Crossover Musings...

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
03/01/2020 at 13:01 • Filed to: Crossovers

Was parked next to a Chevrolet Trax crossover a few days ago. Crossovers are supposed to be part car, part SUV, so theoretically at least a semblance of off-road capability. I’m not talking forest trails here, but larger bumps...rougher roads...taller ride height.

If that is the case, why is the front lip on these things uselessly low to the ground for a crossover...?!

Hell, my Accent has higher front lip ground clearance than this!!!

Bonus Humdrum pic from a very sudden, bad snow squall when I was in Blue Rocks yesterday!

DISCUSSION (29)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 13:14

Because it’s just a Sonic with a tall roof. And it’s design stupid because people need a Honda Fit, but want a Tahoe.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/01/2020 at 13:21

Oh, I know, but if the whole point of a CUV is ‘tall car’, then like....why not actually make it taller...

camarov6rs > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 13:28

They want SUV looks with car fuel economy

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 13:32

I actually scrape quite badly exiting my paved but steep driveway in my Cruze. This has an even worse front approach angle. How?

And I can guarantee you that Humdrum is significantly better offroad, being lighter and with better approach and breakover angle.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 13:35

Well the taller roof allows a higher seat position, like a Fit, so it feels taller.

sony1492 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 13:40

Same reason 4x4's have a stupid low front guard, less air under the vehicle creates less drag and thus better mpg.

Kinja'd!!!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 13:51

My favorite is when people get a godamn FWD CUV. A fter the most recent storm we had I had back down a hill to let a little old lady in a FWD Nissan Rouge back down after she started slipping half way up. WHY, *WHY* would you buy a Rogue and then NOT get AWD? What other reason is there possibly to own a Rouge??

Milky > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/01/2020 at 14:45

A month ago after a storm I watched a person struggle for minutes to get out of a parking lot with their FWD traverse. Just after I left in my Miata with snow tires easily and thought it was quite funny.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 15:05

It’s not the ground clearance they are after, it’s the ingress/egress they are after. The reason the roofs are taller is because the seats are higher. They are just easier to get in and out of. They are better suited as an appliance that the vast majority of buyers want. They don’t care about apexing a turn, they just want something effortless to use on a daily basis.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/01/2020 at 18:04

Hence, why you buy a Honda Fit or Kia Soul . If more people were sensible, we would still have the Scion XB as well. If a car is an appliance, it might as well function , and CUVs are tiny inside because of the precocious wheels.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/01/2020 at 18:07

But they aren’t really any smaller inside, and people don’t want subcompact shitboxes. I had a subcompact shitbox, and it’s just too small.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/01/2020 at 18:19

If a hatchback and a CUV have the same exterior dimensions, the large wheels make the CUV have less usable space despite having more vertical room.

But most CUVs are larger than a Fit or Soul. The ones that are the same are smaller. F rom experience, the more expensive Toyota CHR ( stands for Corolla High Rise ) is literally just a Corolla hatch that is harder to see out of and smaller inside.

I’m not anti SUV, I’m just anti CUV.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > camarov6rs
03/01/2020 at 19:05

If they want the fuel economy...they could, just like....maybe perhaps get a CAR? Which would likely get better economy even still? :/

Crossoverz R dum.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/01/2020 at 19:08

I guess so....I still don’t really get the point of most Crossovers.... you want something that works like a car but looks like an SUV...?

Like...nobody walks into a store and says “I want a pen that looks like a pencil!” It just doesn’t make sense to me...lol....if you want the fuel economy, just get a car! :(

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > sony1492
03/01/2020 at 19:09

But what’s the point? I get it saves MPGs, but the second you try and take it off-road you just rip off the front guard and there go your MPGs anyway...

So....you have a thing you can’t do what it is designed to be capable of with because if you do, you ruin it...lol

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/01/2020 at 19:10

I always liked how close to the back of the car the rear wheels are on my car....if I ever have to do off-roading backwards, I’m set! :P

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/01/2020 at 19:12

“ What other reason is there possibly to own a Rouge??”

Fixed that for you.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 19:13

It’s more like “I want a pencil that looks like a fancy expensive pen.”

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
03/01/2020 at 19:13

Agreed! If I want something tall and capable, I would be more than happy with a Kia Soul...sucks we can’t get them in manual here in Canada anymore as I love driving stick, but I quite like them as very useful vehicles...genuinely useful design that doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it it is. The old Honda Element and Scion XB were the same!

camarov6rs > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 19:41

Look at the new AWD Camry vs the AWD RAV4 fuel economy. Cars being default more efficient may not be the case anymore

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > camarov6rs
03/01/2020 at 20:04

True, although the new Camry seems massive!

camarov6rs > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 20:09

This is just my speculation but I think they messed with the gearing to make up for the extra weight.

camarov6rs > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
03/01/2020 at 20:15

Think of trucks as the new full size sedan. I would contend that the more typical case of a truck is to tow/haul so MPG is still very important. It’s only recently that we are starting to see the “off road” scene become very prominent. Additionally I see people using full size trucks in frequent off road situations as having a very narrow use or idiots. Mid size trucks are getting to be too big for most trails that aren’t open desert/sand dunes.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > camarov6rs
03/01/2020 at 20:39

The trucks I see are never EVER being used as trucks, just ‘family cars’ doing everyday errands...

camarov6rs > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/01/2020 at 21:12

I find that because a CUV is taller/more upright then the occupants don’t need their feet as far out in front of them. This effectively nets more leg room vs the same sized car. This has a distinct advantage for child seats then the ability to not bend horridly to place the children is a bonus

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > camarov6rs
03/01/2020 at 21:26

Yup. I hate that they are killing fun cars, but for 99.9% of the population they are just better at being appliances.

camarov6rs > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/01/2020 at 21:44

I thinks it’s only a matter of time until we get some truly sporty mainstream options. Mazda has been very good at different aspects we can look at the BMW X3 and Alfa Romeo Gulia for an idea of how the sporty CUV can work. For true “sport” cars there is no defying physics so we will still have them but maybe the market will consolidate.

shop-teacher > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/01/2020 at 22:14

Exactly. Crossovers are not at all about any pretense of going off-road. They're simply an appliance that is easier to get in and out of.

Maxima Speed > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
03/01/2020 at 22:22

I feel like a FWD crossover accepts that it is indeed a crossover and isn’t lying to the world and itself about being an SUV.