Q: Are there any cars, other than SUVs that have a higher clearance and allow one to sit up a bit higher?

As I get older, I find it more comfortable to climb up slightly to sit in the car and drive rather than lowering myself in to drive. I have an Audi A4 wagon and love the performance but wish it rode higher.

—M. Foster,
New York

A: Crossovers like the Mazda5, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester are best at combining a high, upright SUV-style driving position with car-like fuel efficiency. However, if crossovers are still too truck-like for you, models including the Audi Allroad, Suzuki SX4 and Subaru Outback have higher-than-usual ground clearance and generally suit a bit higher than other cars.

Q: It's time to replace my well-worn but reliable 2001 Chevy Tahoe. I need a vehicle that can carry at least seven, has four-wheel drive and enough ground clearance for small snowdrifts in winter. I'd like to get something with better fuel economy than my Tahoe and creature comforts such as fold-flat, third-row seating.

—Lee Christens,
Traverse City, Mich.

A: I have gotten grief for this recommendation before, but I'd go for the Ford Explorer. In February, I drove one on a 500-mile family trip, much of it in a snowstorm. It's a solid, confidence-inspiring ride.

I also think it looks better than other three-row crossovers like the Buick Enclave and Nissan Pathfinder. However, those and other models have their own fans.

Q: My elderly father owns a 2004, six-cylinder Toyota Camry with 65,000 miles on it. The owner's manual recommends replacing the timing belt at 90,000 miles or nine years. Is it really necessary to replace the timing belt after nine years, even though the miles are still so much less than 90,000? I was under the impression that when it came to timing belts, it was the miles that counted, not the age of the car.

—Scott Gordon, Erie, Pa.

A: Some experts say the years can take as much of a toll on timing belts as the miles, or more of a toll under some conditions.

Owner's manuals tend to be conservative in their maintenance timelines, so you can probably afford a year or so of procrastination. However, following the manual is usually a good bet. Some vehicles still don't need urea it to meet tighter emissions standards. The Jetta TDI SportWagen could be a spiffy urea-free replacement for the old Benz wagon if you don't mind something smaller. Otherwise, it's probably best to move with the times and deal with the occasional urea fluid fill-ups.

Q: I am considering a diesel for my next vehicle, replacing a 1999 Mercedes E320 wagon. I am concerned with the current BlueTec diesel technology requiring periodic filling of a urea tank for improved emissions. Are there new diesel models available that do not use a similar technology or would I be better off buying a used CDI diesel?

—Bob Williams, Pittsburgh

A: My knee-jerk opinion is that a used (pre-urea) CDI is the way to go. Urea injection, which helps catalytic converters clean up the exhaust of diesel engines, sounds like a pain in the neck. But in time, I think driving an older diesel that pollutes more would bring on pangs of guilt.

—Email mecar@wsj.com