Best Overall Family Vehicle for Las Vegas (in General) (2015, to buy)

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Subies have a good reputation for reliability.

The big question is whether you need AWD in Vegas. In the Northeast, people who live in the snow belt love it. But snow is a non-issue unless you drive up to Mt Charleston in the winter. It's hot really an off road vehicle. If that's what you want, get something truckier. And if you don't need AWD, it just sucks up power and gas.

Subaru's are very expensive when it comes to maintenance. For one, you want to go to a mechanic that specializes in Subaru because their engines are much different than a Toyota or Honda.

The newer Honda CRV's rank really well and #1 in its class. That's what Ill be getting as soon as my student loans are paid off.

26/33 mpg
Perfect for family haul/or in town crossover SUV
good cargo space
cant go wrong with a honda vehicle

Another option is the Jeep Cherokee

I LOVED my Ram 1500, with the v6 I got 24mpg. I took it offroad all the time. Everyone had plenty of room in the back seat. The ability to carry full sheets of plywood, and furniture, and whatever else is never a disappointment. With negotiation you can get one for 28k. I drove the absolute dog poop out of mine for 1.5 year. The only issue I had was the factory radio went bad. They replaced it for free under warranty. I had no other issues. Engine never skipped a beat, the transmission never skipped a gear. I plan to get a used one when I pay off my current car.

Yes, that along with the Honda CRV you mentioned.

The Cherokee had some initial trans software issues, but is a good all around, smaller SUV. My wife has one and loves it. It's extraordinarily balanced and capable in bad weather. She got rid of her Grand Cherokee for it and has no regrets.

The Honda CRV is reliable and practical. A nephew has one and is very pleased with it.

Bill

One of my best friends is a Toyota mechanic at a dealership in a large town out of state. Do you want to know why he hates his job? Because he has nothing to do most days. He tells me that most of the mechanics do oil changes etc because Toyota makes such good cars that nothing ever seems to go wrong with them. He is thinking of switching to a different manufacturer so he can make more money.

Toyotas do tend to last forever, but they are expensive.

I'm liking the new 2016 Hyundai Tucson.


Cheaper than CR-V and RAV4
Quiet ride
Up to 33 mpg highway with FWD Eco model
Optional full-length panoramic roof

$23k and up depending on options

There's only one beach in the entire state of California that you're allowed to drive on.

Mercedes-Benz GLK BlueTEC gets 33mpg highway. Audi Q5 TDI is a better vehicle, I'd sacrifice the mpg to get the Audi over the Mercedes. Actually, once you're willing to drop down to 28-29mpg there are a lot of larger diesel and hybrid SUVs to choose from (Lexus RX450h, Porsche Cayenne Diesel, Audi Q7 TDI).

People with 4wd rarely ever use it, and it's even rarer that they actually need it.