Vehicles have been getting heavier and heavier, but consumers doesn't seem to notice / care. Instead they go out and buy another SUV to park in their driveway n

Vehicles have been getting heavier and heavier, but consumers doesn't seem to notice / care. Instead they go out and buy another SUV to park in their driveway next to the two SUVs they already own. Let's compare an SUV from 2000 to one from today: ------------------------------------------ 2000 Toyota 4Runner Weight: 3,440 to 3,975 lbs MPG: Up to 18 city / 23 highway ------------------------------------------ 2023 Toyota 4Runner Weight: 4,400 to 4,805 lbs MPG: Up to 16 city / 19 highway ------------------------------------------ After 23 years of R&D the same model of SUV gained ~1000lbs of weight and lost MPG. The 2023 model does make more horsepower and that added horsepower does offset the added weight in terms of power / weight ratio. Of course horsepower can't make up for handling, braking, fuel economy, tire / mechanical wear, etc. Electric cars push this disturbing trend even further: an SUV like the Rivian R1S weighs 7000 lbs... but don't worry you got 835 horsepower; I just hope you have some brake pads and tire tread left too. I hope we start seeing some vehicles that benefit from technology that allows them to be lighter than the vehicles from decades ago. I fear that this will not happen because light vehicles are seen as unsafe when the potential exists to be hit by a 7000 lb under-maintained SUV whose driver lost control and jumped a divider into oncoming traffic while attempting to brake after running an 11 second quarter mile while texting.