In an article in Car and Driver, Csaba Csere argues "Why should the rest of us pay for more feel-good fantasies in the land of fruits and nuts?" The California AB 1493 definitely does not go with several, I guess.

Consumer Reports argues about the reasons why we should care for fuel economy.

"What would Jesus Drive ?" : An Evangelical Environmental Network Campaign agains the SUVs!
"Jesus wants his followers to drive the least-polluting, most efficient vehicle that truly meets their needs -- though first he might look at other ways to get around." Rev. Jim Ball says. "He'd definitely be in favor of us taking public transportation."

Technology Review article provides an insight into whether a 40 m.p.g SUV is really possible?

"Fears Increase, but Consumers Keep Spending" NYT story By DAVID LEONHARDT and FLOYD NORRIS
The American consumer, still the nation's main source of economic strength, seems torn between worrying about the future and making another
trip to the mall.
"Consumer confidence is quite sensitive to fuel prices," said Gary E. Langer, the director of polling at ABC News. "If gas prices are rising, consumers feel it pretty quickly and tend to react negatively."
In fact, a tripling of oil prices in 2000 contributed to the recent downturn, much as energy price spikes have played a role in almost every recession of the last 30 years.