@BlkGS That’s the problem, we lack self control to buy only what we need, which leads to manufacturers making things bigger, and the cycle repeats. I’m right with you, 225-250 HP is just right. (I had a 1992 Lumina Z34 that was probably one of the best all around cars I’ve owned.)
I’m a big fan of newer turbos, but they do have negatives, real & FUD. I had an ecoboost Mustang and while shopping and owning I heard all the wear and maintenance concerns. Worst was that at that time the BMW M3(?) Turbo required head remove and cleaning due to carbon build up. I think things like that are oddities, not norms, and are likely due to an aggressive tune. But to
@Neutron ’s point, more parts means there is more to break, and if you had an 80s turbo car you expect it. (I want to say the ”rule” was a turbo car was out the door after 60k, and past its life after 80k.) And only a conservative right foot will get you the advertised mileage, so it is on the driver. I could get 28 mpg with the Mustang, but that was no fun.
But I digress, when I boat the Yamaha and needed a truck, I was locked in on an Ecoboost F150, but after seeing the interior of a RAM I quickly switched. Of course I got the HEMI, even though the dealer said the V6 was enough to tow the boat. 16 mpg sucks, I’d switch to this new engine if it got at least 24 mpg.
So this and some responses had me thinking... A lot of money goes into making vehicles "more". The expedition for example is sort of crazy fast for its size. It has no need to be as fast as it is. I suspect that the turbo 6 from dodge will be the same.
I may be in a minority here, but man, I'd rather these things come with like, 250hp and 300 tq and get 27 highway than 350hp and 470 torque or whatever. I kinda wish they'd just start designed some engines that have modest outputs, generous tolerances, and use modern tech solely for reliability and efficiency gains. I don't need an expedition to do 0 to 60 under 10 seconds, let alone the 6 or whatever it does it in. My wife will probably never step past 30% throttle. Frankly, they could probably but a basic non turbo 4 banger in it and she'd be fine with it. I bet a 2.5L NA 4 banger with the 10 speed auto would move plenty fast enough for her, and as long as it could stay cool would be all she wanted, and still tow just fine. People used to tow 9k pounds with les than 300tq routinely, e don't need 500 tq to pull a 5k boat around.
Maybe I'm the crazy one but it really feels like putting some modest engines in with some modern tech would yield dividends.