Generations upon generations of vehicles have all been segmented by midsize, compact, truck and other configurations. Available features, versatility and affordability make the current automobile market more exciting than ever for our demographic.
It's easy to get excited over an exotic sports car or a rare luxury sedan. These niche vehicles offer performance, excitement and are highly distinguishable from the "plain vanilla" cars that surround them. Most of us would love to have something more flavorful, but a decade ago, there was not anything available that was entry-level, or a head turner.
Looking back to the late '90s, vehicles such as Volkswagen's New Beetle offered an exciting design. It added detail to interior elements, had decent handling and decent fuel economy, all at a great starting price.
Adding to this segment came the PT Cruiser, a vehicle more versatile, practical and more powerful than the Beetle. These niche vehicles paved the way for what is available to us today.
Vehicles priced in the low $20,000s and less are more attractive than ever before. Cars at this price range at one time were dull, underpowered, low quality, small and impractical. They lacked many features and were simply a mode of transportation. Now automakers, especially those of domestic brands, have listened and are selling hot fudge sundaes at single-scoop vanilla prices.
America's Big Three automakers are finally fighting back in the entry-level segment. Plagued with stigmas of poor quality and reliability, the vehicles from Detroit are finally comparable.
General Motors Corp., with help from its European and Asian subsidiaries, Opel and Subaru, have created exciting, better-handling and higher-quality vehicles such as the Pontiac Solstice and Saab 9-2X.
Other notable integration comes from DaimlerChrysler in two ways.
First is the collaboration of the next Dodge Neon-size vehicle.
It will have extensive racing and endurance credentials, and it will make the next entry-level Chrysler vehicle a global competitor.
Second are the smart brand vehicles from Mercedes-Benz.
These vehicles are vibrant, feature interiors that use newer materials, have excellent fuel economy and are distinguishable from anything else on the roads today. They will arrive in the United States in a matter of months.
Foreign makes, such as Honda, Toyota- including Scion - and Nissan really have catered to the younger and newer car buyers.
For years, these companies have perfected the small affordable car and never compromised quality in their low price. Although these companies were producing bland-looking vehicles, they were gaining market share against the Big Three's comparable vehicles. Today, the Japanese makes have more style, and have taken on design and technology characteristics of their luxury segment nameplates; Acura, Lexus and Infiniti, respectively.
Our demographic is pivotal to almost all automobile manufactures. Even many European luxury car makers are selling lower-end models to get a piece of our market. Audi, BMW and Mercedes all have small-powered entry models with luxury, technology and safety features that are even shared with their $100,000 flagship sedans. In fact, Audi will introduce its A3 Sportback model - a new, smaller, sporty, all-wheel-drive hatchback model - to lure in younger buyers.
The automobile market now offers more to the younger consumer than ever before. More style and technology and better reliability, handling and safety features translate into a greater value. The fact that you can get the greatness of a loaded hot fudge sundae for the price of a scoop of vanilla makes life a whole lot sweeter.
Jiyan K. Cadiz is an applied engineering sciences senior. E-mail him at cadizjiy@msu.edu.
