No, the reaction by truck manufactures (Ford, etc.) was to switch from a "passenger car" chassis, which is regulated under CAFE, to a "light truck" chassis, which isn't. Remember that the PT Cruiser was classified as a "light truck". I think we can all agree that in no way shape or form would the average person believe the PT Cruiser was a truck.
> Under CAFE, vehicles can be labeled “passenger cars” or “light trucks”, with the latter category required to meet less stringent standards for fuel economy and CO2 emissions. A decade ago, the Chrysler PT Cruiser was the most egregious example of this.
> Big trucks and SUVs are often more comfortable for larger people.
This plays some part in it. I am fairly tall, and have longer legs, and there are sedans that I simply cannot fit into because they do not have enough room for my legs. Nevermind a coupe of any kind.
I do have a pet theory that part of the problem with bad drivers, especially inattentive drivers is that they're far too comfortable in their cars. They sit in a big cushy drivers seat with gods-knows-how-many adjustment zones, in-seat heating, cooling..massage even. Driving becomes a time to relax rather than a time to concentrate.
Washington Post predicted this 12 years ago: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/cafe-lo...