 This vehicle is too big unless you need to tow something heavy.  But the good news is that the diesel gets better gas mileage than any of the V8's in the smaller SUV's.  I'm getting 17 around town, and 19-20 on the road when I keep the speed down to 60-65.  With the price of fuel going ever higher, the fuel savings may someday cancel out the higher acquisition cost of the big engine.  Get Michelin tires.  They cut the road noise in half.