While probably well intentioned at their creation, CAFE standards have been become a tool for political and social change that harms the average American. A simple example is the number of large pick-up trucks on the road that did not exist just a few years ago when smaller pick up trucks were more common and available. The larger trucks are less fuel efficient, oversized for most infrastructure designed for “autos” (i.e., parking lots, etc.), and less affordable than smaller pick-up trucks. The CAFE standards limit competition and freedom for the average buyer. Eliminating these would open auto manufacturing to a wider arena, allow production of more affordable vehicles for average Americans, and would probably improve safety as fewer people purchase larger pick-up trucks when they really just want a smaller version.
Eliminating CAFE standards would also allow manufacturers to build vehicles with much simpler engines (i.e., without all the computer and efficiency/emissions equipment) that owners could maintain more easily on their own instead of having to hire professionals to perform even simple maintenance and repairs that involve computer and other complicated systems. The engine could essentially be simplified and separated from the cabin amenities, so users could maintain modern features, but the power to move the vehicle could return to a more simplified engine.
This proposal allows for better fuel efficiency to continue to be a selling point for vehicles, as many people do value this for various reasons, but it frees up manufacturers to serve a segment of Americans that can not afford $40k, $60k, and more expensive vehicles.