The current best candidates are Toyotas. Toyota makes rock solid cars and trucks. My dad has a 1985 Tercel wagon, 4-wheel-drive with a granny gear, yet over 30 mpg on the highway AND a sunroof! It has around 300,000 miles on it (second engine), and it runs and runs. Recently, in fact, we had the good fortune, my dad and I, to drive this very car through the infamous stretch of US 285 known as "South Park" AS THEY CLOSED THE HIGHWAY, and, as I told him while I was driving, I didn't even realize it was that slippery. Meanwhile, cars are upside down all over, semis are pulled over either chaining up or just waiting it out. Slippery road, very high winds blowing previously fallen snow right across the road. That car moved right along. Blissful.
Also fitting the bill is one of Toyota's vans. They are some of the only minivans available consistently with all-wheel-drive. The older vans are especially noteworthy because the engine wasn't in front, it was underneath, so it looks and feels like you have a ton of room. Plus they're a blast to drive. The visibility is excellent, and the mileage is pretty darn good. My brother recently came into a Previa for a case of beer, and all it needs is a transmission. Van life trumps.
Beggars can't be choosers, and we'll be keeping our eyes open. In the meantime, we're gonna take the best care we can of the Big Blue Van.
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