Longing for the Era of Economy Cars and Real Fuel Efficiency - The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator | USA News and Politics

Bob Greene : As of 2025 , there isn't a single new car you can buy for less than $20,000 .

Greene: In the early 1980s , the term economy car has passed out of general usage in favor of entry-level cars.

He says the 1982 Chevrolet Chevette diesel was inexpensive to buy and to drive; it could go 55 miles on the highway on one gallon of fuel and 40 miles in city driving.

Greene says it's a subtle shift in the way cars are talked about that causes memories to fade away.