21st Sep 2020, 11:06
Cars having smaller windows and bigger door panels is a growing trend for last 20 years. My guess, firstly for safety in the proper sense, secondly safety in the emotional sense. The latter means that when people feel confined and surrounded when inside, they think unconsciously that it's safer. Even the French are doing that nowadays. However, check French cars from the 90s, they had a huge glass area with low beltline.
20th Sep 2020, 12:18
It's a problem with all modern cars, poor visibility with big thick pillars (needed for safety). Thankfully most have parking sensors nowadays though.