help me find a car for our family (vehicle, minivan, SUV)

[jamnkats]

so we have not purchased a car in the USA since 2004 or so and have been living in Mexico. We are going to be living in Minneapolis and want

1. fuel efficient as car will be used as kid taxi and to see relatives in WI and (long shot) maybe drive to CA to see family. otherwise in driveway (work from home).

2. snow okay? No clue here as we have been driving in hurricane winds and monsoon rains and sand but no snow. so totally clueless what is needed there.

3. SAFE.

4. fit 2 teens (so good for teens learning) and SAFE and 2 adults.

5. can drag bikes around (one of us is triathlete, other is cyclist).

husband is quite mechanically inclined but want something that isn't going to break down a lot either.

i was thinking a Prius but now maybe a fuel-efficient van of some kind of that exists? but is SUV the only choice when you live in constant winter (seriously, we spent summer last year in Minneapolis and FROZE the entire time ).

[Me007gold]

Honda Odyssey
Toyota Sienna

[funcrusher3000]

You need an SUV or crossover
Subaru Outback perhaps?

[d2mini]

Without knowing your budget, I second the Subaru Outback. Safe, reliable, raised but not an suv, good handling in the rough stuff and ok on fuel.
Or as an alternative if you want something a bit nicer that also hits the marks, the Audi All Road with Quattro.

[jamnkats]

thanks everyone. not sure of budget - around 10KUSD maybe? off to research what you've suggested!

[beachmouse]

They're also significantly improved the back seat leg room in the latest version of Outbacks. They're extremely safe cars, and while they're adequate in highway driving, they're not too fast for a teen driver. Pretty much this generation's Volvo station wagon at a cheaper price. The AWD handles awesomely in rough conditions whether it's snow or monsoons. Reliability tends to be above average, but maybe a hair less than Toyota/Honda, and it's common to see Outbacks on the road with 150-200K on the odometer. The problems they have tend to be of the 'fix it and it's good for another 75K' variety, and I think we've only had to put about $600 into our Outback beyond scheduled maitenance after the first 106K miles.

Minivan is probably the best option if you want 4 humans plus the bikes in the car instead of going the rack option. If rack is okay, I'd definitely go with one that attaches to a trailer hitch (any U-Haul dealer should be able to install one of those) instead of roof rack because the odds of you leaving a bike on a roof rack when you go into a garage or drive through seem to be far higher than someone rear-ending the vehicle with a bike racked in back.

(edit)

Down side of Outbacks is that they sell relatively few of them compared to many other vehicles, and people who buy them new tend to be buy and hold types. So used prices can be a bit on the high side for what you get.