Reliable, Low-Maintenance Used Car for Low Mileage Driver?
Hi all! I'm not a car person, and feeling kind of lost. I'd like to buy a used car in the next 1-4 months. I'm a very low mileage (~5k/year) driver; primarily drive for work (7-10 miles/day, 5 days a week.)
Budget is up to 20k, but I'd love to stay between 12 & 15. My highest/only priorities are reliability / low maintenance, and 7.5"+ ground clearance. I'd love to keep my next vehicle as small as is possible while meeting those needs. My mileage is so low that MPG is less important than usual, but I'd love to save the money and pollution if the choice is there.
I'm looking for something with 7.5"+ clearance because I occasionally need to drive on back/dirt roads with significant rocks. This is for camping, which I love and don't want to give up. My current 2011 Honda Fit is too low for comfort on this front. That is my only true complaint about my current car - I say this to illustrate that I'm not picky about the way my next car looks, or feels to drive. I just need to get where I'm going, without a lot of fuss.
I've been looking at high mileage Rav4s (2016-2018 / 2020-2022) or Crosstreks (2017, 2020-2023) for their reliability.
What do you think? Am I on the right track? Any better ideas?
Thank you!