While You Were Sleeping: Subcompact Crossover Meth, Rare Cars Are a Drug and Saturn Dealer Wants His Money Back

Mark Stevenson
by Mark Stevenson

They’re potent, popular and can’t be stopped. Everyone wants to buy one. Every dealer wants to sell one. Just like the crack-like epidemic of SUVs in the ’90s, the subcompact crossover is the blue meth of today.

Here’s what happened overnight.

Bored Yet? U.S. Subcompact Crossover Sales Jumped 95% In May 2015 (Good Car Bad Car on Kinja)


May was a great month for the HR-V and many of its rivals.

This Has To Be The Coolest, Weirdest Home For A Slant 6 (Jalopnik)


“The 3700 was basically just a slightly modified Spanish Dart (which sounds like a euphemism for something violent or gross).”

Saturn was a loser for years — but who knew? (Automotive News)


Dealer “files suit against Deloitte seeking $13.8 million in compensation for his post-2005 Saturn investments.”

DVLA website crashes on launch day leaving motorists facing car hire fiasco (The Telegraph)


“DVLA tells motorists to destroy the papers from June 8, as they are no longer needed,” but website crashes and leaves license holders stranded.

Costco Sold Nearly 400,000 Cars Last Year (AutoGuide)


“That figure is twice as high as it was back in 2008 and this performance puts them on the back bumper of AutoNation.”

Car Transport Trucks are Big in China (CarNewsChina)


“The enormous vehicle measured at least 25 meters long, and transported only a wrecked Porsche Cayenne when I met it.”

Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer axed in the UK (Autocar)


“It has been dropped due to high re-engineering costs of fitting the new ‘Whisper’ diesel engine.”

Mark Stevenson
Mark Stevenson

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  • Redshift Redshift on Jun 09, 2015

    People like them because the population as aging. My parents had to sell their Accord because my increasingly arthritic father simply can't get in and out of a modern Sedan. I'm helping them car shop now, and the primary criteria is seat to hip height. He needs to basically be able to open the door and just sit.

  • 210delray 210delray on Jun 09, 2015

    My wife and I are sticking with sedans and hatchback cars. No SUVs/CUVs for us for the foreseeable future. We're empty-nesters who don't camp or tow. Cars get better fuel economy and handle better. We're limber enough to get in and out, and besides, today's cars are taller than they were in the 70s and 80s. Finally we have one of those Clinton-era vehicles -- a 1998 Nissan Frontier for hauling larger loads; with only 86K miles on it and the bulletproof 2.4-liter 4 and 5-speed manual, I expect it to last for a long time.

  • Ajla Those letters look like they are from AutoZone.
  • Analoggrotto Kia EV9 was voted the best vehicle in the world and this is the best TOYOTA can do? Nice try, next.
  • 3-On-The-Tree 4cyl as well.
  • Luke42 I want more information about Ford’s Project T3.The Silverado EV needs some competition beyond just the Rivian truck. The Cybertruck has missed the mark.The Cybertruck is special in that it’s the first time Tesla has introduced an uncompetitive EV. I hope the company learns from their mistakes. While Tesla is learning what they did wrong, I’ll be shopping to replace my GMC Sierra Hybrid with a Chevy, a Ford, or a Rivian — all while happily driving my Model Y.
  • 3-On-The-Tree I wished they wouldn’t go to the twin turbo V6. That’s why I bought a 2021 Tundra V8.
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