I think it is mostly for CAFE standards. I drove a Chevy Cruz during a college visit in a town on a grid - engine shut down at every stop, every block. Was very surprised to see the gas that thing ate when starting and stopping as it did and I tell you, it was freaking annoying! Car ran great on the freeway when it could just run. I rented 3 different vehicles during 3 visits to that same town for the same 3 days flying in/out of the same airport. While we didn't drive the exact same route or the exact same distance, the Cruz got the worst gas mileage in the same area. I rented a Passat and a BMW SUV the other two trips.