The drive from Las Vegas to Yosemite by way of Bakersfield and Fresno is pretty much an all-day affair. But the roads are freeway quality all the way to Fresno. There is practically zero benefit in renting an expensive SUV rather than a more fuel efficient and comfortable sedan. It's the driver's experience with snow and ice conditions that matters far more than the 'image' that is the SUV's only real advantage. If the conditions on CA-41 start to test the driver's ability, just turn around and head back out to CA-49 and use it instead to get north to CA-120 and San Francisco, but seriously, with no experience in snow, I'd rate your chances of getting in to Yosemite on dry pavement no better than 50/50 in January.

AZBuck