...and that my friend is the element left out of all of the feel good equations on fuel economy, and that is how much longer the engine will be running at 55 compared to 65 or 75 or 85. Speed and economy are functions of technology, and should not be abandoned for the show side of economy.
My car would be running a day and a half longer on a cross country trip. Miles per gallon be hanged, I can't run an engine two days longer than the 75 MPH cross country trip and say I'm conserving anything, and especially not T I M E. If gas prices remain high that will solve the SUV problem to a point, but only to a point.
Those with large families and those who haul lots of people are needing the large capacity vehicles, not to mention those who have cargo needs of large vehicles because of the work they do. Allowing two idiots who may write an emotional article for the New York Times, to dictate how or what I drive does not sit well with me or anyone else who knows quite specifically what we need for vehicles.
Five kids, although three of them are out of the house, sometimes we end up with them along with a son-in-law to haul around. On top of that, I am 6'4" and 220#, our son is 6' and 190". We just don't fit into a Cooper Mini all that well.