Helen CzerskiMay 11, 2023
I keep thinking back to this Microlino at Fully Charged Live. Reusable water bottles became acceptable, being vegan is now cool, and so is wearing vintage clothes. So who is going to step up to the critical task of making small cars fashionable? The trend towards giant SUVs is ludicrous, incredibly wasteful and dangerous, and bad for our cities. If you must use a car, it should be as small as possible. Where are the micro-car visionaries/influencers? WE NEED YOU. #cars #SUV #climate
Show threadAlex GranfordMay 11, 2023
@helenczerski SUVs and trucks have developed some serious cultural roots in few countries (US, Middle East, Australia) and will not be easy to forget.
Thanksfully here in Europe small cars have been fashionable all along and surely will further increase their share. Massive Range Rovers, Q7, X7, XC90 etc. are somewhat popular but have really limited use cases.
Recent US stats: https://www.edmunds.com/most-popular-cars/
Most Popular Cars in America | Edmunds

These are the top selling cars in America for this year. The most popular car in your state might surprise you.

Edmunds
Show threadAlex Granford
@helenczerski Disclaimer: I have a small SUV and we pack it to the teeth with a roof box and tent fastened to rails, when going camping. It is really no other way and I was considering having a bigger one - but decided against it on the balance. And we are not in a major city like London, thankfully. 😉
May 11, 2023 at 9:27amWeb
Show threadHelen CzerskiMay 11, 2023
@alexgranford Well, I guess the question is: how often do you go camping? If it’s only a few times a year, it would make more sense (in theory, because the practice doesn’t quite work yet) to have a smaller vehicle that you use every day that’s actually the right size for that, and then on the few occasions when you need a larger vehicle, you borrow one just for that trip.
Show threadAlex GranfordMay 11, 2023
@helenczerski we have a Mini for local whereabouts and only use a larger car for long rides with kids to the coast, weekend sightseing and camping. Yes we rented an 11 seater van once we had friends over and travelled with them. Mini will be replaced with an electric one in the next couple of years, but UK EV infrastructure is not ready yet, and won't be for the next 5-ish years at least, for safe and reliable long haul travel.
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKMay 11, 2023

@alexgranford @helenczerski I drive a supermini (VW Polo), but currently would find anything smaller a bit scary as I have to drive on A14 highway to get to my workplace.

Also there's a complication for those of us in UK as many small vehicles are treated as "mopeds" by DVSA and DVLA even if they have 4 wheels, so you have to do a CBT test to legally drive one even if you have a car driving licence (which makes absolutely 0 sense)

Show threadAlex GranfordMay 11, 2023
@vfrmedia @helenczerski VW Polo is an excellent small car, def in the top 3 compact / small class. Agree entirely that anything smaller will not be a good fit for driving on motorways (in the UK or elsewhere), that was actually what I first thought seeing the picture of that Microlino. Nice to move around a town at 30mph but not really a kind of car to rely on to do Portsmouth to Glasgow.