Are car interiors getting smaller?

[zax]

Spent a few hours today wandering around Helsinki motor show. I want to replace the car soon so it was a good chance to try different vehicles out for size in one place.

I'm tall, but not unusually so (2 metres). At least 90% of the cars there I was unable to sit comfortably in. Lack of headroom and kneeroom was the main problem. Most cars seemed to have some form of sunroof, which cuts the available headroom even more. Even alleged "family models" (Zafira or Honda FRV for example) were too cramped. Honda especially bug me, since I would have liked to try out the new Civic. No point, without a sunroof it's already too low and with it's just a joke. Same goes for the whole Honda range with exception of the CRV, and Mrs Zax already has one of those. Skoda Fabia vrs? No. How about the larger Octavia vrs? No. Fiesta ST? No. The list goes on and on... How about a Subaru? Forester? No. Legacy? No. Impreza? Almost, but not quite. New Seat Leon - close, but still too cramped. Mitsubishi pickup truck? No.

I don't want to wear a top hat in there, just want to be able to drive without my head touching the headlining and my vision being blocked by the roofline.

So my choice seems to be limited to:

1) Nissan Navaro pick up truck
2) Ford Focus ST
3) Citroen C2 VTS (yes, really!)
4) A Segway

Golf R32 was disqualified due to costing close to €50,000

The 7th salesperson to suggest I drive with the sunroof open came close to being forcibly decapitated by said roof opening Why are most cars so damn small inside these days? Even the big ones? Is there some Euro rule about having a thick roof now or something?

Phew. Deep breaths, and relax...

[up-the-dubs]

Buy the previos S-Class. The oil tanker. If you can't fit in that, buy a bus .

[dazren]

VW Passats are also good for headroom.

DAZ

[chassis 33]

Yes, they are getting smaller inside for the same reasons cars are generally getting heavier, because of all the safety gizmos and absorbant padding and cotton wool to keep you safe in the event of an accident.

Regards
Iain

[900T-R]

Ah, my pet hate - I'm not quite as tall, but there's a lot of cars nowadays in which I'd have to wedge one knee into the center console and the other touching the door panel - but conversely I'd have enough space to wear a top hat! What's that all about? Even in my MINI I'm transporting at least 4" air above my head...
Modern cars keep getting wider and higher every model generation, but leg room stays the same...

[flossythepig]

If you can cope with 2 seats the GTM Libra is very accomodating.

Hugh

[hugoagogo]

it's down to the seats! most don't adjust enough (if at all) for height. Passat has a massive adjustment, fitting me and my midget missus perfectly. manual adjustment Focus seems to have better range than the motorised one, weirdly

worse are the cars with no adjustment on the passenger side, i'm nice and comfy in the drivers seat, when i get in the passengers seat, i have to recline way back

[J500ANT]

A proper smart is good for tall people!

[lord summerisle]

i'll make the case for the Citroen Berlingo - a car you CAN wear a top hat in excellent car - would be lost without one

[scared but happy]

^^^^ I know someone who owned one of these things. I drive it home for him it was like a bloddy goldfish bowl.
Handling was crud. And unless I was wearing one of these:





I cannot see the point of them.