Lookin for a SUV that can get good gas mileage and can offroad still and carry people

[Ryland]

Vehicles that get good mileage are going to be lighter duty so when you take them off road your chances of doing damage increases a great deal, so I agree with everyone else that says that a $500 off road beater is the way to go even if you have to pay to store it, the increase in gas mileage of a road only vehicle is going to offset the increased cost of owning a 2nd vehicle.
If you really do want to own just one vehicle look at the Suzuki Samuri/geo Tracker.
You can also look at the Search by Class for Fuel Efficient Cars
and look at ages of vehicles that fits your price range.

[jamesqf]

First off, you have to tell us what you think is good mpg. To me, anything less than 40 is pathetic, to be tolerated only in a truck that's just used for occasional hauling.

Likewise with "carry people". How many people? One, two, six, eight?

The real problem is that you've got several mutually-exclusive requirements, and aren't going to be able to satisfy them all in one vehicle.

[Schelter]

Kia Sportage, Suzuki Grand Vitara, both should be around 20 mpg

[NachtRitter]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

First off, you have to tell us what you think is good mpg. To me, anything less than 40 is pathetic, to be tolerated only in a truck that's just used for occasional hauling.

James... while I agree with you, the OP did say what kind of MPG he was looking for:

Originally Posted by MpgSuv

I was looking at a Blazer gets around 18 on avg but realy want 20 on avg.

I also agree add'l info would be helpful... I'm partial to the Outbacks for their mild offroad capability while still being comfortable for hauling folks and also having a good amount of space for "stuff". Some ecomodder members have Subarus and are getting high 20's or better (brucey and Zerohour). If you're car pooling on logging roads, this might be ideal. But the other suggestions provided by are good ones too... just depends on what you're really planning to use it for.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by NachtRitter

James... while I agree with you, the OP did say what kind of MPG he was looking for:

Yeah, but I guess the attempt to associate "good mpg" with "18-20 mpg" just required too much in the way of willing suspension of disbelief :-)

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by MpgSuv

I was looking at a Blazer gets around 18 on avg but realy want 20 on avg.

Any antique 6.2 diesel with the CORRECT gears will get 20mpg (even my 3sp turbo 400 suburban did), your blazer could come with one.

Trouble is the gears that get good MPGs would be tough to get in 4wd without blowing a hole in your wallet, but then again 6.2 blazers are a dime a dozen.

The 6.2 gets good mileage but are low HP; to offroad a 5sp granny transmission swap would be your best bet then attempt to regear the 4wd (no easy task)

A decent 6.2 suburban with a 5sp and high gears usually gets in the 26-30mpg area depending on how you drive, I can only imagine a blazer would get that or a little more if you can get the motor running correctly tuned a little rough and get a nice stick shift in it. Of coarse assuming you don't put on 385 tires and lift the thing.

Its too bad GM didn't sell the 6.2's with the proper 5sp manual so they could get excellent FE (for a large lumbering vehicle) 6.2's would likely make a nice fit into any large 70's or 80's car but they were never sold that way.

Cheers
Ryan

[Gasoline Fumes]

4WD Tercel wagon!

[alohaspirit]

Geo Tracker

Mine can hold 4 people + 1 child
Add a few grand and it will outperform $25k Jeeps
(Zukiworld.com)

Ive gotten up to 28mpg out of my automatic (typically 25mpg)
If I lived in flatlands I could get 30mpg easy


However 25mpg is now just not good enough.

[comptiger5000]

When you say 20 mpg, do you mean 20 mpg highway, or 20 mpg city/highway combined?

If it's 20+ highway, get an older 4.0 Jeep Cherokee (XJ) or Grand Cherokee (93-98 ZJ, 99-04 WJ). They're decently capable in stock form, can be found with stock skid plates and tow hooks, have lots of mods available if desired, and ZJs and XJs are pretty cheap.

With the 4.0 I6 (mostly found with auto trans), 22 - 24 mpg is certainly possible on the highway if you keep your top speed to 60. At 63 mph average, I've seen 21.7 mpg from my Mom's 99 Grand Cherokee 4.0. It'll do better at lower speeds. Around town, however, don't expect great mileage. An XJ will do better around town, as it's about 1000 pounds lighter than a ZJ or a WJ. Highway mileage is similar, however.