[exodust]

If they follow Paris, smaller SUVs weighing 1.6+ tonnes like the Toyota Rav4 will be slugged even though these cars are the same length as a Corolla sedan.

Given Rav4 owners already pay higher rego in Australia due to weight, this new parking fee will not go down well if it follows Paris.

I saw the first news about this recently. They framed it as targetting oversized American SUVs and pickups which are relatively uncommon. Most people said "ok fair enough". Surprise surprise they are using oldest trick in book. Increase initial acceptance of an idea with ambiguity and omission. Later, we find it's not just about "Dodge Ram Behemoths" but also the much smaller "Rav4", owned by millions of battling Aussies. Good luck with that plan!

[mcntsh]

The Rav4 is not a "smaller SUV," it's huge compared to popular SUVs we have in Europe:

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/skoda-kamiq-2019-su...

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/volkswagen-t-cross-...

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/dacia-duster-2021-s...

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/renault-captur-2019...

[exodust]

The point is the "RAV4" and similar SUVs sit on a sedan-size wheelbase. A bit heavier than sedans but similar dimensions:

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-corolla-2018...

The proposed Australian laws misleadingly highlight the massive American trucks as the focus of the new fees. But if they follow Paris as the reports said, the "RAV4" will be caught up in the new fees simply because of WEIGHT, not physical dimensions that impact parking spaces.

The RAV4 is nothing like a Ram 1500:

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-rav4-2019-su...

[argumentumm]

It’s shorter than plenty of reasonable sedans? Just because there exist smaller vehicles doesn’t make it “not small”.

[mcntsh]

I've seen a couple around Berlin and they're noticably large. In French cities the streets/cars/parking spaces are even smaller.

[morbicer]

But the Rav4 is 10cm wider than Corolla, European parking spaces are not built for huge cars

[exodust]

It's actually 7.5cm wider, about the length of your index finger. In other words, negligible.

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-corolla-2018...

[morbicer]

It's a big difference if you need to open doors, especially if there is another SUV next to you

[exodust]

It's not a big difference.

This topic is about Australia, not Europe. Our parking spaces are at least 240cm wide. Enough room for SUVs to park next to each other no problem.

In fact the more common SUV in Australia is the Mitsubishi Outlander. Models from 2007-2018 are only 180cm wide, just 2cm wider than a Corolla sedan.

https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/compare/toyota-corolla-2018...

2cm is not worth getting your panties in a twist about, and not worth making new laws about.

[protocolture]

Yeah its getting play everywhere. I saw them screaming about it on Gruen too, with the claim that the Dodge Ram can only be sold here and russia.

Which uh wikipedia finds interesting

"n 2022, Ram trucks were available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Angola, Ghana, Peru, Europe, the Philippines, and the Middle East.[85] The Ram trucks officially sold in many Latin American countries are outfitted with UNECE WP.29 lighting equipment, including the taillights with separate amber turn signal indicators.[86]"

[p0w3n3d]

Throw out the 1.4-1.6 tonne SUVs and leave the 2-2.5 tonne EVs. It's not about weight or size. It's about: divide people to two groups and make one feel more superior. This method allows to introduce oppressive laws.