[greendave]

I think most people associate cost with volume (other things being ~equal). The notion of paying the same or more for something that is smaller is inherently a hard sell. In other places, there are significant advantages (either in taxes, fuel costs or convenience parking/going places) that counteract that to a lesser or greater degree, but those are largely missing in the US.

[PaulHoule]

I like the way a small car handles. Even a Toyota Camry feels like it is carrying around a lot of excess weight.