These little things are why I avoid modern vehicles in general.My wife has started shopping for a new midsize SUV. She currently has a 2016 Chevy Equinox LTZ with the 87 octane 308 horsepower V-6 and all the toys that were offered that year. A few yaers ago they downsized the Equinox and eliminated the 6. They rebodied the 2016 Equinox as the NEW BLAZER and raised the price insanely. It’s the same sizes, dimensions and standard/ offered equipment as her 16 even down to the sliding second row seat. Of course she’s gotten me involved and man is it frustrating. ALL the manufacturers are pushing these gutless 4 cylinder turbos that REQUIRE PREMIUM FUEL. In the midsize there have gotten to be VERY FEW that run on 87. I remember reading years ago that the then Cadillac 3.6 was only 260 HP and required premium gas. When they changed it to direct injection,the horsepower went up to 300 and it runs on 87. GREAT, but now you pretty much have to spend 40 thousand and up to get a SUV that runs on 87 and has any balls. Then the way they do the packaging, in order to get one option, you have to buy an expensive package. Kinda like 66-70 Chevelles, you could only get a big block if you ordered the SS package and vise-versa. Unlike say the Caprice down to the Byscane, you could order any drivetrain they had. I’ve tried talking her into going back to a pick-up, which she’s had 5 in the last 27 years. But she likes the midsized SUVs.
Companies making their stuff cheaper and listening to their customers less.