My wife wants a new vehicle. She wants a new F-150 but I'm having issues swallowing the gas mileage they get. She has an Explorer now that gets around 17mpg. Her drive to work is 45 miles one way and over 40 of it is freeway(65mph is max posted).

I took her to see the Ford Escape hybrid which she thought was OK but a little small and lacking a little power(her explorer has a V8). We then went to see the Toyota Highlander which she really liked. Pretty much the same size as her Explorer except the back cargo area.

Given the number of highway miles she drives(very little of any of the driving she does is city miles) I'm wondering if I may be paying for better mileage which she won't get. Are there many folks with hybrid SUV's that drive mainly highway and are happy with the mileage?

I sure wish I could talk her into a Prius or the Civic(I really like the Civic), I woulda left the Honda dealer with a Civic if I could talk her into a car over an SUV.

Thanks for any input,
Brad