"The question is, what's going to end up as normality?" Matthews said. "If all of the sudden, we do what has happened in the past, and find gas prices as low as they were before the calamity occurred or even lower, this interest in small, fuel-efficient automobiles tends to lose out. The perfect example is the rise of the big SUV over the last few years. People seemed to decide that if, in fact, we had gasoline at $1.50 or $2 per gallon, they'd rather have a big, nice car."

Dean Fitzpatrick, general manager of the Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership in Sandy, said sales of those three lines haven't changed dramatically in the last year, either in the types of vehicles sold or the volume.

"The truck buyers are still buying trucks, because many people who buy trucks need trucks and use trucks every day," Fitzpatrick said. "Manufacturers are working on making trucks more fuel-efficient, but they are what they are."

Jeep sales are holding up on a year-over basis, and one of the best-selling Chryslers isn't the smaller sedan but the Chrysler 300, a revamped, muscle-bound version of the 1950s classic.

"I think a lot of manufacturers are working toward (better fuel efficiency), but it's still a situation where people have to like what they're buying, for the most part," Fitzpatrick said. "The Chrysler 300 is a very, very popular vehicle for us, but it isn't the most fuel-efficient. Style and performance and things of that nature definitely have an impact, I'd say, as much as fuel efficiency. There are a lot of factors involved."

When it comes to fuel efficiency standards, 27 percent of Utahns who responded to the poll said automakers were responsible for the lack of change/improvement, narrowly beating the 26 percent who said consumers themselves were responsible. Eleven percent point to Congress, while 15 percent said other parties were involved.

Looking ahead, Matthews said if he had his druthers, the economy would address the supply and demand issues that contributed to this year's fuel price spike.

America should increase its crude oil production and refining capacity, to lessen dependence on foreign sources, Matthews said. And, American automakers should, "gradually, and in a way that continues to build the kind of vehicles people actually want in America," increase the fuel efficiency of the cars they build.

Matthews warned that Congressional fuel-efficiency mandates might not be the best answer, and might create tension between what consumers want and what carmakers can build. Gas prices are declining and likely will continue once the energy-heavy home heating season passes.

"I don't think that America necessarily wants our entire production of automobiles to be overseas," Matthews said. "It's clear that whenever China decides to enter the automobile market, that's going to be a whole other competitor, and I don't think we want to lose a whole lot more market share to foreign producers as a way of reducing the cost per mile driven. But at the same time, I believe that we've already demonstrated that energy is not going to remain as expensive as it was."

Prices likely will stabilize a shade lower than they are now, Matthews said. If that happens, and if domestic crude production/refining increases, and if automakers make modest improvements in the vehicles they build, Matthews said the balance might be struck.

If that happens, he said, "I think that Americans might be able to drive what they want to drive, rather than a little box on roller skates. I don't think we're ready for that yet, and I don't think we need to do that yet."

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E-mail: jnii@desnews.com