I dunno, for as much as you'd be spending on the car, and the expectation that gas will likely just go up, the $1k difference isn't that much in the grand scheme of things.
If I could have gotten an ecoboost on my (AWD MKX) I would have. Even if I broke even on the better milage vs cost, I'd feel better in terms of "green" feeling, and know I have some protection against higher future gas prices.
*shrug*
I say that unless the $1k will really break you, just get it and be happy.