Seeing these real world fuel mileage claims from owners of mid-sized trucks just proves they are not worth it over a half ton full size. That will change soon though, Ford already has a new Ranger close to production and the others are not far behind. Of course they are closer to full sized than compact but should return much better fuel mileage and capabilities.
news.pickuptrucks.com/2013/03/global-ranger-could-be-right-size-for-us.html
Here are the main reasons I decided to go to a mid-size truck from my previous two Z71's:
1. Cost!!! Property taxes where I live are robbery on a full size truck. I'm talking about just 1/2 tons. I was paying $850 for a 2011 Crew Cab Z71 4x4. I paid $450 recently for my Tacoma. The 7th year of owning my 2004 extended cab Z71 the property taxes were still $320....and the truck never qualified for high mileage discount even though it had 130,000 on it. I was told that once you reach 100,000 you always got the discount. guess not. Another thing was insurance. My insurance dropped $120 A YEAR when I went from my Z71 to the Tacoma. The Tacoma has less safety features too as it's not near as lavish of a truck as my previous two Z71's. Shocking isn't it? Who wouldn't like to have extra $$$ in their pocket? oh, btw, all my trucks have/had farm tags on them and the taxes and insurance was STILL that high. Imagine what it would have been without it. If you own a 3/4 or 1 ton around here you better be like that biker on the Geico commercial (made of money).
2. Gas mileage. I'm averaging 20 mpg on my Tacoma. Both my Z71's averaged 16-17 no matter what. I don't care what the sticker tells you, they lie. I never saw 20 mpg in a GM truck that I owned. NEVER. Didn't even sniff 20 mpg. I also like the fact that it doesn't hurt near as bad to fill up my truck now. $100 a week hurts compared to $60.
3. Reliability. My 2004 Z71 was a good reliable truck. My 2011 felt cheap and was starting to fall apart in a year. It didn't do half the work my Tacoma has done, but if my Tacoma does what my 2004 did, it'll go down in history as one of my all-time best trucks.
4. Price. Where I live, Ford won't deal...with me at least. I looked at an eco-boost hard but it just wasn't meant to be. The Ram dealers in my area are sort of ghetto so I could just imagine service after the sale with them. Toyota took $3,000 off the price and threw in 5 years 60,000 miles free maintenance. Couldn't walk away from that.
5. I'm starting to notice A LOT of Tacomas in my area here lately. Less and less full-size trucks compared to 3-4 years ago. I think everyone did what I did, decided to save some money where they could.
6. I use my truck off-road most of the time. I couldn't do that with my 2011 because the front end was so low to the ground and the front valence would get ripped off. This Tacoma has excellent ground clearence and the TRD off-road package is more then just a sticker and extra $$$. You get locking diff at the push of a button, metal skid plates under the truck, hill descent control, 120 watt outlet in the bed which comes in VERY handy, auto-trac which is supposed to be a good thing for snow I heard but in SC we don't get any, Billstein shocks, upgraded seats, locking toolbox under both rear seats, oil and transmission cooler, trailer sway control, etc.