Consider the Subaru Outback from Generation 2 (2000) to present. They are all wheel drive, have lots of useful room behind the second row seat or the seat lies flat for even more space, they ride great on the highway, have a low center of gravity so less prone to rollover, have good ground clearance, are surprisingly capable in moderate off road conditions and get good gas mileage. They have decent reliability and are known for the ability to go more than 200k miles with routine care. New and salvage parts are readily available and not crazy expensive. Some years even have head gasket issues that will leak antifreeze into the oil, just like some XJ's. They do not sit as high but mild lifts can be done. Engine maintenance is not always as easy due to boxer engine design that sets low but the engine is installed in the vehicle longitudinally (front to back, not sideways) as the Jeep engine does so accessories are easy to get to. Outbacks several years old can be obtained at a decent price and are readily available.They have a cult following as Jeeps do. They are not for everyone but possibly worth a look.

 

Older 4 Runner V6? Nissan Xterra?

 

The 4Runner is a nice vehicle but they are becoming like older Jeeps - difficult to find at a decent price and in good condition. Regardless, one of Flocks criteria is 10 MPG better than the Jeep. Neither the 4Runner or Xterra gets anywhere near that direction. They are about the same. A comparison of 2000 4 wheel drive 6 cylinder versions shows 4Runner at 17/20 MPG and Nissan at 16/18 mpg. Newer models have a couple of MPG better in some versions. A 2000 Cherokee 4.0 4WD automatic is rated at 14/19.

It is hard to find a Cherokee like utility vehicle that gets good gas mileage. That is why I suggested the Subaru Outback. A 2005 Outback is in the range of 22/28 MPG. The Subaru Forester is another one to consider.

 

Thats me, never reading and rushing in. You are right. They get slightly better MPG, but not 10MPG better! How about a VW TDI wagon?

 

Yes, I concur. I think It's between a Subaru, Rav4, and VW Tiguan (or similar). I was doing 13/17 in the Jeep and would like around 20/26 ish.

 

Past tense. "was $4 a gallon" It got close to that at one time, then G.W. Bush made it a lot easier and cheaper to drill for oil and for natural gas, and well, whadaya know, prices dropped.

 

I got a Saturn Vue to replace my XJs. More room for the kid, proper child seat restraints, 4 cyl, manual trans but fwd (you can get an awd model and a v6). I have not got less than 20mpg and have got up to 27mpg. It sits about as high up as a stock XJ. The best part, I only paid $1700 for it. Its by no means the nicest thing out there but I got it for a commuter / beater. I dont care about putting miles on it and the drivetrain is bullet proof like the XJs was. And the best part, its already hit rock bottom so its not really going to depreciate.

 

If your Cherokee is stock, that's really lousy mileage. Either you are a terrible lead foot, or your vehicle has problems that need to be addressed. I get a combined 18, and that includes mountain driving, open highways, and heavy traffic stop & go. AT tires, too.

If you are lifted and have huge tires, of course you'll see worse mileage.

 

I would say yes as long as it's a horizontal 4 and not the 6... the 6s were way to prone to multiple issues over the years.

 

13 is about what I see here in the winter time on crap gas with even more ethanol in it and driving around at 7,000 feet above sea level... but fortunately that's about to change for me... moving to lower altitude soon.
On highway road trips she averages above 20. I figure that's pretty darn good for a 21 year old brick.

 

I get 24 highway, 18 average.

 

​​​​​​Huh? Why do you say this? I've owned 5 Subarus and two H6s. My current Subaru is an 05 H6 with 211k+ miles and my experience has been the EZ H6s are much less prone to issues than the EJ 4 cylinders. They all have timing chains instead of belts and have much stronger factory head gaskets.

 

In the stable is a 2015 Outback with H6. Over 90k miles, zero drive train problems, zero external leaks of any type, good gas mileage especially on highway and low oil consumption. It is a nice refined engine where I never found it lacked for power. Engine oil analysis has consistently shown very low wear metals. But I am just a sample of one. Subaru did have earlier head gasket issues from approximately 2000 to 2009 depending on model and piston oil control ring issues on some that resulted in higher oil usage. As with many vehicles some are more reliable than others. It pays to do research.
As an FYI, the H6 is being replaced with a turbo 2.4 on the 2020 Gen 6 Outbacks for more HP, torque and MPG.

 

is this about cost or age?
96 is a very old car to daily
i would not feel safe
Rav4 is excellent idea
insane resale value
and modern new safe and reliable
and no repairs

 

I drive my 96 everywhere and feel safe. I have changed a lot of parts to keep it that way, but at least I know what's going on. Sure, it doesn't have all the air bags and crumple zones of new cars, but if you are in a crash anything can happen, new or old vehicles. As for the Rav4, my dad has one and when I drive it, it feels nothing like an XJ. The sight lines all around are difficult to see around and the brakes are kinda of weird. I guess I could get used to driving one, but it would not be as fun as an XJ.