The old Landcruiser wagons were a fantastic vehicle, with that clone of the Hino 3.5 litre 4-cyl. diesel found in all the 3 ton delivery trucks.
(Toyota later purchased Hino outright). But they disappeared in the later 1980s ... probably older than you're interested in.
Of course, if you're driving in a snow and concerned about safety, then a car is the better choice, as most highway deaths in the USA are from roll-overs and most roll-over accidents are SUVs.
If you're on a budget (under $10k), an older Audi All-Road would fit the bill, and they're an insanely comfortable highway cruiser.
There's a dial on the dash to adjust the height of the air suspension, and a button that gives it a temporory extra lift boost if you get high-sided off-road.
But, the Audi V6 engines were notoriously expensive for timing-belt changes.
And needed the best oil to last. A half-million miles on engine and turbos is common with the right oil, but owners chince out and ... well cheap oil and turbo-chargers don't mix. At least not for long.
If you're OK With an SUV then look at the older Benz M-Class. They are a body-on-frame construction, built for the worst off-road conditions, but with good on-road manners and supreme comfort. The diesels go for over. The V6 is great too (in the ML-320) though will cost more in fuel. Both models need minimal maintenance.
Stay away from the VW Touareg, (new are OK, but early ones require frequent servicing)
If you want a BMW then the X5 is good. It will cost more to maintain than an M-Class or Land Cruiser.
And, like anything from BMW, run away if you see more than 6 spark-plugs under the hood.
Unless to REALLY like to spend a lot of money on a regular basis.
With more of a budget, the Audi Q5 TDI is the ultimate vehicle for your usage.
Fuel consumption of a compact car, it has surprisingly great handling for a car that's raised up as it is.
Handles a lot like an A4 in fact. (possibly due to the fact that it is based on the A4).
The negative about them is that they are so desirable that the used ones command a higher price than other vehicles of similar age and mileage.
Back to cars, the Volvo Cross Country is another great one, though the turbo-charged Volvos are comparitively thirsty.
Not thirsty like a RAM Hemi-quad-cab. But compared to an Audi wagon they are thirsty.
Mercedes doesn't have much to offer, except the E-Class 4-matic wagon, which is extremely rare.
However, the GLK is a great small option, and with the diesel its fantastically efficient.
The Acura MDX is another consideration, though none of the Japanese (other than the land cruiser) match the ruggedness for real off-road (or bad pot-holed streets) like the German cars.
I hope that helps. Good luck!
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