the sub compact EVs have very good range yet.
Electric is a non-factor here; in fact, one of the fundamental things that Tesla gets right, which other manufacturers of electric vehicles studiously ignore, is aerodynamics (not all, clearly). The very worst size and shape for an electric vehicle is "huge and brick-like" as it is for all vehicles - it's much more apparent with EVs, though, where the range is so easily comparable.
(N.B. I got it before Musk went so spectacularly off the deep end, it was a motoring choice not a political/fandom one).