I agree with Lewis Booth (Viewpoint, 21 August) that people are not really trying when it comes to adopting more economical, less carbon-emitting vehicles.
The only car I ever had that bettered its published consumption was a 1989 Ford Escort 1.8 diesel, which did 65mpg for many years. No new car of that size will achieve this.
The much-vaunted Prius — which is a bit larger and much more expensive, despite its subsidy — is hardly any better
manufacturers need to make more economical cars, and the government should ensure that, emergency vehicles excepted, improvements in engine design are not wasted on performance but used to cut emissions.
J Gray, Warwickshire
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