# New cars - smaller rear windows? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** hyundai, accent\ **Created:** [May 17, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356 "2013-05-17T05:01:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CrockAlley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CrockAlley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CrockAlley)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/1 "2013-05-17T05:01:40Z")
I’m coming off of six years of driving a 98 Ford Escort. I test drove a Hyundai Accent today. The only think I didn’t like about the driving experience was the read window/rear view mirror. The bottom third of the mirror was taken up by the back seats, and the top third was taken up by the roof. I felt like I was looking though a mail slot. In my Ford, the whole mirror is filled with the view of the road behind me. Is this common these days? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/2 "2013-05-17T05:04:32Z")
Unfortunately yes. ---
**Author:** ![DrRocket](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/drrocket/32/2603_2.png) [@DrRocket](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DrRocket)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 5:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/3 "2013-05-17T05:15:20Z")
It’s more commone with some cars than others. My '11 Cruze if fine. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/4 "2013-05-18T00:22:28Z")
The best way to increase rear vision is to remove the rear seat headrests, unless you are constantly carrying rear seat passengers. There are a lot of rear vision cameras on the market now. They provide ongoing vision and identify blind spots as well. A good system will cost you $500 + installed. This hump is the price we pay for maximizing fuel economy. Note that nearly all cars now look that way. ---
**Author:** ![CrockAlley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CrockAlley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CrockAlley)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/5 "2013-05-18T15:52:14Z")
I looked at the Honda Fit, which is only available as a hatchback, and voila! A great rear view! ---
**Author:** ![bscar2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar2/32/2468_2.png) [@bscar2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar2)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/6 "2013-05-19T05:29:54Z")
I think hatchbacks have better rear windows. The sedan/coupes would need a smaller window to accommodate the high trunk line, where the hatchback doesn’t have that limitation ---
**Author:** ![CrockAlley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CrockAlley](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CrockAlley)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/7 "2013-05-19T07:50:30Z")
Well, I bought a hatchback. I never would have considered one, but Honda only offers that small car size in hatchback. So, I fell in love with the rear view and bought one. ---
**Author:** ![bscar2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar2/32/2468_2.png) [@bscar2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar2)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/8 "2013-05-20T02:25:00Z")
While not my thing, I’ve heard the Fit is a pretty good car. Hopefully it’ll last you as long as the Escort did ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2013, 7:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/new-cars-smaller-rear-windows/79356/9 "2013-05-20T07:06:11Z")
I think it’s the Upright seating and increased headroom in smaller cars that are the culprit. When you move all the passengers into a more upright seating position in small cars, you raise the belt line with more comfortable seating and room and decrease visibility. It’s a sacrifice you make in smaller cars along with increasing trunk storage. It’s like driving a Van. There are ways around it but at the sacrifice of aerodynamics and fuel economy. When gas prices get to $4.00 a gallon and our butts get enlarged, rearward visibility takes a hit, which is a good thing for those looking at us from behind. Besides, it’s harder to see drivers texting too.