Opinions wanted on new mid-size SUV purchase

The time has come to replace the wife's Mazda CX-9.  It is going to her daughter, and borrowing my Fiesta ST doesn't work for her.  Since we live in Colorado and drive on rutted dirt roads with some frequency, at least 6" of ground clearance is required along with AWD (because of snow).  Also, I want a minimum of 3500 lbs of towing capacity in case (or when) the TR6 dies somewhere.  We are willing to downsize by giving up the third row seat, but this will still be our cargo hauler and will need to occasionally carry 5 people and bags in comfort.

So what's on our list?  Right now, the top 5 choices are:

Honda Passport

Mazda CX-5 w/ turbo

Volvo XC-60 T6

Kia Telluride

VW Tiguan/Titan

We've driven all but the VWs, and I'm leaning away from VW.  BTDT.  We were really surprised by the Telluride, but local dealers want a $4000 adjusted market value.  It's too much in demand right now.  Plus I've read that the windshields are considered fragile, and this is a horrible area for windshield damage.  So maybe that's off the list.  We rented a non-turbo CX-5 and drove it almost 800 miles in August.  It's a great vehicle, and the turbo gives it enough power.  I'd say we are leaning away from that right now because it's a little on the small size in terms of cargo, but still under consideration.

So the main choices right now are the Volvo and Honda.  I like Hondas and have never had a problem with one.  The Passport isn't sexy and won't win any races, but I believe the drivetrain should hold up very well and be easier to service.  It has 8.1" of ground clearance stock, and the latest AWD system appears much better than the one I had in a 2011 Element.  So really, it's the safe choice.  The Volvo surprised both of us with how much we liked driving it.  More comfortable certainly, and the T6 engine has some power with the dual-charger setup.  I have no experience with Volvos, though, and would appreciate hearing good and bad experiences of the recent ones.  The price is certainly higher, but there seems to be a lot more room to negotiate.

We both have experience-based biases against GM, Toyota, and Nissan.  I'd take a Ford Bronco, but that may be further down the road to replace my Fiesta, if we stay in Colorado.

Well if you won't buy a GM, Toyota, or Nissan, The Honda Passport seems to the one.

Watch out for the Passport A/C issues, why it got such low reliability ratings (all the negative press of CRV turbo and Passport hurts this lifelong Honda fanboiiii https://www.motorbiscuit.com/the-passport-is-the-worst-honda-you-can-buy/)

Around here, sales are dismal. They can't give them away. Middle class average Joes all buy the Highlander/4Runner or Pilots, around here. 

I really don't like SUVs and am unqualified to tell you much of anything useful about them.  That said:

I have a buddy who works in a big Honda store service dept. and he was telling me that Honda reliability was nothing like it used to be and that he'd buy a Toyota.

I helped a friend buy a CX-5 last winter and was pretty impressed with the performance and handling of the thing.

Only SUV worth considering is a Toyota or a GM.  Any others are also-rans.  

Just picked up a Kia Sportage for the wife, I genuinely like it. Her parents also recently picked up a Palisade which is a helluva vehicle for the money. AND HUGE.

There's no way that isn't a full-size SUV. I'm 6'4" and the third-row seats were a fine place to be. 

Kia Telluride would be my pick, based on the looks and our experience with the Sedona, but I would wait until it got cheaper. It is also most definitely NOT a mid-size. That sucker is full size. 

The CX-5 would be my second pick, based on just about everything else, but it is a compact SUV. Not midsize. Same with the Volvo.

I don't know anything about the VW, so I'm ignoring them on your list.... But the only Midsize SUV of the one's I know about on your list (everything not VW) is the Honda Passport. My parents just bought a new one, about a month ago. It replaced an Outback. It is a really, really excellent vehicle. My only complaint is that it is boring. But a great vehicle. So if you're looking for a midsize SUV, out of your list, I'd go with the Passport.

Wife recently purchased a low mileage Honda HR-V. If the abilities and features of this economy show are indicative of 2018 up Honda SUVs I would strongly suggest looking at them. 

I like hers almost as much as I like my Wrangler 

Also, buy a Wrangler.

I like the lok of the Telluride, but I have no experience. There is an issue with foul odors in some of them with the light tan leather. Might want to check into that if you are shopping them.

Also, don't buy a Wrangler. 

Volvo isn't really known for their reliability, but they do make a nice car. Passport would be my choice (CX5 is smaller). If the Passport had existed when I bought my F150, I might have bought it instead. 

What about the Subaru Forester?

you're going to have to pull the CX-5 off that list if you need to have a 3500lb towing capacity..

pretty sure they're only rated at 2k, and i can't seem to dig anything up on either number on the website.

Yup CX5 is only 2000 lbs.

What's wrong with a Ford Explorer or a new CX-9?

Not a big fan of the Kia full size, just looks like they tried too hard and the grill looks cheesy.

over the past 4-6 months there have been a bumper crop of Telluride/Palasade owners popping up in my neighborhood.  Most are moving up from a smaller suv thing or from a mini van to it..  Everyone seems very very happy.  

I'm not a big SUV fan either, and am not familiar with the classes (compact, mid, full, etc.). Yes, we really like the CX-5, but it's a little too small.  The Volvo and Honda will tow 3500 lbs stock, and the Honda goes up to 5000 with an add-on trans cooler.  Honestly, towing is somewhat less important, but there's talk of camping with a teardrop trailer in the future as well.

The Telluride has a ton of interior room.  The 3rd row seat is actually usable by adults, unlike the old CX-9.  I'm a little worried about the turbo 4 in the newer CX-9.  The Passport is like a Pilot without the 3rd row, and has good space in the back.  Interesting about the A/C issues on that, I'll look into whether it's still an problem for 2020.

Yeah, the newer GMs review pretty well.  Maybe we should give one a try.  The Explorer just didn't float our boat, though.  My concern with the Volvo is that it will empty my wallet faster than an old Land Rover.

I'm also here mostly to ask why not a new CX9? It's like a CX5 Turbo but.. bigger.   If the CX-9 engine is significantly different than the CX5 turbo engine, that'd be news to me. 

And about Subarus.  I like them, the wife doesn't.  Hey, it's her car mainly.  Also, not sure if all Subarus use a CVT, but that's the kiss of death for me.  Looking at you, Nissan.

Look into the jeep grand cherokee, awd with a locking center differential in 4low. 

6,200lbs towing capacity with the v6 and factory towing package, 7400lbs with V8.

Plenty of ground clearance that can  increase with a button if it has the air suspension. 

We have one and spent 5 weeks towing a camper in Colorado over the summer. 

fanfoy said:

Yup CX5 is only 2000 lbs.

What's wrong with a Ford Explorer or a new CX-9?

Yeah, I was going to suggest the new CX-9.  I'm guessing the one you're getting rid of is the one that shares a platform with the Ford Edge, rather than the new one that's Mazda-only?

Since last Thursday, we've been pulling a 3200lb travel trailer around Michigan with a 2.0 Turbo Escape. It's had zero issues with power getting anywhere. It's rated to 3500, but pulls a lot easier than our previous 4.0l Ranger that was rated to 5k. 

codrus (Forum Supporter) said:

fanfoy said:

Yup CX5 is only 2000 lbs.

What's wrong with a Ford Explorer or a new CX-9?

Yeah, I was going to suggest the new CX-9.  I'm guessing the one you're getting rid of is the one that shares a platform with the Ford Edge, rather than the new one that's Mazda-only?

 

It's a 2014 with the 3.7 Ford V6.  We haven't had issues with it, but it's only at 80k.  I keep dreading finding coolant in the oil.

alfadriver (Forum Supporter) said:

Since last Thursday, we've been pulling a 3200lb travel trailer around Michigan with a 2.0 Turbo Escape. It's had zero issues with power getting anywhere. It's rated to 3500, but pulls a lot easier than our previous 4.0l Ranger that was rated to 5k. 

Good to know.  I'm not a huge Ford guy, but the Fiesta has been great.  I'll take a look at those.

In reply to JoeTR6 (Forum Supporter) :

More important, don't be too leery of 2.0T to tow with. There are a number out there. 

We bought a Telluride last December. We checked everything, and it was the winner by far. Like they took all of the best features of the entire class and put them in one car. It took us a while to find a dealer that wasn’t marking them up- some were adding 10k!?!- but we bought ours for sticker, minus $1000 or so for a rebate at the time. I can’t imagine they are still marking them up 9 months later. I didn’t even like the idea of paying sticker, but it was still thousands under anything else that was comparable. Not a single issue with ours since we left the dealer. 

alfadriver (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to JoeTR6 (Forum Supporter) :

More important, don't be too leery of 2.0T to tow with. There are a number out there. 

I was wondering about that.  It concerned me that maybe it would stay in boost most of the time while towing.  But the modern turbo 4s like the Ecoboost seem to manage that well.

So why isn't the Jeep Grand Cherokee an option? I'm not Chrysler fanboy or anything but that seems to fit everything you need and then some. 

Or dare I say, but a Wrangler. They don't depreciate compared to anything else in the segment.