I’m currently driving around Iceland. I have seen a Renault Megane, a plethora of newer Yaris’, one Yaris Cross (I lost my damned mind) and a crap ton of Suzuki Jimnys. Now, I’ve driven in some awful conditions in the states. Blizzards in Montana, Tornadoes in Texas, hail storms in the South and ridiculous wind in Arizona. I have driven in all of that in this tiny country, all in a short wheel base Kia Sportage. I was also outpaced by a fucking Yaris today, absolutely bombing down the mountain in 1c weather. Mind you, it was not a GR so AWD was out of the question.
I am so impressed by this Kia and all of the insanely capable Jimnys I am seeing coming off of F-roads.
If a harsh place like Iceland can coexist with RAM 2500s and modern Yaris’, why can’t we?
Oh, and when I say around I don’t mean poking around Reykjavik, I am literally driving the Ring Road around an entire country. Coolest experience ever.
The US laws prefer large vehicles.
Look into the 25% import tax on small work trucks- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
Also, larger SUVs and trucks get preferential treatment under gas mileage standards. Someone more familiar can explain better.
FYI - my daily is a 24 year old Subaru.
Once a vehicle is over a certain size, vehicles get exempted from fuel economy standards and taxes because they’re classified as “light trucks”, which was originally intended for work vehicles.
Do you have the same light bulbs in your instrument cluster as the 01? Fuckin tachometer and speedo lights went out in my Forester and I’m a little salty. I had a ford fiesta, loved it, hated it, sold it before we moved so we wouldn’t have to tow it. Got an 01 Forester. Miss having subcompact hatches so hard, so we found an 01 Honda insight, but it’s rouuugh lol.
People are constantly surprised when I tell them my GTI is great in winter with snow tires. These are the same people who tell me their SUVs are perfect for snow rocking bald all seasons cause FoUr WhEeL dRiVe.
I’ve been driving front wheel drive hatchbacks for almost 20 years in 62+ degrees north latitude. This winter was the first time I got stuck when we suddenly shattered the october snowfall record and it overwhelmed the snow removal capacity. I’d still want a AWD, but it’s really not necessary. It’s probably faster and safer to ski to work in conditions where AWD is a must.
i would have a set of chains with me if my area was known to be snowy. or did you get stuck with chains on?
I don’t doubt that at all; I had a civic si that was the best car I’ve ever owned in the snow and I only had all-seasons on it. One time, I stayed at work way later than I should have when a blizzard was hitting and made the 20 mile drive home without an issue. As I got within 5 miles of my house there were very few other vehicles on the road except for an occasional truck and they weren’t having any easier of a time than I was.
The success of the Maverick gives me hope we will see more attempts at small vehicles going forwards.
Think the smallest modern car we got was the Toyota Yaris which was a rebranded Mazda2. And that got axed due to low sales. Consumers need more of an incentive to downsize
There are tornadoes in Iceland?
