Going Small: Is it Time to Rethink Our Preference?

The Toyota Prius averages about 46 MPG. Considering that the average gas mileage in the US is 17 MPG, the fuel economy of the Prius is hard not to like. And indeed, the Prius is considered the most fuel efficient car in the country.

As a car, it is economical and at the same time, environmental friendly.

However, in Europe, the Prius isn't the least CO2 Emitting car. It is tied in second place along side the Diesel Mini Cooper. The least CO2 emitting car in Europe is the Volkswagen Polo 1.4 DTI and that car averages around 57-60 MPG.

Unlike the Prius that utilizes a modern hybrid engine to produce an environmental and economical performance, the Polo 1.4 TDI is very much a normal car. It takes in regular diesel. However, it is still more economical than the Prius.

Part of the reason for the Polo's fuel economy is the fact that the car is small and light. It only needs a small engine for it to be propelled. as the name suggests, the Polo 1.4 TDI engine is 1.4 liters with three cylinders capable of producing 75 hp and 144 lb/ft of torque at 2,200 RPM.

The power may seem dismal. But considering the car's size and weight, the car can reach a top speed of 106 mph. Acceleration is decent enough since it can go 0-62 mph in 13.6 seconds.

Because the car is small and the engine is small, it also consumes less gas and emits less CO2. Going small can actually be a good thing. It's economical and environmental friendly.

I guess, that philosophy is something that more people in the US should apply. This is because the general preference of most Americans is geared towards the big. The reason why the average gas mileage in this country is an embarrassing 17 MPG, is because more than half of the cars going around public roads are light trucks where engines range from a 3.7 liter V6 to a whopping 5.7 liter V8.

A lot of the cars for sale in the country also utilize engines that are 2.0 liters and up. Some sedans use up to 3.5 liter engines.

Of course, larger engines suit the demands of the freeway. The bigger the car, the bigger the engine it can carry, the easier it could cruise on the freeway.

But then again, smaller cars do not need big engines to be able to meet the speed required for the freeway. A good power to weight ratio should compensate for the engine's lack of power.

And indeed, there are fast small cars out there. With today's technology, small engines do not necessarily mean slow.

The bigger concern regarding small cars would be cabin space and luggage space. Many families won't fit inside the likes of a Polo or a Mini Cooper. Luggage space is also a problem if the family decides to go on a vacation.

However, how often do you really drive the whole family at the same time? The purpose of a small car is to be used daily: going to work and back. Chances are, a person is driving alone going to work. The size is also very practical for urban city driving. For everyday use to work, driving a small car is very viable.

In a sense, it would be nice if people had a small car as the workhorse, the pickup truck for the once in while events like camping or whatever. In that type of scenario, a person gets to emit less greenhouse gases.

Unfortunately, many economical small cars, cheaper than most hybrids, are not for sale in America. Again, it is because small cars don't really click in the country.

With the introduction of the Smart Car, maybe more Americans would warm up to the notion of going small.

Nowadays, going big isn't anymore practical. Perhaps, it is time to rethink our preference. Perhaps, we ought to see the beauty of going small.