American Cars vs European Cars
While Europe and the U.S. see eye to eye on various things, cars aren’t one of them. Europeans use them to get around, while for Americans, it is a way of life. Hence there are some glaring differences in terms of performance, quality, and design.
American automotive industry is a mixed bag of vehicles from Europe, Asia (Japan and Korea), and indigenous. It is challenging to gauge which vehicle trumps over the other one since the features vary depending on the region.
Our article brings you the ultimate guide, comparing European, American and Japanese vehicles.
European cars are better than their American counterparts.
Here are a few reasons why you should go for a European car:
There are some fundamental differences between the cars from the two continents.
Here are a few basics:
A smaller engine is more fuel-efficient and lighter. More than performance, Europeans are more concerned about being energy efficient, which is the case with the engines.
Besides, cars in Europe are compact; hence the small engines make more sense.
Cars from Europe are more famous since they are more reliable and give a good value in terms of safety and price.
Here are the top vehicles of 2020:
No! It’s not possible for the US to adopt Europe’s fuel-efficient vehicles since certain aspects of the European models would not work in the US.
Yes! Foreign vehicles are more expensive to maintain. If your car is foreign made and imported to the US, its spare parts have to arrive from its place of origin. Moreover, not all mechanics would have the skills to tackle the issue. You need specially trained mechanics with high labor charges.
For foreign automakers established in the US, spares should not be a problem since they would be available with dealerships and certified mechanics.
Generally, Europe has narrow, winding roads, especially in the historical cities, five-seven hundred years old. In few places, medieval streets still exist, making it difficult for vehicles. Hence cars across Europe are small to make driving in these lanes easier.
Also, they have stringent policies when it comes to energy-efficient cars.
The expectation of an average American is quite different from that in Europe. They love the bigger vehicles like large trucks, crossovers, and family cars.
Here are some of the reasons why European models aren’t a big hit.
Foreign cars are expensive to maintain. The high price comes down to the spare parts and qualified mechanics. With that in mind, the cheapest foreign cars to maintain are from Japan.
Volkswagen Group seems to be the most popular European brand recently, followed by Renault, Ford, and Peugeot.
Volkswagen Group seems to be the largest car manufacturer in Europe in terms of raw unit volume. However, it has to be noted that most of their plants are located outside Europe in Asia, Brazil, and the US.
Brands like Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Seat, Porsche, and a few more come under the Volkswagen Groups umbrella.
Both Lexus and Mercedes Benz offer opulent and robust vehicles that are rich in features as well. Comparing the both, Mercedes edges out Lexus by just a tiny margin.
If you are looking for pure opulence and luxury, Mercedes is the brand for you. For an affordable upscale quality car, Lexus is the automaker for you.
Determining the origin of a car is a much-complicated process since the supply chain can exist anywhere in the world. Here’s a list of top vehicles whose parts are more or less made in the US.
One of the most important factors influencing an average American when buying a new car is the resale value. When you pool $30,000 for a vehicle, you want something worth a few years on.
Here are a few reliable cars that hold the most value.
No! American vehicles are not as expensive as their counterparts in Europe. European car manufacturers ensure that their vehicles are dependable in terms of:
And above all, is the brands. Brand name plays a vital role in influencing the buyers.
Dodge has ranked at 25 (way closer to the bottom) in 2014 consumer reports regarding reliability. The American automakers have since then vastly improved and are now ranked quite high at 8th position.
It is currently one of the most reliable American brands. The Dodge Challenger and Grand Caravan received above-average ratings.
American cars are not sold in Europe since they are not as popular as their domestic vehicles.
Here are a few reasons why:
America’s love for cars and their need for speed doesn’t translate well to homegrown brands.
Even though it isn’t the case with all the vehicles, American automakers have obtained a bad reputation for the below reasons:
As fuel prices continue to rise, consumers continue to buy vehicles that save gas and are reliable.
Here are a few top vehicles that seem to have hit the nail.
While American cars have long been hated in Europe, it is a mixed bag with pickup trucks. Since most pickup trucks are utilitarian, in the U.S. it is more luxurious.
Yes! Japanese cars are considered to be the best among the two when compared.
Japanese automakers are known for:
However, if you prefer features like comfort, speed, performance, and power in your car, you should look for the latter.
Not particularly! Europeans have a remarkably different taste, which translates into vehicles as well. So homegrown vehicles dominate in that region.
However, more and more people prefer Japanese vehicles nowadays.
Yes! European cars tend to be safer than Japanese cars. They are built to be sturdy with a smooth, controlled ride as well as have shorter braking distances.
Japanese vehicles also have lesser airbags when compared to their European counterparts.
Japanese vehicles are famous for their quality, reliability, and easy maintenance. But European vehicles, on the other hand, offer you power and acceleration.
If you are looking for a new vehicle that won’t breakdown, go for Japanese cars. But, for power, safety, and performance, go for a European make.
Americans love their bigger, spacious vehicles while Europe small vehicles with even smaller engines. Japan, on the other hand, preaches reliability and safety. These traits generally come from the region they originate.
If you compare the three, Europeans easily win with their fuel-efficient, quality cars. American automakers seem to be racing to catch up with their counterparts, sometimes with disastrous results.
But if you wish to have a vehicle that lasts for many years to come, Japanese may be your choice.
For over 45 years, Little Germany is a certified Service Center that specializes in full service and repair services for German-made cars. Contact Little Germany for all your auto repair needs (After-Hours form).