As electric SUVs and crossovers continue to dominate new releases, many drivers say the smaller, lighter cars they actually want are getting harder to find.
Here's what to know
A Redditor noted that the newer, crossover-style Hyundai Ioniq 5 can be roughly 22% less efficient than the older Ioniq EV at the high end. They said a 2021 Ioniq EV delivers about 4.5 to 5 miles per kilowatt-hour, versus roughly 3.4 to 3.9 miles per kilowatt-hour for a 2026 Ioniq 5.
That tradeoff can increase battery size, weight, and cost, while also raising range anxiety for drivers and requiring more frequent charging stops. Those factors may deter people from switching from a gas-guzzler to an EV.
The original poster added, "I can get a new Elantra N for almost the exact same price as an Ioniq 5."
They also noted that battery improvements have not translated into meaningful EV price cuts, leaving many models priced closer to premium offerings.
More background
They ultimately bought a used Volkswagen ID.4 because so many were on the market that they got it for cheaper than a Nissan Leaf.
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They said a nearby Toyota dealer had already run out of Prius plug-ins and that the only OG Ioniq for sale within 1,000 miles had "sold from out from under us."
A separate commenter used minivans to make a similar point about limited choice for families. They said U.S. buyers have very few electrified van options, observing that the ID.Buzz is "overpriced, underspeced, and hard to find"; the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid uses older technology; and hybrids such as the Toyota Sienna and Kia Carnival still mean "regular trips to the gas station."
Commenters floated a few different explanations for why bigger vehicles keep dominating.
One commenter said today's skateboard-style EV platforms make it easy to raise the cabin and build something that looks like an SUV.
Another pointed to fuel-efficiency rules that reward larger vehicle categories.
A third argued that wheel size is also part of the problem, saying 20-inch-plus wheels negatively impact range.
What can be done?
One commenter said, "We ultimately opted for an SUV (an EV9) because there simply weren't any viable alternatives."
Shoppers described compromising with the market as it exists, while the original poster tried to save money by buying used.
The original poster praised BYD's Dolphin models for using cheap LFP batteries and said the company now controls "2/3 of the global EV market," arguing that affordable, right-sized EVs can succeed when buyers are actually given the choice. More broadly, commenters called for more variety: small hatchbacks, sedans, and family vans alongside crossovers.
"I am totally fine with electric SUVs existing," someone wrote. "But I also want small, efficient electric four door hatchbacks. ... Give me an electric Honda Fit and I will be happy."
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