Why are cars geared so low?

[darxus]

For a given speed, the higher the gear you're in, the less gas you burn.

I can drive 30mph in my Accord in fifth gear comfortably on a level road.

I'm sure the relationship isn't entirely linear, but that should mean I'm burning roughly twice as much gas as necessary at 65mph only because of how low the top gear is.

Why?

Comments

[darxus.livejournal.com]

I spend lots of time most days on cruise control at 65mph. I believe I would use that top gear quite a lot.

Number of gears does not necessarily imply anything about their range - "Mine goes up to 11."