President Donald Trump’s latest automotive policy proposal has the potential to shape the industry for years to come. First, the $7,500 EV tax credits disappeared, and now the White House is interested in rolling back federal fuel economy standards with the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” proposal.
The truth is, wherever you stand on this issue shouldn’t matter if you’re shopping for new cars. Maybe you think this is a bold move to grow the economy and save families $1,000 on the cost of a car, according to a government press release. Or you might believe this is bound to become a colossal and costly policy failure, one that will actually raise car prices overall.
Regardless of what Democrat or Republican politicians do, our experience at MotorTrend brings us to one unassailable truth: Efficient cars often rock, and that has zero to do with politics. Here’s why many efficient cars are among the best on the market no matter which way the political wind blows.
More Fun + Quicker Acceleration
Shock! Porsche’s flagship new 911 Turbo S is now a hybrid. It’s far more powerful than before, quicker, and more responsive, yet its fuel economy hasn’t taken a huge dive thanks to tech that maintains efficiency.
Most important, the sports car is fantastic to drive. In fact, we called it “brilliant.”
This isn’t just true for 701-hp 911s that cost nearly $300,000. Try the basic Toyota Camry, which is now a hybrid on every trim. We’re not saying the midsize sedan is perfect, but it’s somewhat quick for what it is and surprisingly fun to drive. That’s a big part of why it won one of our midsize sedan comparison tests.
The story is the same with electric cars. Even slow EVs tend to be quicker than their gas equivalents. Take the Chevrolet Equinox EV. A sub-$40,000 base model reaches 60 in 7.4 seconds, about 1.5 seconds quicker than the latest gas Equinox we tested. That’s a big difference you can feel and one that can be useful in real-world passing maneuvers.
Be Quiet
Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars are also usually the quietest cars on the road. This is a benefit no policy change can ever eliminate. Imagine sitting through a long red light and not hearing the rumble of an engine. As much as many of us would like our cars to sound like the 2026 Ram 1500 with the Hemi V-8, most of them don’t sound anything like that.
In quiet cars, instead of the engine you can better hear the music that gets you through a tough commute.
Saves You Time
More efficient gas cars are often more convenient, and we don’t just mean hybrids. Many V-8 half-ton pickup trucks are quicker and offer a longer range today compared to the same models from decades ago.
With hybrids, a tank of gas stretches longer than non-hybrids, which means fewer trips to the gas station. When actually plugged in regularly, plug-in hybrids drastically reduce your fill-up frequency, and full EVs can be life changers.
For those fortunate enough to have dedicated home charging, EVs driven to and from work mostly eliminate refueling stops from the daily equation, minus trips for lotto tickets and/or whatever non-petrol items you might like to purchase there. As a result, home charging an electric car eliminates the occasional late-night fuel stop, which can make some people feel unsafe.
I Like Breathing Clean Air
Air quality has improved over the past 40 years, according to EPA data. There’s no one reason this has occurred, but decreasing emissions from cars today versus 40 years ago is definitely part of it.
Anyone who breathes should be able to appreciate the impact modern technology has on our lungs, and that applies to the smallest economy cars up to big eight-cylinder half-ton trucks.
Efficient Cars Aren’t Going Away
The tech is already here. Imagine you run a company that invested in tech to help your products deliver a better ownership experience in a way that sometimes saves customers time and money. Would you throw it all away?
If the “Freedom Means Affordable Cars” policy goes through, there will likely be some market chaos, but expect few wholesale U-turns from automakers. Instead, the inevitable move toward more efficient automotive technology has just been slowed.
Expect more V-8s from brands that still offer them, but regardless of where the industry heads, MotorTrend will be here to drive and test everything. We’re always looking for the best in new cars, and our nearly 80 years of experience makes it known: Some of today’s best vehicles are better because of the efficient technology they use, not despite it.
