Funny how 10 years ago, midsize cars looked like this.

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada) 03/14/2017 at 15:22 • Filed to: None

0

14

Yet now, they look like this.

Not even just a Kia thing. Buick, Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet (minus the “real people, not actors” ads), Hyundai, they’ve all gone from making anonymous blobs to cars you actually want. I blame crossovers for making the midsize segment a bit more of a niche market. I think sedans will become like coupes in the future, they’ll be for someone who doesn’t need something that practical, and want something a bit more stylish looking.

Long live the midsizer.

Nothing > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/14/2017 at 15:26

2

Now they’re all “like this” now. I noticed a Fusion drive by the other day and lamented that it’s already looking dated.

Shoop > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/14/2017 at 15:27

4

I agree. I think we’re heading toward and overstyled trend(LOOKING AT YOU TOYOTA) , but I think rn cars look pretty good

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Nothing 03/14/2017 at 15:32

0

Looks like a Jag XF from the rear, or rather the Jag XF is an ambiguous blob.

Land_Yacht_225 > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/14/2017 at 15:36

3

The strange thing is that Kia and Hyundai seem to have flipped the Optima and Sonata in the marketplace since then. Back in 2006, the highest trim Optima could only get a 2.7 V6 that could barely manage 170 hp, while the Sonata was peeling around with the 3.3 out of the Azera at something like 235 hp. The Sonata was clearly the premium product. Now, with the Optima and those special white leather interiors on the SXL trim vehicles, Kia is clearly the fashionable choice.

Fujiwara > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/14/2017 at 15:40

0

Not to mention angrier. What’s wrong Camry? Who hurt you before we found each other?

fintail > Shoop 03/14/2017 at 15:51

4

Heading towards? We’re there. Look at the nose and C-pillar of that Camry. Yuck.

CobraJoe > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/14/2017 at 15:52

6

I rather like some the understated sedans from the mid ‘00s.

B6 Passat

CTS

Volvo S60

Acura TL

Subaru Legacy

Even the Tri-bar Fusion. (Especially the later ones)

They are all well proportioned without excessive styling or “EXTREME!” looks.

Chariotoflove > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/14/2017 at 15:54

2

Also, midsize is no longer midsize. Now, it’s what full-size used to be.

fintail > Fujiwara 03/14/2017 at 15:56

0

Angry looking cars for boring average people with dreams of aggression and excitement (car ads like to use the word “aggressive” too). Cars for Walter Mitty.

facw > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/14/2017 at 16:09

1

Sure you can call those old cars blobs, but some of the new ones are just piles of angry creases. Honestly, I prefer the simplicity of some of the older designs. 

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Land_Yacht_225 03/14/2017 at 17:35

0

They’re not technically the same company.

Kia has basically all the design talent, though.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > not for canada - australian in disguise 03/22/2017 at 00:04

0

Styling-wise, I’d take the silver Optima up top over the navy blue thing posted down below. Seriously.

jasmits > CobraJoe 03/22/2017 at 11:32

0

Yeah, I think the current crop of midsize sedans will age horribly. To much LOOK AT ME! I’M A SPORTY PIECE OF WHITE BREAD styling.

CobraJoe > jasmits 03/22/2017 at 12:07

0

It kind of swings back and forth. The 40s featured basic and usable designs for cars. The 50s grew low with wild wings. The 60s smoothed and simplified the bodywork. The 70s grew nearly every car into a massive chrome covered luxo barges. The 80s shrunk the slab sided cars down pretty much the minimum of excess.

It goes on pretty much until today, roughly separated out by decades. There’s a wild swing in design, then it’s dialed back. Based on that pattern, I’ll probably really like the sedans coming out in the 2020s.