Suggestions please: Most reliable awd/4wd 4 door commuter for $12k-ish

[JonT]

My brother needs a reliable daily driver with 4 doors and all wheel drive in the $12k range. All types of vehicles considered. Go. (and thanks...)

[craigster59]

4Runner

[billybek]

Rav4.
They seem to be very reasonably priced in your area.

[porsche4life]

Escape AWD. Great little SUV.

[cabmandone]

Rav4 is a good pick but IMO the driving position is a bit uncomfortable for a 6' tall person. I had to modify the seats so they would go back farther so I could be comfortable. The problem for me is the steering wheel doesn't telescope out far enough now that the seat moves back farther than it did. If you're looking at gas mileage, I'd probably avoid the 4 Runner but it's a solid pick. I'm a Subaru fan. I'd just look for a newer one with a timing chain rather than the older 2.5 with a timing belt or buy one that has recently had the belt changed. The only other thing to really look for is if the head gaskets have been replaced. If he wants a family ride, a Toyota Highlander would be a good pick but you'll have to buy one with higher mileage to get in that price range.
For the money I'd also look at a Ford Fusion AWD. If you can find a Subaru with the 6 cylinder that would be an excellent choice.

[vmax]

Mazda CX-5

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Escape AWD. Great little SUV.

I have always liked the Escape. I fit in it at 6'4", which is a mjor selling point.

A quick Carmax search kind of gives you an idea of what is available, broadly, in his price point for an SUV: https://www.carmax.com/cars/4wdawd/crossovers/sport-utilities?price=12000

Condition, maintenance history, is as always the key.

[da Vinci Dan]

So many boring options. I would try to find a mint classic Cherokee from the early 2000’s, 5sp, with manual windows. Super easy to work on and will not depreciate. Oh, and fun! You’re an enthusiast, right?

[Dantilla]

My daughter lovers her early Ford Escape.

I'm real pleased with our Mazda CX-7. Mazda's typically excellent driving dynamics, turbo 4-cylinder and all-wheel-drive. Easily scoots up snowy mountain passes.
Drives more like a sports sedan than its crossover competition.

Other than routine oil changes, a couple noisy wheel bearings have been replaced.
Obviously not as much interior room as a Suburban, but perfect for our needs.

[MRM]

Would he consider a car? I find them much more comfortable and easy to drive than SUVs. A used Mercedes E-350 would be in his range and would make a comfortable, reliable daily driver. My wife has had two, a 2008 and a 2012. The 08 is now my son's car with well over 100,000 trouble free miles. The 2012 is closing in on 100,000 and has never had a hiccup. The internals of the E-350 are more than a decade old, so they have all the bugs worked out long ago and they are really reliable cars and surprisingly spirited.

Any Subaru would be the obvious suggestion if he's scared by the German brand but for $12,000 he'll get an older car with a much smaller engine. They will be reliable and capable, but he really should look into a Mercedes that has fallen off the depreciation curve.

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by da Vinci Dan

.... a mint classic Cherokee from the early 2000’s,

Another excellent choice. I had a Cherokee for several years. Sold it to a friend with over 200,000 miles. Drives surprisingly well for having solid axles front & rear, and the 4.0L 6-cylinder has got to be the most reliable engine ever created.

Amazing what it was capable off-road, even bone-stock.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by porsche4life

Escape AWD. Great little SUV.

Second that.

Spacious for its size.

Handles like a go kart.

Gets good gas mileage.

Not a lot to not like

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by MRM

Would he consider a car? I find them much more comfortable and easy to drive than SUVs. A used Mercedes E-350 would be in his range and would make a comfortable, reliable daily driver. My wife has had two, a 2008 and a 2012. The 08 is now my son's car with well over 100,000 trouble free miles. The 2012 is closing in on 100,000 and has never had a hiccup. The internals of the E-350 are more than a decade old, so they have all the bugs worked out long ago and they are really reliable cars and surprisingly spirited.

Any Subaru would be the obvious suggestion if he's scared by the German brand but for $12,000 he'll get an older car with a much smaller engine. They will be reliable and capable, but he really should look into a Mercedes that has fallen off the depreciation curve.

Until he has to maintain it. Then you see why the German cars are so cheap as soon as they go out of warranty.

If you aren’t in somewhere with proper snow get an appliance - used Honda or Toyota or new Hyundai and put snow tires on it. Better than AWD and all seasons.

If you are, get something that will be cheap to maintain. I’d say look for a 5yo Santa Fe or similar.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by MRM

Would he consider a car? I find them much more comfortable and easy to drive than SUVs. A used Mercedes E-350 would be in his range and would make a comfortable, reliable daily driver. My wife has had two, a 2008 and a 2012. The 08 is now my son's car with well over 100,000 trouble free miles. The 2012 is closing in on 100,000 and has never had a hiccup. The internals of the E-350 are more than a decade old, so they have all the bugs worked out long ago and they are really reliable cars and surprisingly spirited.

Any Subaru would be the obvious suggestion if he's scared by the German brand but for $12,000 he'll get an older car with a much smaller engine. They will be reliable and capable, but he really should look into a Mercedes that has fallen off the depreciation curve.

The sub SUV’s like the Escape, Rav 4, Mazda are all built on a car platform so they drive like cars.

The Escape is essentially a rebodied Ford Focus

[pavulon]

If reliability and AWD are front of the line priorities I voted with my wallet a long time ago. Subaru.

[MRM]

Originally Posted by Alan A

Until he has to maintain it. Then you see why the German cars are so cheap as soon as they go out of warranty.

If you aren’t in somewhere with proper snow get an appliance - used Honda or Toyota or new Hyundai and put snow tires on it. Better than AWD and all seasons.

If you are, get something that will be cheap to maintain. I’d say look for a 5yo Santa Fe or similar.

Our Mercedes cost less to maintain than our similar vintage Ford Explorer. We've had one or two in the family for almost ten years now. I'm sure the fancier models need more maintenance and cost more to fix than the basic E Class but ours has approached Toyota level of reliability and expense.

Anyway, I agree with everything else you posted. A front wheel drive with snow tires is far superior to a 4 wheel drive without snow tires. Before we bought the Mercedes we had Toyota Camrys. With snow tires they were mountain goats. A used Honda or Toyota in that price range would be comfortable and reliable. Actually, Honda makes an AWD version of the Accord and it has a V6.

[LakeCleElum]

For a winter car: A year ago I bought my wife a one owner 2008 Lexus RX 350 for $12.5...We love it. Came with all service records since day one.

I drive a County issued Jeep Cherokee for my part-time job......It's a $hitbox in every way compared to the Lexus...

I had been shopping for a V-6 Rav4, but: A high percentage had salvage titles, cloth interior, no nav, and no backup camera......The RX350 was the same money and all I was looking for......

[95avblm3]

How about a used Volvo station wagon or SUV... pretty reliable, values seem to drop so they are inexpensive to purchase used and they are pretty easy to work on in my experience.

[BK911]

80 Series Land Cruiser.

[VincentVega]

I love the landcruiser, really want one, but man does the mpg suck. Lexus rx is a great appliance.