But you're comparing an 88 pickup with a late-model car. Of course the Insight won't handle it.
No, I wasn't. Guess I didn't write clearly enough. I have the two vehicles (and the Insight's a '00, so it's not exactly a late model :-)), which I use for different purposes. The Insight's for most on-highway & smooth dirt travel ('cause it gets >70mpg :-)), the truck gets used to haul loads, go on rough roads, etc.
However, I'm pretty sure that whatever that pickup can handle a Ranger or Colorado could also take on. I'm too lazy to go get weight information for all those vehicles, but I don't think the two newer choices are markedly heavier than your pickup.
I'm too lazy, too, but from casual observation I'd say those two (and the Toyota Tacoma, which is the successor to my pickup) do tend to run rather larger. But the point is that I can't see any notable advances in the technology. Not having to get out and manually lock the hubs for 4WD?
Even fuel economy: granted that I generally get better than EPA estimates from any vehicle, the 2012 Tacoma (4WD, 4 cyl, 5 spd) is rated at 19 mpg
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=7&year=2012&make=Toyota&model=Tacoma%204WD&srchtyp=ymm I kept track of my fuel use for well over a year (~7500 miles), and was averaging 26 mpg. So what the heck is the improved technology doing?