Agreed with the issue present in the Polestar 2's overall design, it's a bit too AMC Eagle sedan for me. I presume battery packs should be a little higher up to keep cars from high centering, flooding out in standing water, etc. so the CUV body makes even more sense. I mean center of gravity isn't much of an issue any more.
Both Hyundai and Kia have nailed it, making their CUVs look like sporty hatchbacks and not whatever the Tesla Model Y is. The Hyundai really appeals to me, something about the rear three-quarter view gives it a practical Chrysler Horizon feel about it but with a lot of muscle and surface tension (maybe more of an Omni GLH?).
Glad you enjoyed the read! To be honest, I became a bigger believer in my words after spending time with several modern sedans and just wishing I was in a CUV instead: terrible rearward visibility (big side view mirrors do help) mail-slot worthy trunk holes for luggage, rear door openings hindered by a fastback roof, etc.
That said, the impracticality notion is also applicable to coupes...so perhaps new cars like the TRD Camry (which certainly looks interesting on paper) are the modern day equivalent of a 2-door muscle car from the 1960s-70s. Perhaps modern sedans are yesteryear's Cutlass coupe? Toyota
I have pointed out a while ago that many CUV/SUV models are the size of the old sedans of the past. There is just a size and utility people in America like and that is what they gravitate too.
As for styling many still cling to the more traditional SUV truck based look. Vehicles like my Acadia are more car than Truck but with it looking like a truck holds a different appeal. The HHR was a perfect example where it sold in six figures a year and did well. It was really a Cobalt wagon but being more truck styled it sold many times the number vs just being another car.
Detroit went overboard on sixe in the early 70's and GM hit the sweet spot with the Impala and Malibu in 77-78. But then they decided to make everything FWD on cooperate platforms and it failed measurably. Ford and Chrysler faired no better accept for the mini Van and Chrysler.
It used to be you were a Packard man or Cadillac man. People identified by their cars as to just who they were and their status. Your grill was your standard bearer. Today people just want affordable, Reliable, safe and utility. They no longer identify by their cars.
Just look around I have never heard anyone brag I am a Hyundai man or that they bought a Nissan anymore. Even the big names Lincoln and Cadillac are not the image they one were.
There are a few names that still work. One is Denali. The brand image and value of the Denali name is to kill for in this market. It makes money. I got a good deal on my Denali truck. I really did not set out to buy one. But since then I have been hit with Oh you have a Denali. Not a GMC or A Canyon but a Denali I am told. It is rare today outside Corvette and the like to have a vehicle name mean more than the brand name. There are some single models like Raptor but not many trim brands get this attention.
The biggest thing is people in the 80's were subjected to smaller cars that could not haul much. The minivan brought with it utility that many want today. But lets face it most men in a Minivan are screaming my wife made me do it. The larger higher CUV is much more a cross over for the sexes as models.
In the past most people did not own a truck or SUV. Cars were your go to vehicle. My fathers Chevelles were his trucks. The trunks could carry a ten speed. The roof was strong enough to carry a load of plywood with no damage and only a blanket between it and the paint. His cars could carry 6 with no issues too.
Today my 08 Malibu is nice but the trunk opening limits what fits in the large trunk. Too often I am unboxing to get things in. Heck I could never got my OLED TV in there. It only carries 5 not comfortably. God forbid I put one sheet of plywood on the roof as it would dent in and never come out.
My Wife changed to a SUV a while ago and has not wanted to go back. To be honest her most recent SUV drives rides and handles as good or better than our old SSEI Bonneville. It is more sports sedan in AWD than the Bonnie ever was.
As it is now sales of coupe is near a dead end. Sedans are well on the way to the same ending as sales erode. One thing that may save them is the change to EV. SInce most vehicles will be on similar platforms it may permit the production of more limited models in limited numbers. The numbers on coupes today are just not sustainable. Look at the price of the Shelby now? The low end models are also not making money. I once had a GM product person tell me the Camaro needs to have 100K units to remain viable. I am not sure if that has changed but seeing the Camaro is not set past next year is telling.
I like the way you think! Thanks for reading, best of luck with your Escape! They are great CU...I mean cars!
I appreciate your comments. To be honest I wish I had a library of cars I could "check out" locally for photography, because a 1977 Impala and some full size CUV (i.e. car) is what I really wanted for this photo shoot.
But the world we want to live in vs. the world we live in are two totally different places.
Considering the Conti is about the size of an E34 with a bigger butt, it's a pretty fair approximation of what 3-box sedans used to be for a large swatch of the global population. What I really wanted as a 1977 GM B-body, but those don't grow on trees anymore, nor do I have one conveniently available in my garage.
Very good point.
CUVs and SUVs are horsesh!t and all belong in the junkyard. They are NOT and will never be cars. Throwbacks, maybe.
Good point, but station wagons have far too much overhang in the side view to be the descendant of the the CUV.
That and they are too low.
And the DLOs are too big.
The pre-war stuff does it for me.