What kind of (hybrid) car should I buy?

here's our situation:
- 1 daily commute 5 miles of city driving
- other daily commute public transit
- 2 large dogs (too big sedan)
- 3-4 times year make 450 mile (round-trip) journey across mountain pass visit family

need suv of type dogs , winter pass trips. fuel efficiency concern of ours. fuel consumption more important cost. we're looking spend ~40k

we're weighing our options buy new hybrid suv (highlander?) of our driving needs, or buy new hybrid car (civic?) our daily use , used standard suv (envoy?) dogs , long trips.

thoughts else has gone through similar decision? did choose , how has worked out?

here's our situation: - 1 daily commute 5 miles of city driving - other daily commute public transit - 2 large dogs (too big sedan) - 3-4 times year make 450 mile (round-trip) journey across mountain pass visit family need suv of type dogs and...

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