Where have all the small to medium sedans gone?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Where have all the small to medium sedans gone?

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#3156702 6-Nov-2023 14:51

The problem I have found with modern sedans is that they can be very low to the ground so older people can struggle to get in and out of them. They can also seem low when driving, when other cars are above you so it can feel les safe when driving them. When sedans of 20+years ago I found sedan were higher. They seem to be more designed around a sporty look, such as a mazda 3 which is quite low.

jonathan18

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#3156710 6-Nov-2023 15:10

Dingbatt:
jonathan18:

Even on looks I rarely find a sedan version better looking than the hatch or wagon (though I get that’s totally subjective!).

I'll have to look in the Tesla forum(s). I’m sure you agreed that the Model 3 was better looking than the Model Y? 😁 (But not as practical.)

Touché!

But, in my defence, I said ‘hatch or wagon’, and the Model Y is neither of those things, but more a pretend SUV (kinda the ‘crossover’ type you mention). Now, if they’d made a wagon version of the Model 3, that could have been something far more attractive than the stodgy Y.

I was also kinda getting at models where there’s a choice of sedan, hatch and wagon - a good example is the Mazda 6, which I would put in that order from ok to awesome in terms of looks. Not many models comes in all three variants these days!

alasta

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#3156714 6-Nov-2023 15:22

This discussion reminds me of British Leyland in the 70s. They gave the Austin Maxi a tailgate as its point of difference, while hobbling the Allegro, Princess, Marina, etc. with bootlids. Meanwhile the continental manufacturers were increasingly building the hatchbacks that consumers actually wanted.

Perhaps today's mainstream manufacturers are trying to avoid a repeat of this.

kiwi_64

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#3156726 6-Nov-2023 16:09

qwertee:

MikeB4:

Where have all the sedans gone? Long time passing,

When have all the sedans gone? longtime ago.

Where have all the sedans? Utes have killed them everyone.

When will we ever learn, When will we ever learn.

Where have all the sedans gone? Long time passing,

When have all the sedans gone? longtime ago.

Where have all the sedans? SUVs have crushed them everyone.

When will we ever learn, When will we ever learn.

Sung to the tune of ' ................." ?

"Where have all the flowers gone" .... Peter, Paul and Mary ... about a century ago! :-)

Rikkitic

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#3156740 6-Nov-2023 17:03

It is a folk song written by Pete Seeger inspired by the staggering human loss and suffering of WWI trench warfare.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

kiwifidget

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#3156774 6-Nov-2023 21:16

Mum is 80, and wants what she wants, and I'm over discussing with her why a small SUV or a hatch would be a better option.

I put her in a Hyundai Kona which she thought was nice, but it wasnt a sedan and that was that 🙄

I'm hoping that if I can find a few wee sedans to test drive she might begin to change her mind.

Or maybe she realises that what she wants doesnt really exist anymore.

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BlargHonk

149 posts

Master Geek

#3156778 6-Nov-2023 21:22

If she's not looking to buy brand new, then something like this could be a go?
2022 Toyota Corolla SX sedan

https://www.toyota.co.nz/used-vehicles/detail/2964037/

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kiwifidget

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#3156788 6-Nov-2023 21:45

I imagine a compromise will become necessary.

Late model vs new could be one.

Hybrid vs ICE could be another.

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kiwifidget

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#3156790 6-Nov-2023 21:49

I've been up over for nearly 5 weeks now and I see the same thing on the roads here.

The vast majority of cars on the UK roads (Kent, Sussex anyway) are hatches and SUVs. The sedans are Jags, Beemers, Audis, Mercs and the like. There's just a few more of those than at home I guess because they are a bit more affordable in UK??

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Stu1

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#3158076 10-Nov-2023 15:22

One of the main reasons for dumping the sedan was driving at night SUV lights are higher off the road and felt like I was been blinded from oncoming SUVs every time I drive at night. Roundabouts seem to be designed for Ute and SUVs you can’t see cars coming around unless you are at a SUV height. Good example is the off-ramp on SH2 to go to Petone. Unless you are in a SUV when exiting left you can’t see traffic on the round about

mudguard

2121 posts

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#3158082 10-Nov-2023 15:35

Next time I take my old nineties Civic which is lowered, out for a drive. I will attempt to take a photo of my eye line vs many other cars. If I'm beside a ute or SUV their window is often at my roofline 🤣

Stu1

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#3158113 10-Nov-2023 18:32

mudguard:
Next time I take my old nineties Civic which is lowered, out for a drive. I will attempt to take a photo of my eye line vs many other cars. If I'm beside a ute or SUV their window is often at my roofline 🤣

Night time is shocking for that it’s like the light are on full but at eye level

mudguard

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#3158118 10-Nov-2023 20:36

Stu1:
mudguard:
Next time I take my old nineties Civic which is lowered, out for a drive. I will attempt to take a photo of my eye line vs many other cars. If I'm beside a ute or SUV their window is often at my roofline 🤣

Night time is shocking for that it’s like the light are on full but at eye level

To be fair I've barely driven it at night. The headlights on it are so poor compared modern cars. I need to have it on high beam myself!

But I agree, seems like there are plenty of modern cars with beam patterms that seem suspect.