The Problem

In 1976, Honda introduced the Accord to the United States Market. The first Accord was a hatchback that weighed approximately 2,000 lbs.


Fast forward to 2011. The Honda Accord now weighs 3,605 lbs. That's an 80% increase in weight over 35 years. Imagine if you weighed 150 pounds when you were 15 and 270 when you were 40.

The Honda Accord is just one example of a dominant trend in the American car market. Especially with the rise of SUVs in the past 20 years, every new car seems to be longer, wider, taller, and heavier than its predecessor. Everyone talks about human obesity as a health problem. Automotive obesity is also a health problem; just like people, heavier cars consume more fuel.

Let's talk more statistics. From 1975 to 1982, right around the time that a gas crisis hit the US, the average fuel economy of cars in the US went from 13.1 mpg to 21.1 mpg in 1982. The average fuel economy in 2011: 22.5 mpg. That's not so great.

And it's all because cars have gotten so fat! The 1976 Honda Accord produced 68 horsepower. The 2011 Honda Accord (which weighs almost a whole ton more) produces up to 268 horsepower and is rated at a mere 24 mpg combined city and highway. Bigger, more powerful engines require more fuel. Thus, despite the advances of modern technology, the cars that Americans actually buy are ridiculously inefficient. If we went from 13.1 to 21.1 mpg in 7 years, shouldn't we have gone way further than from 21.1 mpg to 22.5 in 29 years?!

Maybe it's because people are getting bigger too. Maybe it's because SUVs dominate the roads and people don't want to be in a 2000 lb. Honda when they get hit by a 6000 lb. Chevy Suburban.

Or maybe it's because a car is a symbol of power in our society. People like to drive fast, powerful cars because it, in turn, makes them feel powerful. A Toyota Camry with a V-6 today can go from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds. A Corvette from the 80s would struggle to hit that same mark.

American consumers want to have their cake and eat it too. Cars are getting heavier because people think they need airbags and power windows and navigation systems and heated seats, but heavier cars need more power to motivate their increased mass and Americans want fast cars too.

Is this what we want?