The compact car is back

At the height of the SUV fad, automakers argued that Americans don’t like small cars and only feel safe if surrounded by 8,500 pounds of metal. Such claims helped hold off tougher fuel-economy regulation. Yet they are proving false now that gas prices have risen. Sales are surging for small, efficient cars such as the Honda Fit and Ford Focus. In The New York Times, one analyst at Ford described the change as ‘‘easily the most dramatic segment shift I have witnessed.’’ As John McCain and Hillary Clinton call for a summer moratorium on the gas tax, the latest sales figures argue for keeping the tax — which not only yields more money to fix highways, but also nudges consumers to make earth-friendly choices.