Tips on Buying Cars: fuel efficiency with all wheel drive, subaru outback, mazda tribute

Question
I am shopping for a used car.  My plan was to buy a hybrid for the fuel efficiency.  Now I am moving to a very snowy area, though, and probably need the handling of all wheel or 4 wheel drive.  I need reliability, safety, fuel economy, and an economical buy.  Am I asking an impossibility, or could you suggest a model(s) that may fit for me?

Answer
Valerie,

Thanks for your question.  You are not asking for something that is out of the realm of possibility.  Most cars/suv's these days that are 4WD or AWD still get very similar to the gas mileage of their 2WD siblings.  I would check the Subaru Outback, or the Ford Escape 4WD, or Mazda Tribute 4WD.  Those vehicles offer very good reliability and very good fuel economy.  I wouldn't look at anything other than those type of vehicles, and almost every manufacture makes one that is that size.  If you can find a car that is AWD, that is just as good.  I would suggest that you look at edmunds.com or consumerreports.com and take some suggestions from them as well.

Hope this helps, and stay warm in the snow!

Thanks - JB