3-Row SUV for Midlife Crisis

Things worth noting:
My coworker has a late model GMC Sierra 5.3L. 125k miles, and he's on 2nd engine, thankfully under warranty.
His wife has an even newer Suburban 5.3L. 35k miles, and already on 2nd engine and 2nd transmission.
For their future vehicles they're considering only the 3.0L Duramax versions.
Several bad videos on the 3.0 Duras too
 
The at4 is an ugly off road looking trim that to me looks bad and something I'd never buy. The non at4 looks fine to me. I don't see how the interior quality is bad on these, maybe she wants to steer him past the budget by liking an escalade or navigator. I complain that my non sport escalade premium luxury doesn't have enough chrome and flashiness to it and it has the most you can get. Maybe I'm just old but I love chrome. I can hardly stand these modern blacked out designs. I could never get something like the at4 or sport escalade.
Yeah, even as an off road guy - I don’t like those or Z71 …
Tahoe Premier is the grownup edition w/ smooth MRC suspension …
2025 has the updated dashboard …
 
Genesis GV80
BMW X7
Tahoe/Yukon

I am partial to my wife’s Yukon XL AT4 but agree the interior isn’t fancy compared to some other models. We prefer the dark trim vs chrome but are also in our 30s and 40s. It serves us great with 3 kids and a dog. We’ll probably stick with these GM long wheelbase SUVs for at least 10 more years.
 
Things worth noting:
My coworker has a late model GMC Sierra 5.3L. 125k miles, and he's on 2nd engine, thankfully under warranty.
His wife has an even newer Suburban 5.3L. 35k miles, and already on 2nd engine and 2nd transmission.
For their future vehicles they're considering only the 3.0L Duramax versions.
And I just caught up with one of our engineers - 2015 Burb at 220k - zero issues even living dangerously on M1 0W-20 😷
My 2017 is at 105k and no issues to date …
 
Also meant to add that my MIL has a new X7 (non-M) and a long wheelbase Bentayga. I love the Bentayga except that the gas pedal is a bit weird at low speed sometimes, probably to prevent snapping your passengers’ necks when accelerating or spilling the champagne.

I don’t love the X7 user interface/screen controls. It seems like they made it overly complicated to me. It’s a well-built vehicle though and feels pretty nimble compared to the Yukon XL.
 
Well, not only do I spend most of my work life buying late model and older vehicles. I also know some of the most successful wholesalers in the auto industry.

Here are the two best answers...

1) Ford Expedition : The fourth and fifth generations have far outperformed any other automaker that offers a comfortable third row. From 2018 onward Ford has taken a healthy lead when it comes to real world comfort and drive quality.

She definitely owes it to herself to drive one.

2) Infiniti GX80 : If she prefers Asian brands show her this one instead. The third row is spacious. The reliability record for the GX and Armada are surprisingly strong, and they have nicer interior materials than Lexus or Acura.

One of these two will be the right answer for her. If you guys decide to buy a late model version of one of these two models instead of a new model and save yourself from that steep five-figure loss, feel free to let me know. The wholesale dealer auctions have plenty of both with low miles.
 
My wife woke-up one day and decided she wants an early midlife crisis vehicle. Here are her desired requirements, in order of importance:

- 3rd row that can comfortably sit an average-sized male adult for a road trip.
- 2nd row Captain Chairs
- Panoramic moonroof
- A seemingly upscale interior
- An exterior color that is similar to Audi's Nardo Gray
- Reasonably good acceleration (e.g. under 7 second 0-60)

Price point: Less than $100K

Condition: New or less than 1 yr old/15K miles

Other preferences that would be nice to have but are not critical: brown interior color, available 10 yr extended warranty from OEM, reasonable reliability and parts availability, rear entertainment system for kids.

Vehicles we have looked at:

TX 500h Luxury: workable, but her desired color combination is rare and the market has priced it accordingly.
GLS450: 3rd row is too small
Yukon AT4 Ultimate: doesn't like exterior appearance or interior quality.
Escalade: exceeds budget

Looking for suggestions.

Thanks.
What you want is pretty easy to achieve given that performance isn't really a factor.

In the $50-70K price range, I would recommend Explorer ST and MDX-S. The MDX gets you closer to Nardo, and the Explorer ST gets you closer to your inner child.

I personally think that since you're not able (willing? Same thing) to afford more than one vehicle and step into a 2 row or sports car and have a 3rd row to haul kids around, you also would balk at AMG and ///M and S/RS maintenance costs, which if NOTHING EVER BREAKS are going to average out to similar to an extra 2 car payments per year (If you finance at MSRP), typically, and drive it 15-20K miles per year (which is what I would expect as your only vehicle capable of doing what needs done). Brakes on an M, AMG, or S/RS are about $2-5K a go at the dealer (they don't resurface those rotors). Your A/B services are around $599-899 and due every 10K miles typically, but I'd personally change the oil more often than that.

The Acura will also cost more than the Ford because they have the amazing SH-AWD, which involves a transmission that likes fluid changed every 30K miles or so (really, all autos should...), and the rear tq vectoring diff, which likes its fluid changed every 5-8K miles the first time or so, then every 10-15K thereafter, at about $1-200 a go. The Ford? It's just a Ford. Nothing special. Also, that's how you'll be treated at the dealer. Acura, BMW, MB, etc will all treat you like a human being. Not Ford, Kia, etc. That's one thing I hate about Kia and why I'll probably go ///M the next go around. I am tired of incompetence even if I absolutely love the car.

Another thing...resale value. Acura will dominate them all.

Mods...the Ford LOVES them! Also, the Acura only tops out at 112 unless you throw a tuner at it. Both will handily trounce your 7 second cutoff.


Then there is the surprise player #3 entering the chat. Mazda CX90 PHEV and Turbo S models. Give them a try. You will either buy it and forget the rest, or hate it and wish I hadn't wasted your time.

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The Explorer also has very impressive crash testing...I personally felt it was overpriced in higher trims and am not a EB fan
 
The Explorer also has very impressive crash testing...I personally felt it was overpriced in higher trims and am not a EB fan
Because it was made like my P7B, to withstand a 75mph stationary collision. It's a Ford, it's always going to be overpriced, BUT, with a few mods on corn it's going to run 11's easy, which is kindof cool.
 
Because it was made like my P7B, to withstand a 75mph stationary collision. It's a Ford, it's always going to be overpriced, BUT, with a few mods on corn it's going to run 11's easy, which is kindof cool.
Plus the benefit of, if you buy one in black or white people stay back....you know why lol. I like them but a bit pricey and I have a few bad dealers in my area.
 
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Dodge/Jeep offer that (I’m sorry) awful primer color. Durango for sporty, Grand Cherokee for luxury. At 6’2” I could fit in the third row, a little tight but comfortable.

Durango is a bit dated, but the underlaying architecture and drivetrain hasn’t changed since 2016. But the new Grand Cherokees drive really nice.
 
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