Dude, practical is a matter of opinion and a shitload of circumstances that vary from person to person. I dont log a shitload of miles on a daily basis, but I do a lot of hunting that requieres something with 4 wheel drive and some good power to get into some of the spots. I also need to haul decoy bags, people, dogs, and possibly trailers. No way in hell any subaru is going to get the job done for me. I'm in a '02 tahoe, and I dont think 16-18 mpg highway is that bad for a V8. And some of the newer smaller SUVs get great milage. It all depends on what you need to do with it. If you only need to get from point A to point B, small car, good milage, if you need to haul shit, truck or SUV is about your only option.