I used to be quite bothered by fuel consumption and running costs, but have just changed my B7 Passat for an Amarok. The Passat would do 55mpg, whereas the Amarok is doing 35ish. Loaded up and towing the caravan it does 21mpg. The thing is, yes it's more money, but it's my only real vice. I love driving the truck. The same week as buying it, we swapped my wifes Mk6 Golf for a Mk7 1.6TDI with a view to using that as the 'family car', but it hasn't worked out like that and the truck takes us everywhere.
I would get the car that you want, and if running a new .:R might stretch the finances, buy a used one. The lower depreciation will pay for a hell of a lot of fuel.