American Cars vs European Cars

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.

Are European Cars Better than American Cars?

European cars are better than their American counterparts.

Here are a few reasons why you should go for a European car:

They have better fuel efficiency owing to higher gas costs.
European cars are technologically advanced.
They are aesthetically appealing and have attractive and smooth exteriors.
They can last for a long period of time hence has a good resale value.
European cars are known for their comfort and pleasant driving experience.

Why Do European Vehicles Look Different?

There are some fundamental differences between the cars from the two continents.

Here are a few basics:

European vehicles are built smaller than Americans due to their smaller roads.
American cars are stylish and contemporary, and more utility-based. But, those from Europe are more sophisticated. They focus on styling, aesthetics, and overall design.
Even though Americans love power, it is the European vehicles that shine at high speeds.
Americans prefer automatic vehicles while Europeans the manual stick variant.

Why Does European Car Have a Small Engine?

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.

Which Is the Best European Car?

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:

Volkswagen Arteon SE
Audi A4 Technik 2.0 TFSi
Jaguar XE P300
Volkswagen Jetta GLi
BMW 740i

Can the U.S. Adopt Europe’s Fuel-Efficient Vehicles?

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.

Price: Vehicles in Europe are expensive
Power: The average European vehicle doesn’t pack as much power

Are Foreign Vehicles More Expensive to Maintain?

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.

Why Does Europe Drive Small Cars?

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.

Why Aren’t European Cars Big Sellers in America?

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.

Dual government regulations
They love big vehicles.
Thirst for power
More expensive than homegrown models
Value for money

What Is the Cheapest Foreign Car to Maintain?

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.

Nissan Pathfinder 2014
Kia Soul 2016
Toyota Corolla 2013
Honda Accord 2016
Toyota Camry 2015

What Is the Most Popular European Car Brand?

Volkswagen Group seems to be the most popular European brand recently, followed by Renault, Ford, and Peugeot.

Who Is the Biggest Car Manufacturer in Europe?

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.

What’s Better a Lexus or Mercedes?

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.

Which Car Is 100 Percent Made in America?

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.

Ford Ranger
Jeep Cherokee
Tesla Model S
Tesla Model 3

What American Car Holds its Value the Best?

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.

Nissan Frontier
GMC Canyon
Dodge Challenger
Subaru WRX
Toyota 4Runner

Are American Cars More Expensive in Europe?

No! American vehicles are not as expensive as their counterparts in Europe. European car manufacturers ensure that their vehicles are dependable in terms of:

Design
Styling
Quality
Performance
Engineering

And above all, is the brands. Brand name plays a vital role in influencing the buyers.

Why Is Dodge So Unreliable?

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.

Why Are American Cars Not Sold in Europe?

American cars are not sold in Europe since they are not as popular as their domestic vehicles.

Here are a few reasons why:

American cars have an appetite for fuel.
Europe prefers energy-efficient vehicles.
Import duty is 10% rather than the 2.5% that the US charges.

Why are American Cars Considered Less Reliable?

America’s love for cars and their need for speed doesn’t translate well to homegrown brands.

Vehicles made in America have a high recall rate.
The build quality is not as good since they compete to race ahead of their European counterparts.
European vehicles are innovative when it comes to styling, which their American counterparts are still to catch up.
American vehicles are neither known for their fuel efficiency nor do they make an effort to increase efficiency.

Why Do American Cars Have a Bad Reputation?

Even though it isn’t the case with all the vehicles, American automakers have obtained a bad reputation for the below reasons:

American cars are cheap, which translates to low quality. They also have a rep for poor handling. Their parts are cheaply made and put together in an assembly line.
American vehicles are bigger than those in European and Asian markets. This also meant that they are also gas guzzlers and not incredibly energy-efficient.

What American Made Car Gets the Best Gas Mileage?

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.

Ford Fiesta
Chevy Spark
Ford Focus
Chevy Sonic
Chevy Cruze
Ford Fusion Hybrid

Why Are Pickup Trucks in the U.S. So Large?

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.

Better than the European models in terms of size and design.
Though not as fuel-efficient, they make sense to buy due to the tax breaks.
The size works better for work-related purposes.

Are Japanese Cars Better than German Cars?

Yes! Japanese cars are considered to be the best among the two when compared.

Japanese automakers are known for:

They are built to last long.
Reliability
Affordability

However, if you prefer features like comfort, speed, performance, and power in your car, you should look for the latter.

Are Japanese Cars Popular in Europe?

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.

Are European Cars Safer than Japanese Cars?

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.

Is it Better to Buy Japanese Vehicles or European Vehicles?

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.

Conclusion

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).