Love my 2008 Toyota 4-Runner. Yes, it gets 16-18 mpg around town, but on the flat turnpike I get like 25-26. It might be more vehicle than you need. I also pull a one-horse trailer with it. I had a hard time coming to terms with the gas mileage but I traded in both my car (28 mpg) and my F250 pickup (11 mpg) for this do-it-all vehicle, so I justify it since it about evens out. During the season my bike spends most of it's time in the back of the 4-Runner, with one back seat down and room for a kid on the other side. I only take the bike out if I need the full back seat.

Probably if you needed to get 3 people and 3 bikes you would need to put 2 bikes in the back and one on a rack.