This is an absolutely crazy response. In no world is a 15 year old economy sedan more comfortable for a highway commute than a newer SUV. The only argument you could make is fuel economy.

The diesel Jetta emits way more particulate pollution than a modern gasoline-burning SUV, too. Like over an order of magnitude more.

I imagine the GP was talking about easiness to drive. Low cars are more stable and lighter cars accelerate better (not only on speed-ups, but while breaking too).

Overall, driving a truck is much more stressing than a car.

But we're specifically talking about highway commutes where driving dynamics don't really come into play. IMO, the higher position alone makes driving an SUV superior on the highway but the 2003 Jetta reference is what really makes the comment absurd.

> the higher position alone makes driving an SUV superior on the highway

I've heard this position from a number of people and never really understood it. It's usually related to the ability to see over other vehicles, but in times of higher traffic density where that would be most useful, there are almost always numerous larger vehicles on the road that still significantly limit vision.

I've made cross-country trips in everything from a sports car to a 1-ton van, and definitely didn't find the van's height to be an asset in terms of comfort.

Historically (50's thru early 70's) Americans considered v8 full size cars and wagons the only way to travel the multi thousand mile trips common on the continent. Japanese cars changed all that and their smaller form factor became the norm. Mid sized pickups (Chevy LUV) were unseated by Toyota and other brands and replaced station wagons. SUV and minivans became the norm for families. The high end luxury touring/prestige market remains pretty strong - european brands (even if actually owned by Indians) continue to attract demand. Sedans have increasingly been two door performance vehicles (Challenger, Mustang, Camaro) effectively being full sized sports cars. Only vehicles like the Accord, Camry etc are sold as family vehicles. The exception is hybrids, which IMO are the way forward, replacing the hum drum commuter and family multi use saloons with much greater fuel efficiency. There's a tiny niche market for heavily government subsidized and mostly luxury and status signaling EV's, and this market will almost certainly expand with intense political pressure and Chinese dominance. The challenge is that for decades US unions have protected the jobs around the vast transportation economic ecosphere - parts, infrastructure, design, build. This is all arguably being ceded to Asia with the oligarch pied piper Elon Musk selling the Western dream of cheap ultimately autonomous 'green' transportation. What's missing from the Bloomberg article is that Ford Fusion and Focus are on global platforms and remain very strong in europe and elsewhere.

Your comment that "Ford Fusion and Focus are on global platforms" may explain why the Ford cars were so tiny when I looked at them last year. I felt like buying a Ford, but none of the cars had enough room for my head. I'm sure it helps fuel economy and knocks 1% off the price, and few people will care in South America or Asia, but it was a deal killer for me.

Almost all manufacturers are now using global platforms. But generally sedan designers have killed off a large portion of their own market share by making their cars increasingly impractical and uncomfortable in a misguided pursuit of styling and efficiency.

Are you over 6’6”? I ask because my brother-in-law is, and has driven the Focus wagon we just sold - and owns a 1997 Passat. The key seems to be being able to drop the height of the seat.

Germans are slightly taller on average than Americans, and the Dutch are pretty well-known for it. Both are countries where the VW Golf is the median vehicle, and the Focus is one of its main competitors.

$6-7/gallon gas probably does cause people to put up with stuff that they wouldn’t if fuel were commonly $2.50, though.

I'm just 6'2" but I like to sit up straight. I need to see upward to read signs and watch traffic lights. I don't want to injure my head when it moves to the side, for example by impacting a grab handle or the edge of a roof window.

Worse though, are my tall kids. One is expected to be 6'10" soon. Does he just have to buy a bus? Getting a car would be preferred.

Very tall guys here seem to go for VWs, or Audis if they’re feeling spendy. Another rather tall colleague of mine drives an Auris (Toyota Europe's Corolla equivalent). My 6’1” husband chose a Fiesta, and he’s rather long torsoed, to boot.

Cars that are compact/economy cars on the US market are midsize/midmarket here, and that might be why little things like very height-adjustable seats are in them. The Golf/Focus (plus Auris, Astra) segment is extremely competitive in the EU.

Huh. Just realized that most cars here don’t have prominent grab handles.

Hybrids are no longer a category on their own. You can buy a Camry or even SUVs in hybrid, and all the brands are expanding their offer to most of their vehicles.

I would much rather be low to the ground on the highway than up high. It all comes down to personal preference.

Anecdotally, I hate riding in trucks and SUVs for long distances. Particularly SUVs. Can't stand those things. Particularly as a passenger in the back seat. The view height out the windshield is wonky and made me motion sick last time I spent much time in one.

Comfort is subjective. I had a Jetta and found it very comfortable, though most people would have thought it too firm or even harsh.

It's probably because it's smaller and lighther and it tends to bounce more longitudinally in turns. Being used to small cars I also find it confortable. A Passat wagon is more confortable though but the misdesigned a/c and the seats ruin it somewhat.

I drove a rental Ford Fusion Hybrid and then a Ford Expedition on my trip to Texas this summer.

The Fusion was a joy to drive; the Expedition was a chore. Squishy driver's seat, soggy handling, and of course, three times the fuel consumption of the Fusion hybrid.

If I recall properly, the North American Fusion is a slightly reworked Mondeo, which is considered a nice-ish car over here, and would also explain why I thought it was nice: we have a Fiesta and just sold my diesel Focus wagon.

Sorry to see that just when Ford seemed to have figured out that their European division designs decent small cars, they’ve given up on bringing them into the North American market.