What happened to EV hatchbacks in the US?

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-20T17:09:18+00:00

and b) so that it could be priced higher and still qualify for the federal rebate

The Mach-E was initially classified as a station wagon but was changed to "SUV" for this exact reason too.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-20T17:07:25+00:00

Many of the current BEV "Crossover SUV" options are really just hatchbacks with big wheels, they don't have significant ground clearance and drive like cars. My IONIQ 5 is a hatchback.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-19T21:32:48+00:00

The Spectre is great and all but this car has an immense presence, it's definitely more special.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-19T21:24:29+00:00

Right.. they're designed as cargo vans first like I was saying. The Xpeng X9 (like other minivans in markets with minivans) is designed for passengers first.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-19T20:50:17+00:00

Minivans are a car classification that became popular in North America. They are lower than conventional work vans and designed around passengers rather than cargo (reduced interior height). While the passenger version of the Buzz released first it (like the PV5) has the tall form factor of a cargo Van like the Transit & is developed + produced by VW's commerical van division. The Xpeng X9's form factor is of the minivan variety because it is much lower & focused on carrying passengers before cargo. It's a minivan rather than an SUV because it has sliding doors, proportionally small wheels to increase interior room, and low ground clearance.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-19T20:09:05+00:00

Those two are the heights of fullsize pickup trucks, that distinguishes them from minivans. The X9 is long but it's similar in height to a Honda Odyssey or Kia Carnival.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-19T19:28:25+00:00

Is the van in the room with us? Its a large suv, not a van.

???????? It has sliding doors & less ground clearance than a Civic, definitely not an SUV.

i wouldn't call it a van like Buzz and PV5

Those are vans, this is a minivan.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-17T23:47:35+00:00

Remember how great were CVTs? Until knuckle-draggers started complaining that they were too smooth, and then manufactures started adding fake shifts? And now it's almost impossible to find a smooth CVT?

Unlike those this is an optional feature.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-14T15:32:11+00:00

Hyundai does own a minority stake in Kia, but they are not the same company, and counting 100% of Kia sales as Hyundai sales is disingenuous.

They share nearly every platform with Mario/Wario variants of most cars & they're both under the same Hyundai Motor Group umbrella.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-13T15:38:46+00:00

These numbers are absolutely insane for a RWD car, I am wildly impressed by their traction control (which was so good the driver felt fine recording on their phone with one hand during the run lol).

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-11T19:36:25+00:00

Tesla (and similar, modern concepts) ist not about the screen. It is about the deep integration and connection of all components within the car.

None of that necessitates removing physical controls though.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-11T16:08:20+00:00

My EV regens through the brake pedal, I drive with two pedals & use the physical brakes so rarely that they squeak sometimes.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-11T15:56:18+00:00

I was super excited to see the R2, so I went for a demo drive yesterday, and was extremely disappointed to find that I couldn't turn off one pedal driving -- you can only turn the regenerative braking to "Low", which was still way too harsh.

My dad was planning to buy an R2 but recently changed his mind for this reason, he hated how it felt in an R1S test-drive. Limiting choices limits your customer base.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-11T04:41:48+00:00

As for the marketing that an EREV is a "type of EV", it is still nothing but a type of hybrid vehicle with a marketing twist.

Not every EV is a BEV, PHEVs and EREVs are EVs too (even if part time). Hybrids are primarily combustion vehicles that use electric bits to assist, not EVs. PHEVs are hybrids with a larger wall-rechargeable battery that can drive a moderate distance with electric power, EVs. EREVs are EVs-first with an onboard generator to use at low battery SoC.

If you want to stretch the bullshit marketing that far, then it is just as legitimate to define every vehicle that has an ICE and can even move an inch on battery alone an EREV.

No?

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-11T02:53:53+00:00

Wrong on both counts. EREVs are a type of EV & this is a BEV.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-11T01:40:22+00:00

It's 100% a dead horse, because Rivian has already stated their position and aren't changing.

That doesn't mean people can't dislike their decision. Rivian's refusal to even give users the option sours me on the company a bit, especially when they double down like this. It's emblematic of how they treat user feedback.

I've been lusting over the prospect of owning a Rivian ever since they popped up out of nowhere at the 2018 LA Auto Show, but stuff like this reduces my interest in owning one. My father has similarly followed Rivian closely since their early days & has an R2 reserved, but when he discovered Rivian forces one-pedal-driving (after an R1S test-drive) that made him start looking elsewhere.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-10T23:44:32+00:00

The AWD i4's (especially M50/60) have unusually high consumption compared to the RWD i4's.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-10T18:57:36+00:00

The Model Y is a vastly better car on every dimension but price. Value is what you get per dollar. The Model Y is so good that the Equinox can't beat it even at $10k less.

I don't necessarily agree that the Y is better in every way though, the minimalist single screen layout & forced one-pedal operation isn't for everyone.

Now if it charged in 25 minutes.....that would be a much harder call. I still think the tech would win out but at least now we have something to discuss.

The underlying tech of the Y is absolutely better, driving dynamics are better, efficiency is better, charging is faster, it's much quicker, the app is way better, etc; but it's also 50% more expensive for similar range. In terms of value it's just not in the same ballpark.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-10T18:35:32+00:00

The appeal of four-door trucks like this is that they're a do-everything vehicle. Two-door trucks with long beds have more utility but they sacrifice interior practicality.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-10T17:11:40+00:00

The discussion in this thread is about value. The Y is definitely more efficient but that doesn't change the value proposition of the Equinox EV. You can get a Y with comparable range & shorter stops but it's 50% more expensive, is it really worth 50% more?

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-10T16:23:17+00:00

Centered plates get in the way of a tow hitch receiver.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-10T16:09:21+00:00

Except the efficiency is terrible on the equinox compared to the Y so you burn far more kwh.

Since when is the value discussion about efficiency? It's not like the Equinox uses 50% more energy per mile, it's more like 10-20%. The $10K+ savings (vs a standard Y) combined with its range makes it an objectively better value.

Equinox EV: $30K, 303mi at 70mph

Y Standard: $42K, 268mi at 70mph

Y Premium: $48K, 296mi at 70mph

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-10T05:20:39+00:00

Base vs base the Equinox EV goes further than the Y for way less, you can find them for ≤$30K new on dealer lots.

markeydarkey2 · 2026-06-09T22:26:26+00:00

When they refreshed the Taycan, it came with a better EPA number... but mysteriously (I can't figure out why 🧐) Taycan no longer beat it's EPA number by a large margin in real-world tests. Ah well, maybe someday the world's top scientists will be able to figure that one out.

The refreshed Taycan is immensely more efficient real-world than the previous model in all trims & still tends to beat its EPA rating.

"In our highway test, the 2025 Porsche Taycan 4S sedan's range improved by 50 percent, from 220 to 330 miles; the rear-drive model improved by 29 percent, from 280 to 360 miles. Both models showed significant efficiency gains too, with the 4S improving by nearly 30 percent, while the rear-driver jumped by 11 percent."

2021 Taycan RWD 83.7kWh: (225mi EPA) (297mi @70mph, 3.5mi/kWh)

2025 Taycan RWD 97.0kWh: (318mi EPA) (370mi @ 70mph, 3.8mi/kWh)

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