European Cars Are Getting Bigger
New cars sold in Europe have become longer, wider, and taller since 2000.
9/21/2026Cars sold in Europe are clearly getting bigger. In 2000, the average new car was about 4.09 m long, 1.69 m wide, and 1.44 m tall. By 2025, it measured 4.38 m, 1.82 m, and 1.57 m.
Over 25 years, the average car became 29 cm longer and 13 cm wider and taller. This trend is called carspreading, and it is mainly driven by the growing popularity of SUVs and crossovers.
Streets, garages, and parking spaces are not growing along with cars. If the trend continues, an average new car in 2040 may be about 4.56 m long and 1.90 m wide, so fewer vehicles will fit on the same street.
Car hoods are getting taller, too: their average height rose from 76.7 cm in 2010 to 84.2 cm in 2025. Taller, more upright vehicle fronts may cause much more serious injuries to pedestrians in a collision.