Reliable, comfortable gear/people hauler with good visibility.

The Honda Fit often gets recommended for people seeking a reliable car with good cargo hauling capacity. But you might not want something that small and light.

The Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe might also be a good match.

I'm unsure about the reliability of the pre-2010 Subaru Outback, and a 2010+ would probably be too expensive. With any Subaru reliability after 160k km can be iffy.

Reliability of the Hyundai Elantra Touring has been so-so, but otherwise it could also be a very good match.

Stay away from Kia and Hyundai. After a few years the repairs get costly and the powertrain (100k) warranty does not transfer to new owners unless it's certified. They also tend to change feel and performance after about 2 years from purchase which indicates quick deterioration.

If you are looking for something long term with really low maintenance, look at VW Sportwagons of any sort. Be it passat, jetta, or the new golf sportwagon. Really long term took for the TDI diesel for best fuel economy and the engines will run for about 600k. Stay away from anyt VW pre 2006 as they were known to have gremlins. Any SUV type will also increase your fuel usage and should be taken into account. Use Fueleconomy.gov to compare mileage both of window stickers and reported from actual owners to determine this expense. Vw's also only need to be serviced every 10k miles.


Also consider a Mazda5. They are a cross between a wagon and a minivan with the fuel economy of a car. Sits lower to the ground so no need for AWD (better fuel economy) and it can seat 6 or just be used for 4 people and lots of stuff.

I wouldn't get a Journey older than the 2011. They've never gotten great reviews, partly because the interior is pretty tight given the exterior dimensions.

The Suzuki XL7 was a cheaply made seven-seat variant of the first-gen Chevrolet Equinox. The Grand Vitara is more solidly engineered, and likely to be more durable. But they're not very large.

Older Volvos can get very expensive to maintain.

I know very little about the X-Trail.

The HHR can be pretty functional. So-so reliability. They can be cheap because many people don't like the retro styling.

First-gen Sorento, like the Grand Vitara, is a conventionl truck-type SUV.

I like how the Focus drives. Reliability is best with the 2008 through 2011, but then no hatch or wagon. These aren't large cars.

The 2008-2009 Escape have good reliability scores lately, but didn't earlier. Owners might be deferring repairs. The 2010-2012 continue to have so-so scores.

The Mazda5, suggested above, crossed my mind. The first-gen Mazda5 often has suspension issues (struts, not terribly expensive) and can rust around the rear wheel openings in areas where the roads are salted. The 2012 and up have been more reliable.