Regulations are forcing up the size of everything short of a fullsize truck or van. Cars in various segments (compact, midsize, crossover, midsize crossover, e

Regulations are forcing up the size of everything short of a fullsize truck or van. Cars in various segments (compact, midsize, crossover, midsize crossover, etc, etc) have set ranged of interior dimensions. For example, a Civic will always be about the same width as a CRV (same platform) and an Accord will always be wider than both. But all these cars have grown a lot compared to their 90s counterparts. With regulations requiring thick doors, pillars, etc. the exteriors of all these vehicles have grown and interior space has stayed closer to constant. Obviously the pressure is less the bigger the vehicle is so this doesn't explain modern trucks but the pressure is definitely felt everywhere, not just as the small end.