Remember the roads 10-15 years ago? A completely different car landscape. A practical Ford Fusion was scurrying around the city, a Nissan Note was quickly parking near stores, and you could meet an economical Toyota Yaris at every intersection. Along with them - a nimble Skoda Fabia, a hard-working Opel Corsa, and an unpretentious Chevrolet Aveo. A whole army of compact but optimal cars.
Their main advantage is honesty. A reasonable price, a clear purpose: a car as a tool, not a demonstration of wealth. Air conditioning and music are not mandatory overpayments. And at the same time, each had its own highlight: character, convenience, engineering logic. They were pleasing, despite their size.
But by the mid-2010s, this class quietly faded into the shadows. Without loud speeches. Just disappeared.
The Golden Age: when compactness was an advantage
Small cars were not born out of economy for the sake of economy. Engineers realized something important: a small car should be designed from scratch, not be a reduced copy of a large one.
Americans failed with the monstrous Pinto and Gremlin, while the Japanese found the formula for success: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Datsun. Light, reliable and, importantly, fun to drive. Europeans supported the trend: VW Golf, Peugeot 205, Fiat 500 - each model was a small masterpiece of engineering.
Tough competition created choice, and the buyer won.
The Age of Crossovers: when marketing defeated logic
The late 90s became a turning point. Crossovers have become a symbol of wealth. And the reason is not in the needs of consumers, but in the profits of manufacturers.
Why sell a hatchback for $14,000 if the same customer will easily take a crossover for $28,000? The cost is almost the same, the margin is twice as high.
Marketers did their magic:
- "You need all-wheel drive" - although it is often not needed
- "Safety is higher" - without statistical evidence
- "High seating position - status" - just instilled
And where there is status, there is also a wallet.
The Financial Trap: The "Just a Thousand a Month" Rule
Previously, they paid cash for a small car. Today, everything is tied to loans and leases.
The manager in the showroom smiles:
"Well, what are you... just a couple of thousand rubles a month more - and you're in a crossover!"
Overpayment of tens of thousands looks invisible. This is how small cars were deprived of their main competitive advantage - affordability.
The Myth of "Height" Debunked by Numbers
"Sit high - see far". But let's figure it out.
Let's compare a budget crossover and a regular sedan:
- ground clearance differs by 2-3 centimeters
- seating position - by 7-8 centimeters
In a city where 90% of cars are the same crossovers, this gives zero advantage.
But the disadvantages are real:
- more fuel consumption
- worse handling
- more weight → faster wear
Height is an illusion for which you overpay every day.
What we have lost
We have lost a reasonable choice. Compact cars have given way to inflated "urban SUVs", which: cost more, "eat" more, handle worse and do not give real advantages.
Small cars disappeared not because they were outdated. They were destroyed by greed and marketing - and our desire to feel "cooler".
Is there a chance of a return?
Maybe. When another generation of motorists realizes that status centimeters of height are not a reason to take out a loan for 7 years, the market may swing back to reason.
But for now, the roads are filled with the same crossovers, driven by drivers who believe in the magical power of seven centimeters.
