After firstly getting an old suzuki [small 4X4]; we had a meeting - decided it was to small.
Then we got a 4ltr Jeep Cherokee : we had a meeting -- decided it was to thirsty needing 35 gals of fuel on roof to cross the desert and if anything went wrong impossible to fix in desert.
Next we had the meeting first and decided on a Fiat Punto - - due to the facts 1) the fuel consumption was good and 2) we could keep it going with the spares we were bringing with us ;gearbox; clutch plate; head gaskets; shocks; etc.