Best Inexpensive, Safe, Reliable, Smallish 4x4
 

There's a moderate chance I'll be buying a family compound with a half mile of moderately rough road (dirt, broken pavement) that when it rains may get a little precarious. Presently my wife drives the Hello Kitty Miata. It would be fine when the road is dry and she drives slow (dificult!), but likely impassible or miserable during the rainy season.

Priorities are:
Safety
Reliability
Size (small)
Cost

If a Suzuki Samurai wasn't a death trap it might be great. I'm thinking used RAV4? Whatta ya'lls think?

Doesn't actually have to be 4x4 really. I just meant to emphasize there is an offload component.

I would get a blazer (S-10 style mini one not the K-5). Get the 4.3L V6 and the 4 speed auto. Its reliable and you can pick em up pretty cheap. Does this decision to move to a family compound have anything to do with the election last night?

First gen troopers can be had really cheap, They are easy to work on (just like most trucks) but most of mine have no problems.

2ng Gen troopers are a little upper class on the inside. They are a little more money but are a better bang for the buck.

Jeep with V8
Explorer with V8
Turbo Diesel Van

Let me rephrase smallish -> small.

Explorer is smallish

The blazer idea is a good one that 4.3 V6 motor is bullet proof. I had that motor in a Sonoma and that thing ran like a top to this day I kinda wish I still had it. But it didn't fair well in the sand due to it not having powered front wheels.

Tangentially I suppose, but it wouldn't have mattered who won. . .

Are there particular years that are better than others?