Why Are American Cars So Long?
In the United States, there are some regulations that allow exceptions to fuel economy standards for trucks and SUVs. This encourages automakers to market and sell more trucks in the United States to save costs.
Below are some examples of regulations that affect the production of vehicles for the United States Domestic Market (USDM).
CAFE Standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a set of regulations called Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. CAFE standards tell you how far a car can go on one gallon of fuel. Exceeding CAFE standards results in fines for automakers.
To comply with CAFE standards, automakers must meet the EPA’s average fuel economy across their entire product lineup. As of 2020, the average fuel economy in the U.S. is 42.4 mpg for domestic vehicles and 44 mpg for imports. Light trucks are not required to meet fuel economy standards.
For more information about CAFE standards, see NHSTA’s public reports, which allow anyone to review a specific automaker’s performance.
Gas Guzzler Tax
The gas guzzler tax was introduced in 1978 (at the height of the 1970s energy crisis) to discourage the production of inefficient automobiles. The tax applies to passenger cars with EPA combined fuel economy below 32.5 miles per gallon. The tax only applies to cars; trucks, SUVs, and minivans are exempt from the gas guzzler tax.
New Regulations for Trucks and SUVs
Trucks and SUVs have historically been exempt from fuel economy standards, but the law is changing. In 2020, a new bill called the “Safer, Affordable and Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule” was enacted to supplement the CAFE standards.
The bill includes small and medium-sized trucks, but large trucks remain exempt. According to the bill, all vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less are exempt.
The Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has a GVWR of 11,500 pounds. Therefore, some very large trucks remain exempt. Typically, you only need a truck this size if you’re towing a larger vehicle or semi-trailer.
Conclusion
The definitive quest for the average length of a car has been futile so far. However, a handy website called carsize.com can help you find out how your car compares to others. The website uses photos of cars from around the world to compare different cars side by side.
It’s easy to see from this website that even small compact cars made in the last five years tend to exceed the “average” of 15 feet. As SUVs and trucks become more popular around the world, the average overall length of vehicles is also increasing.
When buying a new car, ask yourself if you really need a long vehicle. Many long vehicles are more expensive to own and less efficient to operate. They have a larger carbon footprint and are less safe for pedestrians and those riding in smaller cars.