This is why I ride my scooter. $10 to fill up and that'll last me about a month
You might consider a wagon - The Jetta SportWagen TDI is a good choice for camping expeditions. Plenty of space inside, perfect for light towing duty and fuel economy is excellent at 30/42mpg. The Escape Hybrid is several thousand dollars more expensive and doesn't necessarily give you better fuel economy (especially on the highway), but if you are dead-set on an SUV and must have AWD then it may be your best option. If you are looking at a gasoline-only option, get a Subaru. Of course, when Subaru's diesel engine finally makes it to the USA, it will be my recommendation for this class of vehicle.
Full disclosure - I like wagons, I don't like SUVs.
I'm kind of disappointed that diesel cars never caught on here in the U.S. They're a lot cleaner than they used to be and deliver comparable fuel economy to hybrids. The only problem is that the way fuel taxes are structured for the trucking industry, diesel fuel is more expensive.
Here's the problem with diesel engine cars in the USA: they have to meet the same emission standards and gasoline-fueled cars. As such, diesel engines require VERY expensive exhaust emission controls systems, such as the Mercedes-Benz BlueTec system with urea gas injection to make it easier to remove NOx gases from the exhaust.
If diesel is too expensive in the US then just run your diesel on vegetable oil, it`s what diesel engines were originally designed for.
My mom drives a 335D - the US emissions on them cuts power pretty heavily. Still a very quick car and probably the best all around car I've driven (and that's a lot). It also uses the urea injection.Here's the problem with diesel engine cars in the USA: they have to meet the same emission standards and gasoline-fueled cars. As such, diesel engines require VERY expensive exhaust emission controls systems, such as the Mercedes-Benz BlueTec system with urea gas injection to make it easier to remove NOx gases from the exhaust.
I agree to an extent - gasoline costs affect commuters in the US more directly than they do in places like the UK. However, it is not fair to consider the lack of public transport in the US as an eternal constant, or as a decisive argument for focusing on keeping fuel prices very low at all costs.
It needs to change. Our highway-biased transportation infrastucture developed as it did partially due to the influence of auto manufacturers and the availability of cheap fuel. Times change. We have to change. Incrementally, of course, but Americans need to start taking a serious look at their travel/commuting alternatives rather than screaming for the government to somehow keep fuel cheap.
Rolla has public transit - just bribe an underage UMR (err, S&T) student with some beer and they'll give you a lift next time they go back home to STL for the weekend