Supersized: A Decade-Long Growth of U.S. Cars Reveals a Bigger Picture

An intriguing phenomenon has been taking place on the American roads over the past decade - cars are still getting larger. Not just a touch more expansive, but significantly so. According to research obtained by FINN¹, between 2013 and 2023, the average vehicle's dimensions have witnessed a sharp 12% or more increase in length and 17% percent or more in terms of width. That’s nearly two feet longer and about a foot wider. This size increase isn't merely an aesthetic choice or a result of technological advancements to allow more interior space without impacting performance or aerodynamics. It appears to be part of a larger shift in consumer preferences toward larger, more powerful vehicles.

The resulting phenomenon doesn’t just create an issue of our cars outgrowing existing parking spaces; there are serious environmental, social, and infrastructural implications to consider. This article delves into this intriguing trend, examining what's driving it and the potential consequences it may hold for our society.

A data chart below showcases the significant growth of the average dimensions for vehicles sold in the U.S. from 2013 to 2023.

This increase in dimensions has profound environmental implications. Larger cars consume more fuel and therefore emit more greenhouse gasses, on average, contributing significantly to increased CO2 emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in 2022² that there has been a notable increase in emissions from the transportation sector, with one of the main contributors being larger, less fuel-efficient vehicles. Surprisingly, this trend towards bigger vehicles isn't unique to the United States; it's a global phenomenon. Experts from the EU team at FINN gathered data³ that the average size of new cars worldwide has increased by a whopping 20% or more over the last ten years.

These ‘supersized’ vehicles, popular as they may be and also considering the almost direct relationship between a car's size and its CO2 emissions, are undermining the advances made possible by electric vehicles in reducing emissions.

So why the increase in size? The answer seems to lie in consumer preferences. Larger cars, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, are popular because of the perceived benefits of space, comfort, and safety. This has been further underscored by successful marketing campaigns (i.e. bigger is better). As FINN has recognized from its own car subscription demand and reinforced by industry data⁴, in 2023, the SUV category made up a whopping 47.4% of the new vehicle market share in the U.S., a significant leap from 32.6% in 2013.

The consequences of this vehicle growth trend are far from benign. Cities and infrastructure designed for smaller vehicles are now grappling with oversized vehicles. As pointed out by Dr. Ethan Lewis, a city planner from Boston University, “The increased size of cars is not without consequences. Our cities (and even our own garages) were not designed for these oversized vehicles, leading to more traffic and parking issues.” In the US, minimum width standards of parking spaces usually range from 8.5 to 9.0 feet.  Considering that economical factors are at play when calculating the dimensions of parking spaces, simply “making them bigger” isn’t always a viable solution. 

In fact, this is in large part why parking garages typically add a $10 or more surcharge for SUV or truck parking in excess of the standard car price. The result is a tighter fit in the spaces available, or more vehicles circulating around a lot or streets to find an appropriately sized space, causing more parking lot congestion (think your local grocery store experience, for example). Compact car spaces are usually only 16 feet long compared to the usual 18 feet parking space length, making them nearly untenable for the majority of drivers.

In a report adapted and expanded from the 2022 Dangerous by Design report from non-profit group Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition, bigger vehicles are directly resulting in more pedestrian accidents, since they have less visibility of surrounding foot traffic.  In 2021, Consumer Reports found that the height of a pickup truck front hood — the top of a front blind zone — grew by an average of more than 11% and truck weight went up 24% from 2000 to 2018. The domino effect of this size increase on infrastructure is just beginning to surface and warrants attention.

Addressing this issue requires a holistic approach that considers consumer preferences, environmental impacts, and urban planning challenges. Even stricter fuel economy standards could play a crucial role in reversing this trend. Still, the power lies ultimately with the consumers and the choices they make towards more sustainable mobility.

The significant increase in car dimensions over the past decade paints a complex picture. It's a trend that reflects societal shifts and raises essential questions about sustainability in the mobility sector. As we continue to grow our cars, it's crucial to consider whether this is truly the path we want to tread. For a sustainable future, the American idea that ‘bigger is better’ might need to be re-evaluated and even reconsidered.

This report is courtesy of FINN, the leading car subscription provider in the United States and Germany offering a wide variety of gas and electric-powered vehicles for terms of 6-24 months. Driving should be carefree and sustainable, that's why FINN is offsetting the entire CO2 emissions of our fleet based on the average vehicle consumption. This means you can always be carbon-neutral on the road - regardless of your everyday life and mobility needs.

 ¹ University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).
 ² EPA Automotive Trends Report, 2022.
 ³ International Energy Agency (IEA) report, published Sept. 2022
 ⁴ Data provided by Auto Alliance.