Part of it is weight. Safety standards and other things have really ballooned the the curb weight of cars. A Chevette weighed at most 2000lbs. A new Chevrolet S

Part of it is weight. Safety standards and other things have really ballooned the the curb weight of cars. A Chevette weighed at most 2000lbs. A new Chevrolet Sonic (which is also a subcompact)? 2800lbs.+.