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I grew up in the 80s and 90s. My recollection is that the family vehicle of choice for my parents and those of most of my friends was what you'd call the "gener

I grew up in the 80s and 90s. My recollection is that the family vehicle of choice for my parents and those of most of my friends was what you'd call the "generic midsized family sedan" - Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, etc. All of us managed just fine. Even taking extended multiday family roadtrips. Plus, the Accord of the late 80s and early 90s was closer in size to a 2022 Civic than 2022 Accord. Nowadays people insist that they need at minimum a Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, or the current fave - Kia Telluride, to transport a single kid.

jandrese 5y ago
While this is true, not all of the exterior volume increase resulted in more passenger space. Crumple zones and other crash protection force automakers to add what is effectively a lot of dead space in the frame and body, and since shrinking the interior is generally frowned upon that extra volume instead causes the exterior to balloon outward.
- decafninja 5y ago
  Yes, but I'd say the old Accord is still closer to a new Civic than a new Accord. For example: 1990 Accord (source: https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-1736b29dbfc20d6e1e8068004c34ca83-1990-honda-accord-specifications https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/relea...) Legroom 42.6/34.3 Hiproom 52.4/52.4 Shoulder: 54.8/54.8 Passenger volume: 93 cu ft Cargo volume: 14.4 cu ft 2022 Civic (source: https://owners.honda.com/vehicles/information/2002/Civic-Sedan/specs#mid^ES1612PW https://owners.honda.com/vehicles/information/2002/Civic-Sed...) Legroom: 42.2/36 Hiproom: 51.2/49.8 Shoulder: 52.6/52 Passenger volume: 91.4 cu ft Cargo volume: 12.9 cu ft 2021 Honda Accord (source: ) Legroom: 42.3/40.4 Hiproom: 55.3/55 Shoulder: 58.3/56.5 Passenger volume: 102.7 cu ft Cargo volume: 16.7 cu ft Though granted - too lazy to do the calculations right now, but I imagine a 1990 Honda Accord might be priced closer to a 2002 Honda Civic than Accord too.
turtlebits 5y ago
I feel like this is the same argument on HN regarding memory in laptops. Every argument insists that 8GB is useless, and shame on a company for selling that config (or not offering 32GB).
nec4b 5y ago
And how many child seats did you fit in your 80s and 90s cars?

jandrese 5y ago

While this is true, not all of the exterior volume increase resulted in more passenger space. Crumple zones and other crash protection force automakers to add what is effectively a lot of dead space in the frame and body, and since shrinking the interior is generally frowned upon that extra volume instead causes the exterior to balloon outward.

decafninja 5y ago
Yes, but I'd say the old Accord is still closer to a new Civic than a new Accord. For example: 1990 Accord (source: https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-1736b29dbfc20d6e1e8068004c34ca83-1990-honda-accord-specifications https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/relea...) Legroom 42.6/34.3 Hiproom 52.4/52.4 Shoulder: 54.8/54.8 Passenger volume: 93 cu ft Cargo volume: 14.4 cu ft 2022 Civic (source: https://owners.honda.com/vehicles/information/2002/Civic-Sedan/specs#mid^ES1612PW https://owners.honda.com/vehicles/information/2002/Civic-Sed...) Legroom: 42.2/36 Hiproom: 51.2/49.8 Shoulder: 52.6/52 Passenger volume: 91.4 cu ft Cargo volume: 12.9 cu ft 2021 Honda Accord (source: ) Legroom: 42.3/40.4 Hiproom: 55.3/55 Shoulder: 58.3/56.5 Passenger volume: 102.7 cu ft Cargo volume: 16.7 cu ft Though granted - too lazy to do the calculations right now, but I imagine a 1990 Honda Accord might be priced closer to a 2002 Honda Civic than Accord too.

turtlebits 5y ago

I feel like this is the same argument on HN regarding memory in laptops. Every argument insists that 8GB is useless, and shame on a company for selling that config (or not offering 32GB).

nec4b 5y ago

And how many child seats did you fit in your 80s and 90s cars?