What happened in the last 20 years?

Remember the 1989 Honda CRX HF? Great car huh? Capable of making it really damn fast, or just a great grocery getter stock right?

Well I agree and recently was puzzled by the increase of technology, yet the lack of fuel efficiency.

For example, the 1989 Honda CRX HF made an EPA estimated 41 mpg for the city and 50 mpg on the highway. This is adjusted for 2008 standards!



Now look at the most recent small call offering by Honda, the Honda Fit, with an EPA estimated 28 mpg for the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Not too impressive, especially by 1989 standards. Yet ranked as one of the most fuel efficient gasoline only engines!

Just for informations sake, both scored very high in their "green" points, giving both cars extremely high ratings.

Now what happened in the last 20 years? Safety nuts and "green" nuts. With the added weight on the cars, and added emissions standards, cars have only gotten worse, mileage speaking.

I feel that this trend will only continue and to put it as succinctly as I can, it makes me sad.

Just a little FYI for my readers, heres a little throw back to some other memorable gas efficient cars that are finding themselves less and less on the road.



1989 Honda Civic CRX HF
41mpg City
50mpg Highway
45mpg Combined



1992 Honda Civic HB VX
39mpg City
49mpg Highway
43mpg Combined



1988 Subaru Justy (This one is for the Johnster)
31mpg City
35mpg Highway
33mpg Combined



1989 Daihatsu Charade
32mpg City
38mpg Highway
34mpg Combined



1995 Geo Metro
37mpg City
44mpg Highway
40mpg Combined



1995 Nissan 200sx
26mpg City
36mpg Highway
29mpg Combined

Now I'm not saying all new cars are horrible or that gas is a big conspiracy, but it is kind of strange that the 1995 Nissan 200sx with 13 years of less development and technology gets the same gas mileage as the current Honda Civic right?