I am a 62-year-old living in Calgary and I need to buy a new vehicle before I retire. My budget is around $90,000 and I am looking for something that will be able to haul grandkids around and to use for longer trips (one daughter lives in the United States).
I have been looking for a while and like both the new version of the Toyota 4Runner and the higher-end Ford F-150s. I like the idea of hybrid or gas drivetrains and have experience with both. I’m not really considering an fully electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
Fuel economy is a consideration – I am comfortable with an average consumption of around 11 to 12 litres per 100 kilometres and need something that will be useful on the acreage. I currently have an old half-ton pickup used for acreage chores and dump runs as well as an older SUV. – Wally
Miranda Lightstone: Wally has specific needs, but there is definitely a good match for all of them. I’d say the new Toyota 4Runner hybrid checks all the boxes, with even better gas mileage than Wally is comfortable with, averaging 10 litres per 100 kilometres.
The new Toyota 4Runner has a wraparound rear quarter glass.Doug Firby/The Globe and Mail
Mark Richardson: The 4Runner is a capable four-wheel-drive SUV, if Wally prefers a roofed cargo space over a pickup truck. It’s no fun stuffing garbage in the back for a dump run, though. If he wants to replace both his old pickup and old SUV, he’s probably best to look at a practical pickup truck to cover both duties. Modern pickups are luxurious in the cabin for those longer trips.
Lightstone: As long as Wally isn’t driving for hours with garbage in the car, it’s not terrible – we’ve all done it on camping trips. But if he really wants to update his old truck, then I would suggest the Toyota Tacoma.
2024 Toyota Tacoma hybridPetrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: The Taco is a sought-after mid-size truck and is equivalent in size to the 4Runner, but Wally says he’s also been looking at Ford F-150s and not the smaller Ford Ranger. I’ll always advocate a smaller vehicle if it’s large enough for the driver’s needs, but I’m not sure what size Wally is looking for.
Lightstone: I think he wants plenty of space in the cabin, which the body-on-frame 4Runner has for passengers, but also plenty of space for hauling stuff – garbage and the like. He mentioned room for grandkids and outings, remember.
Richardson: In which case, the full-size Toyota Tundra will serve him well. He can even get one with a hybrid engine and the hybrids are not affected by the recent recall of some of the 2024 Tundras. Apparently, almost 10,000 of the Texas-built engines had debris in them that was not cleaned out properly during manufacturing and Toyota’s been fixing them.
Lightstone: Good point, and important to note that it really is important to check for any and all recalls when buying a new car, no matter the manufacturer. No one wants to buy a lemon. But I think the Tundra might be too much truck. It’s a hefty ride that drives big and, while it’s slightly larger than the F-150, it has less interior space than the Ford.
2022 Toyota TundraMark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: If Wally is happy to keep his old pickup truck for bulky local hauling, then he and his passengers will be more comfortable in an SUV. It will be a smoother and quieter ride, for a start.
Lightstone: Alright, so if it’s an SUV we’re going to focus on for the moment, besides the 4Runner, the Hyundai Santa Fe would be top of my list because it offers comfort and cargo space. It is also well within Wally’s $90,000 budget. Even a hybrid all-wheel-drive version is in the mid-$50,000 price range, brand new.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe HybridMark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: The unibody Santa Fe is good value for money and comfortable in all three rows for its passengers. The hybrid edition is, I think, the only production vehicle for sale in Canada that’s less costly than its conventional gas-powered alternative.
Lightstone: If Wally wants to replace his older pickup with a newer used version, he has budget to play with. A quick search online suggests a decent used, 10- to 12-year-old F-150 looks to go for between $8,000-$13,000.
Richardson: So $60,000 for a new Santa Fe SUV, and say $15,000 after taxes for an old but trusty pickup truck, plus two insurance coverages, and Wally’s still well within budget. What other SUV would you suggest? I’d think a Ford Explorer in the top-end $65,000 Platinum trim would make him feel pretty good about himself.
Lightstone: That’s a solid SUV, for sure, but I’m partial to the newly updated 2027 Volkswagen Atlas. The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is solid, even for its size. Bonus: the two-litre turbo engine was also updated and now produces 282 horsepower.
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is slightly longer than the previous version, but the height, width and wheelbase remain unchanged.Petrina Gentile/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: The 2027 Atlas won’t be available in Canada until October and I’ve not driven it, but you have, right?
Lightstone: Yes, I did, though not on the road. I was on a frozen lake on slalom-course tracks and a figure-eight drift area. It still proved that, despite the Atlas being large, it can be controlled in dicey winter situations, and the drive modes that adjust suspension, stability control and throttle response really help.
Richardson: Wally may want something more rugged, if he’s considering the four-wheel-drive 4Runner. The Jeep Grand Cherokee would be worth him looking at. I drove the 2026 model recently with its new turbocharged engine and it offers everything he’s looking for in an SUV.
For 2026, the Grand Cherokee moves to a smaller, turbocharged engine that makes more power.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Lightstone: I just drove it last week and I have to admit, I was disappointed in the overall interior quality. The Grand Cherokee used to be just that, grand, and now it feels kind of meh. And for the price – my tester was more than $70,000 – it just felt a little lacking in all areas. If it’s a rugged yet comfortable four-wheel-drive Wally is after, he won’t be disappointed in the 4Runner.
Richardson: I wasn’t disappointed in the Jeep at all. I think Wally should take a look at it to form his own opinion. It’s certainly a capable vehicle, though the Toyota 4Runner will hold its value much better and may be a smarter long-term investment.
Lightstone: Absolutely. I actually think the cheaper Santa Fe plus a used pick-up is a solid option for Wally as well. He should also do some online research for used trucks near him to test, as he may realize that combo purchase might be the best option.
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