While Cars Improved, Fuel Efficiency Fell Behind

People are apparently remembering that cars built in the '70s and '80s went a long way on a gallon of gas and yet the engine technology at the time was far more crude than today. People recall that cars like the Honda CRX, the Ford Fiesta, and the Chevrolet Chevette were achieving 50 miles per gallon or more on the highway.

The memories flow back because of the recent jump in gas prices to more than $3 a gallon. And frankly, people are angry.

No one can doubt that there has been huge advancements in technology since those days including computer controlled engines that rarely need tune ups, but fuel economy on passenger cars have not improved during the past 20 to 30 years.

But there are reasons for what appears to be no progress. More vehicle safety has led to cars being heavier. More metal is being used in the structure of the car as well as the inclusion of heavy safety gear like antilock brakes and electronic traction-control systems. We think we have learned watching auto races through the years that when a car is heavier it achieves worst energy efficiency.

Moreover, many cars are simply bigger than they were in the '70s and '80s. Take the Honda Civic CRX, for example. According to the Detroit News, it was, in the mid-1980s, a two-seater, was 12-feet long, and weighed in at about 1,700 pounds. Today the Civic sedan is 3-feet longer and weighs about 900 pounds more. Believe it or not, the Honda Fit is larger than the mid-1980s Civic CRX. And, again the old adage, the heavier the car, the worst the gas mileage. The BMW 3-Series weighs 3,300 pounds today compared to 2,900 pounds of its predecessor 20 years ago.

Another problem is the lag time between idea and production. Car companies think they are following the demands of the public, but by the time the car comes out, things have changed. An example of this is Toyota's Scion xB compact crossover. The second generation of this car is now appearing. The car was made bigger, more powerful and safer. Little effort, though, was put into making it more fuel efficient. 

The result is the car is rated at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles a gallon on the highway. Not good when compared to the old Scion xB that got 30 miles per gallon in the city and 34 miles per gallon on the highway. Yet how could Toyota, which started work on the new xB, more than two years ago, have predicted the public would suddenly have fuel-efficacy on the brain?

Government regulations haven't resulted in better mileage numbers, either.

But there is still progress. There are new cars which are attracting attention and causing car makers to reconsider the designing of their future cars. The Smart fortwo (pictured), a tiny two-seater from former DaimlerChrysler, is one example.

The car is scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. next year. miles per gallon figures on the Smart fortwo is about 40 miles a gallon. Sounds great but, at a size barely larger than many golf cars, we suspect the only buyers will be those who find small is beautiful.