Title text:
'They really shouldn't let those small cars drive in traffic. I worry I'm going to kill someone if I hit one! They should have to drive on the sidewalk, safely out of the way.'
Transcript:
Transcript will show once it’s been added to explainxkcd.com
Source: https://xkcd.com/3167/
cars are way bigger than they were 10-20 years ago. My 2017 civic is larger than my 1995 Camry, and not much smaller than my 1989 4Runner. Mostly because of safety features. My 1995 didn't have massive crumple zones and 20 air bags. it had 1 airbag.
Smaller modern cars still have the same safety features, marketing has found the best way to make consumers want new and more expensive cars through the idea of big car=safe, which only becomes true if the other car involved in a crash is also big, but just like the comic shows, it becomes an arms race where it only increases the danger, as a bigger car also has bigger inertia, so a crash at the same speed has drastic different energy transference.
people like bigger cars for many other reasons.
they are more comfortable. they are safer, they fit more stuff. they have more features than smaller cars. they are often quieter.
and if you have a family you need a larger vehicle to fit kids and pets.
that's true, but from what i've seen these gigantic cars really don't offer that much more space; if space/capacity was really a concern family buses/vans whatever would be much more popular. where i live most people i see on SUVs are alone on their car, bigger families just get a Citroen Berlingo <3
but yeah people do like big cars