I drive four wheel drive vehicles. If you drive 10,000 miles a year, and your 4 X4 gets 16 mpg, and gas is $4.00 per gallon, you spend $2500 on gas.
If you drive a rice burner that gets 30 miles per gallon, you drive 10,000 miles, you spend about $1100 less.
For the comfort, safety and convenience of the 4 x 4, the extra money is a bargain.