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There are more safety features in today's vehicles that are required than 10 years ago, that alone is enough to warrant a sharp decrease in fuel economy.
Also, take into account that when a car is manufactured and offered to the public there has to be suitable replacement parts available. I'm not sure of what the exact requirement is, but I doubt the newer battery technology can fit that requirement and keep the costs down. This is the very reason that boutique manufacturers use off the shelf engines instead of designing and creating their own.
You'd be willing to give up those luxuries, but many will not. There are so few bare bones models available today that I find it incredible. It is cheaper to offer the luxury at a small premium than to not install it. It keeps you competitive at a small cost. I still find it odd that my rear occupants have manual windows and I have no convenient way of closing them if they were left open. More annoying than cost savings or weight savings.
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