Not sure about Germany but in Spain tax on petrol is 44%. At current prices for petrol (1.3€/l) you need to pay around 78€ to fill a sedan (assuming 60 litre deposit) of which 34.3€ will go to the government.

Damn. We're at 1.80 here and I just spent 105 eur. Now, that did go 800km in a 7 seat people mover...

Cars and minivans get very very competitive if you are running them full most of the time.

(*) certain two seater cars not included