With thanks to the government, the crossover and everything premium.
Recently, we talked about this two medium cars. The traditional middle class seemed fairly to shrink. It used to be a middle-class sedan, namely the cornerstone of the society. And not only in the Netherlands, actually worldwide. Just a car with four doors and a spacious trunk. A reasonably potent engine, and enough luxury.
Today, this is all the way out, many brands do not offer even a sedan in the D segment. It is a Crossover of the C-segment (e.g. Qashqai) or a premium sedan (BMW 3-Series) or a combination (Mercedes GLA). Fortunately, there is a new Opel Insignia and Renault Talisman, but for many brands it seems the D Segment sedan a quiet death to die. But is that so? Or is that really only in the ‘badge conscious’ Europe? Team Autoblog took a look over the border to see what we actually missed by our hunger for crossovers.
In America the process of buying a car for something else. You can see it on the models. Usually there are 3 or 4 luxury levels. One base, one a bit more luxury, one sporty and one with everything. This goes for all medium cars there. In terms of motorization. Boarding is done with a hefty atmospheric four-cylinder engine and the top model is a thick-V6 (or four cylinder turbo). For this overview, we look at the most luxury variant and the thickest engine. We consider first a logical premium offer. A little bit of the standard, mainly because it is almost identical implementation in both markets.
BMW 320i
$ 34,745
2.0 4-cyl. turbo (184 hp)
US sales: 100,000 copies
We begin with the BMW 3 Series. Praised for its driving characteristics, appearance and tight legroom. In this case, we assume the 320i, also in the US, you get just a four cylinder. For the Americans, this is an expensive car, because you have to pay almost 40 mille. In the Netherlands you have a very bare-bones 320i or a 318i (three-cylinder with what options). Despite that, a lot of 3 Series in the U.S. more luxurious equipped than in the Netherlands, you can best bare Dreiers. This 320i has fabric lining, no navigation system, simple audio, and fog all kinds of luxury items that the below-mentioned cars all have.
Alternatives to shunting we have on the sales figures in the US. To indicate how much where you for your money, we take the model into account. Only regular medium cars we charge, all premium offers let out of consideration.
Buick Regal AWD GS
$ 37.860
2.0 4-cyl. turbo (250 hp)
US Sales: 20,000 to
This we all know, because of course it is nothing more or less than the previous Opel Insignia. That’s funny, because where the car of house, garden and kitchen is a sedan, it is in the U.S. a luxury product. The Regal is smaller and more expensive than its competitors. Hence the lower sales figures, probably. Another reason is that the new Regal is ready. Curious about how Buick this issue will resolve, since this will be the last Opel-Buick, now the brand Opel was taken over by Peugeot.
Mazda 6 2.5 Grand Touring (GJ)
$ 30.695
2.5 4-cyl. (184 hp)
US sell: 45.000
Previously you could get the Mazda 6 with a thick 3.7-liter V6. According to Mazda, the engine is heavily redundant and there is in the US but a choice of bike, a 2.5 SkyActiv, which we also know. But as we know, the Mazda not his performance. The design, drivability and reliability are unrivalled. Still not enough for the Americans to excite, evidently. For really large numbers makes Mazda with the 6. Maybe, but regal V6 to the range of add…
Chrysler 200 Limited Platinum
$ 27.700
3.6 V6 (283 hp)
US Sales: 55.000 pieces
Of all Americans, Chrysler is still quite popular in Europe. Relatively said, though. But that does not mean that cars like the Neon, Voyager and 300 still sometimes encountered on the street or in the case of the 300: on the rank. The first 200 was very briefly available as a Lancia Flavia and let’s not beat around the bush: that was not the best. But the second generation is a lot better in the near. Not only because of the beautiful appearance, but also because of the engine. By default, you have a 2.4 Tigershark engine, but for just $ 2,000 more you have a true 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 under the hood with a negentraps (!) automatic transmission. Despite being a young car, Marchionne is determined that the vehicle is out of production after 2 years in production. A successor is not ready. Chrysler now has only two models in its portfolio.
Volkswagen Passat VR6 SEL
$ 34.815
3.0 VR6 (250 hp)
US sales: 65.000 copies
Despite the name ‘Passat’ is this really a different car. The American Passat is a NMS. This Passat is less refined, more spacious and cheaper than the European Passat. This is sold in the US and various Asian brands. That seemed in the beginning to unpack. On the Passat NMS was more margin than the Euro-spec Passats and the model hit better with the American public giving VW a year a lot more than 100,000 pieces she could wear, but since the whole dieselgate debacle decrease the sales significantly. Good news: you can put a VR6 in, that is where you are.
Subaru Legacy 3.6 R
$ 31.640
3.6 liter boxer 6 (256 hp)
US sales: 65.000 copies
In the Netherlands you will see Subaru’s almost not in the past. A few caravanrijder know them on their merits to assess, but a lot of people pick their nose for it. That is really a shame, because the are very fine cars. In the Netherlands they are very expensive because of stupid taxes, but in the US, you have for a little more than 30 mille a six-cylinder boxer engine under the hood! With four-wheel drive, of course. Always handy in the snow, such as @CasperH in this video shows.
Kia Optima SX Limited (JF)
$ 36.090
2.0 4-cyl. turbo (245 hp)
US sell: 125.000 copies
This is, however, refreshing to those Americans. If a product is simply good, then they buy it. Both the previous Optima and current Optima is just a handsome cart to see. Moving forward, it is not a Mercedes competitor, but that pretends to be the absolutely not to be. Let actually not drop the ball. Can the Yanks do appreciate it.
Hyundai Sonata 2.0 T Limited
$ 37.400
2.0 4-cyl. turbo (245 hp)
US sales: 200,000 copies
How quickly the times can change for the Korean brand. If you work hard enough and good products builds come out right. The Sonata is on paper a lesser offer than the Chrysler, but the Sonata is four times more popular than the all-American Chrysler 200. Technically a more modern car, with its (to US standards) advanced 2.0 T engine.
Chevrolet Malibu 2.0 T Premier
$ 30.350
2.0 4-cyl. Turbo (250 hp)
US sales: 225.000 copies
When Chevrolet came back to Europe and hoped that I, the undersigned, that there is Chevrolets came to the Netherlands. Nothing was less true. On the existing crappy Daewoos were bowtie’s stuck and that’s is. So a Chevrolet Used instead of a Chevrolet Malibu. Again, it is a pity that this car is on our nose going, because it is an above average progressive sedan. Only available with an economical four-cylinder turbo engines or even a real hybrid! Further, dirt cheap, fast and loaded with options. It will still look cool, too.
Nissan Altima 3.5 SL (L33)
$ 33.555
3.5 V6 (270 hp)
US Sales: 300.000
Nissan builds at this moment, two neat topsedans: the Maxima and Altima. The Altima is a little bit what we the Primera would call it. For 7 mille dollars less than the 330i, you have such a battleship for the door, fully loaded with leather, 18″ wheels, automatic transmission, thick V6, navigation system, and a glass slide/pop-up roof. The engine is indirectly linked to the V6 from the sportier models of Nissan. The SL is the most deluxe model, but a sporty SR is also possible. Costs less, too.
Ford Fusion Sport 2.7 Ecoboost
$ 31.980
2.6 V6 Turbo (325 hp)
US sales: 300,000 copies
The name “Fusion” we know to a Ford, but that is was a Bejaardenmobiel pur sang. In America the name is Fusion linked to a middle-class sedan. If you look closely, it seems like a Mondeo. In fact, it is just a Mondeo with a few small deviations. The largest deviation is found under the hood. This is namely a six-cylinder engine with turbo, good for 325 horses! Imagine that you are in the Netherlands, the Mondeo could get with 325 hp. Then left you for the same money that 320i still just standing there?
Honda Accord EX-L V6 (CR3)
$ 30.990
3.5 V6 (278 hp)
US sales: 345.000
Until recently, you could always have a Honda Accord to order in the Netherlands. However, that was not the real Accord, but a gerebadgede Acura TSX, a BMW 3-Series competitor. More premium and tighter so. But in the U.S., the Accord is still one of the most popular cars. He also has an absolute kortingsknaller: all of the options, more than 270 horsepower, an automatic one for a little more than 30 mille in us Dollars.
Toyota Camry XLE 3.5 V6
$ 31.765
3.5 V6 (268 hp)
US sell: 390.000 copies
This car is a good example of how different the tastes on the various continents. The Camry is one of the most popular cars in the US. Until recently, it was the best-selling passenger car there (the pick-ups there have been trucks, so that they do not need to meet the safety and emission requirements). Also in the rest of the world is the Camry a respected zakensedan. But the European importers, could the Camry but difficult to wear. Why is a little unclear. Camry’s are super fast, comfortable, fully equipped, insanely reliable and very reasonably priced in addition.
