Harvey

Hi, Harvey.

By "higher riding" are you saying you want a crossover?

Used car prices are high right now. Looking at crossovers with a V6 and fewer than 80,000 miles for less than $18,000, I'm finding mostly the Dodge Journey. The Journey dates from 2009 and during the years we have data for (earlier than you'd be considering) they weren't reliable.

Other than the Journey, I'm finding a decent number of the Ford Edge, Jeep Cherokee, Chevrolet Equinox, and Kia Sorento. Of these, the 2015-16 Edge wasn't reliable. The 2017 and up are probably better, but also too expensive. The others have been about average in reliability for the 2015 and 2016 model years. The Chevrolet Equinox has a V6 engine that has reliability issues if oil changes are neglected, and it's hard to judge how well a used car was maintained. You might do okay there, but maybe not.

The 2016 Kia Sorento might be hard to find with a V6, but if you can find one check it out. (The 2015 is an older design and doesn't ride as well.)If you can't find a Sorento, the more plentiful (at this price level) Jeep Cherokee could be the most promising contender. I liked the Jeep's ride more than I liked its handling.

If you're not set on a V6 engine, there are other possibilities.

2016+ Kia Sorento is the only decent car you might find in your budget and requirements. You should consider an older Toyota Highlander V6 or RAV4 V6 if you want something reliable without breaking the bank. If you want the most car for your money, go for a minivan. They have a commanding view of the road and almost all of them had V6s. You could find a slightly used Town and Country or Grand Caravan in your budget. Get it inspected before buying, as they aren't the most reliable.