My understanding is that it has to do with updated rollover safety requirements that came in in the mid-late 2000s. They have to be able to support something like 2.5 times their weight on the roof, making all of the pillars thicker. Combined with additional overall weight from other crash regulations, this means that A-pillars are yet bigger. Cars have become much safer for occupants at the expense of safety for pedestrians, who are not part of the equation as pedestrians are subhuman.
That too. I went from a 1998 sedan to a 2010 hatchback, and the latter feels like it has good visibility because of the tall window, but the A-pillar will block pedestrians in the crosswalk, and even mask whole cars. I have to bob my head around from side to side to be confident I’m not about to hit something while turning.
My understanding is that it has to do with updated rollover safety requirements that came in in the mid-late 2000s. They have to be able to support something like 2.5 times their weight on the roof, making all of the pillars thicker. Combined with additional overall weight from other crash regulations, this means that A-pillars are yet bigger. Cars have become much safer for occupants at the expense of safety for pedestrians, who are not part of the equation as pedestrians are subhuman.
The A pillar airbags, the old 90’s car didn’t have it.
That too. I went from a 1998 sedan to a 2010 hatchback, and the latter feels like it has good visibility because of the tall window, but the A-pillar will block pedestrians in the crosswalk, and even mask whole cars. I have to bob my head around from side to side to be confident I’m not about to hit something while turning.