When evaluating why the Honda City Turbo II never made it to America, there are a lot of factors at play, including how likely it fits an existing need in the market. Because cars are typically designed for certain lifestyles, it’s important to note that the Honda City Turbo II was designed for a different kind of city life.
In the United States, car ownership is the norm, so many Americans typically have garage spaces built into their suburban homes or access to parking facilities near their work or school. However, this isn’t necessarily the same for everyone else, especially in Japan’s urban condo-dwelling market. While Japan also has a high rate of car ownership, one of the key differences is that having off-site parking is quite common in city centers like Tokyo. Apart from not having a government mandate to provide on-site parking for new residential developments, it is also due to limited space. Because of this, the addition of the scooter makes perfect sense as a half-way solution between their homes and the parking spot they rent outside of it.
Unfortunately, the Honda City Turbo II isn’t the only tiny but brilliant car that was never released in North America. Other beloved small cars that never made it to American shores include the Fiat Panda, Toyota Aygo, Honda N-Box, and the Audi A1. But, why are American consumers so averse to smaller vehicles anyway?
