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In prior years, automobile engines benefited from higher octane gasoline, as it provided for a hotter, more pronounced "explosion" to move the pistons and turn the engine. The advent of variable valve timing engines (also referred to as vtec) provided a better fuel/air mixture to optimize the "explosion" according to driving conditions, such as speed. This, along with single point and multi port fuel injection, eliminated the need (in most vehicles)for higher octane gasoline. Even new hybrid vehicles, which have usually required a minimum of 91 octane fuel, now only require 87 octane fuel.
There are those, I am sure, who will mention that using lower octane fuel clogs fuel injectors and "gunks" up the engine components. I have found that this is not true, as most gas station fuel tanks have a detergent package added to them, and in many cases this is required by the Dept. of Agriculture. Those who still worry about gunk and clogs can purchase the additive of their choice once or twice per oil change to keep everything sparkling and clean.
These observations, of course, only apply to newer vehicles and then are only applicable to vehicles which do not require higher octane fuel by the advise of the owner's manual. High performance vehicles and vehicles whose technology requires a hotter burning fuel will benefit from the premium gas, and in some cases even higher octane (racing fuel) is desireable. One must note, however, that the engines which require a hotter burn often times provide more maintenance problems, by virtue of the dynamics by which their engines operate.

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