Wife has an 08 Ford Escape with 120k on it, i put a new transmission in it about 15k miles ago. I shouldn't have but i wasn't ready to buy a new SUV. But whatever, sunk cost.

Considerations:

Want to buy very lightly used (it will get dirty and beat up w/kids dogs)
needs 3rd row seating
Ideally a good infotainment screen in back for the kids that has some versatility other than playing DVD's.
want to own it past the warranty so reliability a big concern.

Want to spend somewhere in the mid 30's on it

In terms of say a year or two old:

MDX
Durango
Explorer


will look at the new Pilots as well. Anything im missing? Is the Kia Sorrento worth a look? Seems cheap and decent options but im a little wary of longevity for it.

 

IMO, if you want something for kids and dogs buy a minivan like the Odyssey. It'll be cheaper to run than the SUV will and probably cheaper to buy too. It's designed for the exact purpose you're looking for.

If you must have a SUV then get the older Pilot (can get great deals now) without the RES. Get one or two iPad hangers and the iPads to go with and put them back there. They'll be more useful than the built in system.

Exploder and Durango are both nice too but I feel like they are both more cramped than the Pilot.

 

I vote new pilot!

 

I'm totally with you but the wife won't go for it. likes sitting up high and refuses to go the wagon/minivan route. You are right on the ipads, thats what we do now. Download the shows onto it and play it for him.

 

Sit in a new Pilot and then the Odyssey. It's exactly the same. I mean quite literally the new Pilot is an Ody with a lift kit, that's about it.

If you get a Pilot Touring (used not new version), it'll come with the RES already.

 

Highlander?

 

Why not Sienna!?

 

Highlander is safe but boring. Smaller inside than the Durango.

If you go Durango the mid model refresh was 2014. So the 2010-13 have the slightly more dated ext/int and 6spd tranny. Newer ones have the 8.4" screens 8 spd tranny and better looking tail lights, etc.

I love my Durango...just crossing 11k with it.

Had a 2012 Highlander SE. It was nice, just boring...and I feel like things were about to start going on it (motor in the rear hatch) right before I got out of my lease early on it.

The explorer is obviously popular as well, but I didn't love it when my parents had one as a rental.

I much preferred the Ford Flex. Rented one...roomy, 3 rows, tons of space. If I hadn't gotten the Durango, I would have gone Flex.

 

We're seriously considering the Flex. Mid-30s can get you a loaded SEL FWD new.
I like that it's lower like a van, flat floor, super roomy & has a usable 3rd road seat, I'm 6'0" & fit back there without feeling cramped.

 

Still driving our 06 Sienna XLE. 185,000 miles and biggest expense was $1500 to replace corroded sliding door cables.



How many kids and dogs do you have?

 

we just got a 14 odyssey ex. You can't beat the versatility of the van. Sliding doors are great with kids. We got the weathertech liners which cover the whole floor. The Sienna just looks too bulky. I felt the ody looked smaller. Have the wife drive one, nothing to lose.

 

Get a "new" Honda Pilot. It'll cost the same as a used MDX and you said it is going to get beat to crap anyway with the kids and dogs.

I bought a used MDX, but doing it over I would've just bought a brand new Pilot seeing how my kids treat my MDX like their rooms.....

 

I've been thinking about going back to an SUV, I'm torn between a Durango and a Tahoe. The Durango would be more affordable, Dodge's aren't known for holding their value and holy shit has the Tahoe gotten expensive. I'd like an Ecoboost Explorer but they kinda too common and I wouldn't want the turbo for longevity reasons.

 

I have a 2012 MDX now and it works fine when I have two of my nephews in the car. PITA if I need to have them sit in the 3rd row when I have my 3rd nephew in the car.

How about a current gen Toyota 4Runner? Looks are subjective, but I wouldn't mind having one.

 

The 3.5L EB in the Exploder Sport is the same as the one from the F150. I wouldn't worry about reliability but I would worry about fuel economy.

And yes, the cost of the Tahoe/Suburban are insane. If you want a real laugh, check out the price of a Yukon XL Denali.

 

New Pilot looks like donkey shit......





I say go 2015 Explorer

 

I like the look of the new Explorer Sport in black/black... looks like a mean truck. Maybe can sell the wife that the sport has the power liftgate and all the goodies inside... Used '14 with 15-20 miles on it are 37k asking on autotrader... so in the ballpark... Wary of the 3.5T engine, but imagine it is well powered.


Wife mentioned the highlander, agreed, boring but the new one has a pretty nice console. Tahoes and Yukons are crazy expensive and i don't get the price justification for them.

 

And the sad part is people are buying them. You see tons of Tahoe / Suburbans on the road. 50-60K for a Tahoe

 

My boss has a 2015 Explorer limited and he loves it. But if you want an SUV I think Pilot is great for the price.

 

I heard Tahoe/Surbs have horrible quality of a interior.

Also, I love my 15' Explorer I thought about the Pilot but the Explorer hands down was the best all around. Interior, Exterior features etc.

I looked at the Sport, I couldn't justify spending 48k for it. I bought the fully load top of the line XLT. ACC and push button start with the sony stereo was in the limited. I rather have the remote start because kids, so that's what we got.

I almost bought a prior leased Explorer 2013 for 35k with 20k miles, glad I didn't. I paid 5k more and was able to get a 2015 with 3 miles on it.

 

You want something to truck kids and dogs around...not a race car. I'm not sure you'll find anything that isn't "boring" and have it last forever with minimal maintenance.

Explorer sport is probably the closest you're going to get. It's a really nice SUV but you pay dearly for it.

 

Would have recommended a 2016 RDX elite but it doesn't have the 3rd requirement... Plus you have a family, you don't need all that panty-dropping action.


The argument for a minivan is it is so functional.. But I despise them so much If I really had to though, I'd go for an Oddy..

I've rented a Flex a few times and that thing is MASSIVE.

 

$25K is an awesome price. Limited I believe is 40's?

 

Ooops, no. The prior lease was $35,000. My truck was normally $44,000 but I was able to snag it for 41k.

You can get a used Limited (In Cali, which is more expensive because we don't have to deal with rust) for 31-35k.

 

Uh...Durango RT

 

Sienna SE

 

Based on your requirements, I'd suggest you check out an Infiniti JX/QX. My wife just got one two months ago and she absolutely loves it. And she never gets excited about cars. I must admit, it really is pretty smooth. It's comfortable, powerful, roomy and gets "ok" mpgs for the size of the vehicle. also, for the options, it almost cannot be beat for the price. They are a bit less money than used mdx's.

We picked up a certified 2013 jx35 with the wrap warranty (bumper to bumper through 84k miles) with 44k miles for about $33k. That's a comparable price to a cpo pilot and the infiniti blows a 2013 pilot away in every way imho. You could find a cpo QX60 for mid to high $30's.
Do yourself a favor and just drive one. I bet you'll be impressed.

 

We actually saw one this past weekend and the wife mentioned she liked the look of it. I'll check it out. Thanks

 

Check out the Traverse LTZs!

 

bumping an old thread...

i was never a fan of Infiniti but my best friend's lease is up on his MDX and his wife's three friends all have the new QX60 and rave about it. we went to see it last night, and even i have to say that i was really impressed with the new features and technology that they have put into this car... the 3rd row is very roomy and the pano roof was cool... the only disappointment for me was that with the entertainment package for the rear, the screens in the headrest seemed a bit smaller that what i would expect... overall she liked the car and they signed on for a 39 month lease...

honestly if i were in the market for a 7/8 seater SUV, i would highly consider the QX60...

 

I bought my wife a new MDX advance, but the infiniti was definitely nice.