Some of the nicest cars in the world are unlikely to ever be driven on American roads. The reasons why are complicated.
America misses out on a bunch of cool cars that are common in other countries. And it’s not just about how these cars look or how fast they go; many of them have pretty awesome features, are super efficient, and are totally fun to drive. They reliably catch the attention of car enthusiasts all over the world, and you might have seen some of them on social media.
So, why don’t we see more of these cool cars in the United States? Is it because Americans don’t like them enough to bring them over, or are they just too expensive? Or maybe there are laws and rules making it hard for these cars to be imported?
We’re going to dive into the reasons that affect this, so that next time you fawn over a Toyota Aygo or an Alpine A110, you understand why you can’t just go out to get one and drive it around on American roads — at least not yet.Americans love big cars
When you take a look at the cars in mall parking lots or speeding by on the highway, it’s pretty clear: Americans have a thing for bigger cars. Ask around, and you’ll hear that many people consider bigger cars to be comfier, safer, and just right for the American way of life.
Whether it’s for cruising through the city or taking on cross-country adventures, these larger vehicles offer plenty of room for both people and all the stuff they like to bring along on trips.
Contrast this with Europe and Asia, where narrower streets and higher gas prices make smaller cars a smarter choice. That doesn’t mean Americans don’t care about saving on gas — they do. It’s just that fuel efficiency often gets overshadowed by the appeal of a car’s speed and other amenities.
And the fact that most Americans clearly prefer bigger cars is one reason we don’t see some of the coolest compact and fuel-efficient cars on U.
