What's the Big Deal With Cars That Get 40 MPG?

Reader Contribution by Todd Kaho
article image

Why does everyone talk about 40 mpg like it’s some kind of miracle? My beloved Geo Metro got that easily, and that was decades ago.

Simply put, comparing today’s high-mpg cars with the high-mpg cars of a few decades ago is neither accurate nor fair. Modern cars are much heavier than their predecessors because of federally mandated safety and emissions equipment and consumer-demanded amenities. All of this makes it much more difficult to reach 40 mpg.

If we look back at the first-generation Honda Civic from the mid-1970s, for example, it didn’t have air bags, a catalytic converter or anti-lock brakes. It only weighed 1,500 pounds and could achieve 40 mpg. The smallest car Honda offers in the United States today is the Fit. At 2,496 pounds, the 2012 Fit is 1,000 pounds heavier than the 1973 Civic. The Honda Fit also has a lot of safety equipment that wasn’t around in the 1970s. The body is considerably stronger, and there are six air bags, active head restraints, anti-lock brakes, and a vehicle stability system with traction control.

Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368