It’s sounds better in marketing materials than “commuter/groceries car” which is basically what most of these things are likely intended for. I suspect a staggering percentage of these will end up as 2nd cars for commuting/school runs/oh crap I’m out of milk etc. It’s not exactly crazy-affordable, affluent two car families are surely a huge part of the target market here. The limited range isn’t really an issue for most in the context of a 2nd car either.

There’s rarely anything all that “sporty” about giant “S”UVs either, one doesn’t have to take the marketing label too literally...