I see the appeal of the smaller engine for better mpg, but keep in mind that goes out the window when you put that engine under a heavy load.
I’ve towed with a smaller turbo charged engine and felt like I was beating it senseless just driving around normally, and my mpg suffered similarly. The bigger engine will pull much easier, with less stress on it, and while pulling a load the mpg will end up very close to, or maybe better than the smaller engine.
If elevation is a consideration then a turbo or supercharger will help considerably. The naturally aspirated engine (even with its larger displacement) will start to struggle when it’s out of breath. I’ve heard good things about the ecoboost engine, it may prove to be durable over the long haul.
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