The Dilemma

When we found out we had a 2nd set of twins on the way we scrapped our plans to get a 4wd Dakota 4 door & bought a new 2000 Grand Caravan AWD. I hated the idea of owning/driving a mini-van but I have to admit that it was the most practical vehicle for us at the time. It was comfortable, dependable, & it's amazing how much crap you can carry in one. In general, the Dodge had very few problems & cost us very little in repairs (about $250, IIRC) up until it was totaled in 2009 with 103,000 miles on it. It had never even needed struts or an alignment & was on it's third set of tires. Unfortunately, I don't think I'd buy another new one because they don't offer Awd any more & where I live it's really nice to have.

So, if you think you can get by without AWD, the van would probably be great but boring. If you think you need AWD the Suburu would probably be the better choice & I'd imagine a LOT more fun to drive.