Best climber car to live in that's not a van

What is the best kind of car to live in if you don't actually want a van? (minivans are OK to clarify)

That also has:
Clearance vs AWD/4x4 for back roads?
over 20 MPG city
costs less than 10K used
enough space to live

Welcome any recommendations!

Honda Element. AWD. 23-25 mpg. Adequate clearance. With back seats out, the interior is pretty huge. The earliest model year is 2003, so they are getting reasonable. Ugly to some. But awesome. On my second one, and couldn't be happier. Use it for climbing, skiing and hauling gardening supplies.

Alice H wrote: What is the best kind of car to live in if you don't actually want a van?

That also has:
Clearance vs AWD/4x4 for back roads?
over 20 MPG city
costs less than 10K used
enough space to live

Welcome any recommendations!

A lifted Prius. Oh wait, will cost more than 10k. Doh!

Victor K wrote: Honda Element. AWD. 23-25 mpg. Adequate clearance. With back seats out, the interior is pretty huge. The earliest model year is 2003, so they are getting reasonable. Ugly to some. But awesome. On my second one, and couldn't be happier. Use it for climbing, skiing and hauling gardening supplies.

Element is a van.

No it isn't. It's a box.
on edit - It's a tall station wagon.

I can attest that you can get it done with a Subaru Outback, especially if you’re shorter. But it’s far from luxurious. It’s got faily ample cargo room, but there’s not much room for more than a little gear, a bed roll, and your food supply, even if you do get creative. Best suited for getting you from campground to campground. The AWD is the real winner here.

I hear good things about built-out Tacomas with a high top shell, but you’re likely going to be eating it in the mpg department.

I've also lived out of an outback, and for me it totally sucked. Doable? Sure. But if you're around cities at all/trying to be incognito it's a huge bummer. Just no space to hang out in. Hard to cook inside. It's more or less fine in the summer, but over the winter...bleh! 

I upgraded to a van and it's made my quality of life WAY better when full-time vehicle living.

I know I'm not answering your question at all and pushing my own view--but if you're committed to full-time vehicle life for an extended amount of time I'd highly reconsider getting a van.

Anywhoooo...

AWD Toyota Sienna if a minivan is an option. 

I’m on my 3rd outback. Absolutely love the car, but if you’re over 6 ft you wont sleep comfortably in it. Sleeping in vehicles is overrated anyways. I can pitch my tent and break it down in less than 3 minutes. Vanlife is so 2016...

Todd Ra wrote: I've also lived out of an outback, and for me it totally sucked. Doable? Sure. But if you're around cities at all/trying to be incognito it's a huge bummer. Just no space to hang out in. Hard to cook inside. It's more or less fine in the summer, but over the winter...bleh! 

I upgraded to a van and it's made my quality of life WAY better when full-time vehicle living.

I know I'm not answering your question at all and pushing my own view--but if you're committed to full-time vehicle life for an extended amount of time I'd highly reconsider getting a van.

Anywhoooo...

People always talk about "living" in a vehicle, you don't "live" in it, you just sleep in it. So much space everywhere to "live" in!

Tradiban wrote:

People always talk about "living" in a vehicle, you don't "live" in it, you just sleep in it. So much space everywhere to "live" in!

With a van, you can live in it.  Relax in the evenings, cook a meal, etc.  With a different vehicle, yeah, you are just sleeping in it at best.

older Chrysler town and country AWD can be pretty cush, drives really well like a car.  Toyota Seina likely about the same size.  Lived in a honda civic, it sucked compared to the town and country.

At 5'4" I can comfortably sleep in my outback, which meets all of those other criteria. I got mine used for 6k with under 175k miles. It has enough room that I can live out of it with about half of my possessions (although immediately after graduating highschool I lived out of it for a few weeks with all of my possessions, but I have too much shit now).

A friend also has a forester that he can just barely sleep in comfortably (he's taller) with much more storage space than my outback because he took out the backseats and built a wood platform in their place that allows for storage space underneath the backseat and trunk. 

Everybody be like but what about a van! Sienna is a van T&C is a van! The Subaru paradox again! EJ25 makes it a total no go for me! Get good at fixing head gaskets and be sure to check your oil daily! What about a Unicorn? Your list of wants is pretty fantastic. We all want one of those! 4 runner is my vote it doesn’t get 20 mpg city but there isn’t much climbing in the city!

Tacoma. 

4Runner

Second time in life I'm dirtbagging it out of a Tacoma with a camper shell. It's not for the faint of heart but having spent 3 years living out of a dual sport motorcycle I personally consider it luxury. Small sized pick ups are pretty cheap second hand ($5-6k will buy you a descent truck with cash leftover to outfit it) and a camper shell can be scored for as little as $150. A extra tall shell is totally worth the investment. A set of good racks and a storage/travel "pod" are worth their weight in gold! My tacoma is a 2003 6cyl 4x4 TRD. Basically stock with all terrain tires, It's taken me anywhere I've wanted to go. Only thing I'm thinking of adding is stiffer rear springs as I also use the truck to carry my tools while doing mobile mechanic gigs.  That added with the weight of my sleeping setup sagged her ass a little. Still getting 20+MPGs.