Fuel consumption is very good now on cars. People here are comparing pickups with the same model designation but not comparing the power of the engine. If you use the power you will burn fuel.

My 2011 Jazz has a smaller engine than the civic it replaced, slightly more power, is faster and considerably more economical. My sister in law as a 1.0 eco boost Fiesta (100PS) that is getting 48mpg doing journeys of less than 2 miles and will do 60 on a run if driven carefully. A 1980 1.0 Fiesta would do well to do 30mpg and would be slower, lighter, have no PAS or air conditioning.

The current F30 BMW 320d will easily do 60mpg. That is a car that is only marginally slower than an E30 (1980's 3 Series) M3