We can't say we're surprised. Considering the overwhelming support for larger vehicles that popped up in the comments section of James Tate's piece about the increasing size of cars (among other articles), it's been clear to us at Exhaust Notes that pundits who prescribe buying smaller, or driving "more European," as a cure-all for the very real obstacles we face are missing a fundamental point about how Americans buy and drive their cars. A recent study by AutoPacific seems to confirm this: While buyers value fuel efficiency, they want better gas mileage in a larger (or, at least, not a compact) vehicle. The study shows that customers who purchased tiny rides such as the Toyota Yaris and the Honda Fit understood the sacrifice they were making in terms of power, space and amenities in exchange for fuel economy and value, but wanted more of the former in their next purchase.

In other words, buying small was often not a lifestyle choice but a compromise, with a larger car being a goal for the future. Or, as AutoPacific President George Peterson puts it, "In the future they want something more – bigger, faster and with more bells and whistles.”

What are your thoughts? Is there really so little demand for fuel-efficient, park-anywhere rides?