Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing, is it not?
Couple more thoughts:
1. Individual driving style can easily affect gas mileage by 2-3 MPG. Gradual acceleration/deceleration and using your momentum are keys -- even on freeway driving -- especially in hilly areas. Example: I can usually get better mileage where I drive with my right foot than on cruise control because I can anticipate the need to accelerate while cruise control cannot...
2. Any vehicle is a compromise in daily use -- no one vehicle does all things well. You simply choose the compromise that best meets your specific needs -- if you research it well, that is...
3. As I said earlier, I've driven pickups for many years because I need the utility of hauling and towing moderate loads. If I used it daily to make a living hauling/towing heavy loads, like on a construction site, farm or a landscape business, I would prioritize and choose differently.
4. Just as many small pickups (Nissan and Toyota -- not Ford Ranger) have "grown" over the years into mid-sizes, the F-150/1500 size pickups have grown to be oversized for many of us. My Frontier has essentially the same size and performance specs (though 6500lb towing instead of 7000lb) of the F-150s that I drove years ago. I do need 4WD because of snow and I do need good MPG...
As far as price points -- I paid $23,500 for my Frontier SE Value Package, without special yearend closeout deals or anything. It came with automatic, 4-wheel ABS and 4-wheel traction control (uses brakes to provide automatic limited slip on all four wheels), power everything except seats, tow package, aluminum wheels, bedliner, air, cruise, sliding rear window, etc. It is not the "stripped model" that's often advertised with low prices by some brands/dealers, though it doesn't have leather, heated seats, etc. It's just an affordable light truck, that has proven reliable and comfortable -- and meets my needs -- similar to the F-150s that I grew up driving...
I moved down from full-size trucks a few years ago, moving first from a Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4WD to a V-8 Dakota 4WD Quad Cab (which wasn't much of an improvement in mileage, only maneuverability), and then later moved to the Frontiers. This is my second one -- my son totalled my first one, and I was so pleased with it, that I simply replaced it with a new one...
I typically put about 100,000 miles on my 4WD trucks then trade them in, while they still have some trade-in value, are still reliable, and before I have to deal with the expense of rebuilding transfer cases, transmissions, etc. I need a vehicle that I can hook up my trailer and head off on a 2,000 mile venture without worrying about breaking down, overheating, etc. If I were trying to get 250,000 miles out of one I'd likely make my decisions differently... just like I'd do differently if I needed to tow 10,000 lb....
IMO, make your choices based on your needs -- while respecting the point that different people have different needs and different priorities...
