4 Popular American Cars That Didn't Do Well In Europe
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
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Even during the pandemic, over 14 million cars were sold in the United States last year. The U.S. has been the birthplace of many iconic cars, like the best-selling Ford F-150. U.S. drivers welcome plenty of foreign automakers as well, as evidenced by the success of the popular Toyota RAV4.
However, even some of the best-selling American favorites might not do as well in other countries. Here are a few models that don’t appeal to consumers in
Europe
, according to Motoring Research
.
Chevy Corvette
On average, only 700 units of the Chevy Corvette are sold each year in Europe. Even during its slowest period in the U.S., between 2009 and 2013, around 15,000 units of the Corvette were sold. The latest Corvette, the C8, was fully redesigned last year to be a mid-engine sports car.
The C8 features a 490-horsepower V8 that can reportedly reach 60 mph in under three seconds with performance enhancements. It has six drive modes that make it a great car for all occasions, from daily cruising to thrilling track runs. Several racing add-ons are also available, like a performance suspension and magnetic ride control.
Its exhaust and acceleration noises are somewhat subdued and out-of-character, especially considering the Corvette's legacy.
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Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler is built for off-road driving. The base models all come with four-wheel drive, paired with a 285-horsepower V8 and six-speed manual transmission.
You can also get a Wrangler with either a hard or soft rooftop, and removable doors are standard for each model. However, the Wrangler's rough ride on smooth pavement might make it unsuitable for daily driving. It also gets poor gas mileage compared to other SUVs.
According to
CarSalesBase
, European sales of the Jeep Wrangler only totaled 7,262 units in 2020. In contrast, it sold over 200,000 units in the United States in the same year.Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder's most successful European year was in 2006 when it sold 20,000 units. Since then, the Pathfinder has been refined, leading up to a complete redesign for 2022. It still comes with the same powertrain, a powerful 284-horsepower V6, but the handling and gas mileage has been improved.
The interior was also upgraded, offering more space and comfort. The new model features many standard driver assists.
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang might have a rich history in the States, but European drivers are largely uninterested. Only 7,495 Mustangs were sold in Europe last year. Tens of thousands of Americans bought a new Mustang last year, even though some popular trims were discontinued.
The Ford Mustang offers as much as 760 horsepower with the supercharged V8 engine. The base engine produces 330 horsepower and can be paired with a six-speed manual.
Why did these cars fail in Europe?
While Europeans certainly appreciate American cars, it doesn't always translate to actual sales. Consumers are more fond of European sports cars from automakers like BMW and Audi. The roadways in many European cities are also more narrow, so big SUVs like the Pathfinder are harder to drive.
However, you’re bound to see some, if not all, of these cars around the U.S., and you might even own one for yourself.
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