dingy

How about a Suzuki Grand Vitara?

We love ours. We also like the Honda CRV.

2014 or earlier Honda Fit or Honda CRV.

Prior to this last year or two, the Honda CRV was towable. It seems to be a very popular choice. We have a 2012 CRV, and although it is towable, our Hummer serves that need and we haven't had any reason to set the Honda up.

Found a used 2011 CR-V for us-my second choice would be a Jeep Unlimited.

enblethen wrote:
How about a Suzuki Grand Vitara?

X2. We have a Sidekick and a GV, both are easy to tow and fun to drive. Our GV has a lot of features that I consider luxery items and for the price it sold for new is a deal.

Both are fun to drive off road and we get a lot of comments about getting it so far off paved roads. Neither car is a rock climber but they do get around and draw lots of looks from the jacked up Jeep crowd. The best was down below Dead Horse Point in Canyonlands. Tour driver wanted to know what route we took and why our brakes weren't smoking. The DGKs said I gave him a really incredulous look and ask him what would cause brakes to heat up driving around in that area.

Since you'll likely be shopping used, it just depends on what kind of car you want to tow.

Mid-size sedan? If the Malibu works OK as a car, why not another used Malibu? My sister has gone through a couple of them, 150 mile daily commutes, a replacement Malibu every 200,000 to 300,000 miles. Or any of the Saturn/Pontiac/Oldsmobile/Buick shares of this GM mid-size platform. Used GM mid-size tend to sell really cheap, that's why my "works for GM" family in Michigan keeps buying them.

If you want to downsize to compact, then Cobalt, the Cavalier that preceded it, the Cruze that replaced it. Or HHR, the retro wagon on Cobalt platform. Saturn, Pontiac and Oldsmobile brands got platform shares.

Subcompact hatch? Honda Fit with manual or automatic, Toyota or Nissan subcompacts with manual transmission only.

Compact to Mid-sise SUV? Chevy Equinox or Saturn Vue, GMC Terrain on same (Malibu derivative) platform (though SUVs tend to be more expensive than sedans). Or else in this size the ubiquitous as towed vehicle Honda CR-V.

saturns
bumpy

Suzuki Vitara XL7 4x4.
Chevy Colorado pickup 4x4 (we have a 4 door).
CRV
Saturn

If a standard transmission is OK, a Subaru. You can NOT tow an automatic transmission Subaru except 4 up on a trailer.