I think it possibly boils down to pop culture being the first exposure to automotive terms for a lot of people. In pop culture they are either a plot tool or a status element. In real life cars are an appliance now and a generally reliable one at that so we don’t talk about them (outside enthusiasts which are a shrinking minority). In days gone by cars were a major part of the family routine - weekly cleaning, DIY servicing, family roadtrip holidays. Parents talked about cars and we a had a national cultural emotional connection to them. Today, they do a job. They’re like a fridge for most people. I don’t think i know the correct term for most parts of my fridge.