The point you're making is the exact reason why I am so interested in these. Coming from a plethora of 2003-2011 Rangers, I can't stand the size of the new Ranger/Colorado, especially with little to no change in interior width due to all the crash standards and airbags. If you go back a few pages you'll see I argued that point and that I was hoping to see a regular cab version with a 6ish foot bed come out of the Maverick. If that was an option in a base trim with cloth seats/vinyl floor, with power windows/locks/mirrors/AC/cruise control I would buy that one in a heartbeat. The only reason I'm even stepping to an XLT in the first place is for the cruise and power/heated mirrors. I'm well aware that I'm the vast minority here looking for the configuration I described, however, and for what I need it for as a daily driver to rack miles on for work and personal use this should do just fine.
I would love to see an AWD hybrid personally, and if they ended up offering it with a 2-3 MPG reduction I'd probably go for it. Do I think AWD is going to be a necessity? Not really, but, I do typically end up utilizing vehicles a bit closer to their limits in adverse conditions than most drivers do as well, so it'd be something I would pay for lol.
I would love to see an AWD hybrid personally, and if they ended up offering it with a 2-3 MPG reduction I'd probably go for it. Do I think AWD is going to be a necessity? Not really, but, I do typically end up utilizing vehicles a bit closer to their limits in adverse conditions than most drivers do as well, so it'd be something I would pay for lol.