Originally Posted by
tjspiel
Most people when buying a car don't think "I'm going to use this car primarily for commuting therefore it should have x features". They buy a car based on what appeals to them and what features they want regardless of whether they're commuting or taking a road trip to visit Grandma.
Ah, but lots of people
do buy a car based on features that make it smarter for commuting. They'll say that all they need is something to get them to work and back with good reliability and good gas mileage. Many cars, minivans, trucks, and SUVs are immediately eliminated, so they're left with "typical commuter cars" -- small sedans, coupes or hatchbacks, all with modest engines.
You can't look at that kind of car and call it an SUV or a sports car, so what are you going to call it instead? "Commuter car" sounds like an accurate category.