3 Row SUV $50K Budget

[fanofbmwe46]

Need a 3 row suv for around $45-50K. Looking for something with captains chairs for two toddler car seats. Mandatories also include blind spot monitoring, rear sensors, preferably front sensors as well, power liftgate, leather surfaces (faux or real). Needs to have decent clearance and AWD system for occasionally unpaved and unplowed roads in winter.

Any top recommendations?

[nunzo]

Friend was looking for the same exact spec and ended up with an Acura MDX Type S. Also considered the Genesis GV80.

[IDreamOfEvos]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

Need a 3 row suv for around $45-50K. Looking for something with captains chairs for two toddler car seats. Mandatories also include blind spot monitoring, rear sensors, preferably front sensors as well, power liftgate, leather surfaces (faux or real). Needs to have decent clearance and AWD system for occasionally unpaved and unplowed roads in winter.

Any top recommendations?

How much weight do you need to tow? Late model Toyota Highlanders check all these boxes. Try to find a AWD Limited or AWD Limited Platinum and it’ll have all those boxes checked.

[fanofbmwe46]

No need to tow anything.

[chassis]

Mercedes GLB is you can tolerate terrible MB reliability. If you lease/dump the appliance you won't be out any money, just the time wasted and inconvenience for trips to the dealer for warranty service. Not sure it has captain's chairs, likely it doesn't.

[blinsc]

Before the X5, I had a fully-loaded AWD 2020 Hyundai Palisade that stickered around $47k. They're a few grand more for a new one now with a similar spec, but that was a pretty good car.

Pros:

The adaptive cruise, lane-keep, and other tech works well.

Even though it's not a fast car, the way the throttle response is tuned, it never feels sluggish/slow.

Interior feels pretty good quality and over 3.5 years, I didn't have a single squeak or rattle.

The AC worked great and even had actual cooled seats in first and second row.

A ton of interior space/cargo room. I didn't actually need three rows, but I could put 8-foot lumber (at an angle) in with the seats folded down.

Cons:

Wired CarPlay/Android Auto.

Just "average" fuel economy, especially with AWD - expect around 16-18 city, 24 highway.

Competition has mostly caught up, so all of the mainstream 3-row SUVs are on pretty even footing in terms of features/value, especially at the $50k mark.

Compared to X5 (I'm putting this here just as a reference even though it's not a 3-row SUV):

Palisade has a much better AC system than the X5, like not even in the same ballpark. I wish I could have that system in my X5. And you could turn the god damn auto stop/start off.

Palisade HUD would show blind spot monitors; I miss that a lot. By comparison, the X5 blind spot indicators in the mirrors are hard to see in sunlight, and the side mirrors are smaller as well.

Palisade has a lot more second-row legroom than the X5.

The X5 wins in probably every other category, especially driving dynamics. Everything you touch in the X5 feels higher quality than the Palisade (which did not feel cheap, just not quite BMW level). There wasn't anything wrong with the Palisade, I just wanted something a bit more sporty to drive, and didn't need the third row, so that's why I went with the X5.

[fanofbmwe46]

Leaning toward a Honda Pilot Trailsport or a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited

[DanG]

Mazda CX-9 or CX-90.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by fanofbmwe46

Leaning toward a Honda Pilot Trailsport or a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited

Pilot for the reliability win. And DanG's Mazda suggestion also excellent!

[fanofbmwe46]

Originally Posted by Llarry

Pilot for the reliability win. And DanG's Mazda suggestion also excellent!

Yea that CX-90 is intriguing. Front end look is improved.

[cmicali]

Toyota Highlander is reliable and priced right. Unparalleled value for the money and it will last forever if taken care of well.

[ASAP]

CX90 probably on the fact alone that it is built on a rear wheel drive platform and comes with a straight six motor... that alone would steer me towards it being a better car.

Plus Mazdas are just more fun to drive, are reliable and the car has superb reviews.

[allinon72]

I’m on a similar search, although I don’t need a 3rd row but my budget is around 50k. My wife currently drives an X5 but wants to go back to something smaller. We’re considering the a CX-50, CX-90, X1 and Acura RDX. A bit of a wierd mix but my favorite so far is the RDX. I’m worried about the already dated infotainment being damn near unusable in a few years time.

Good news is there are a ton of options in this segment, but bad news is none of them are perfect and if you expect a certain level of luxury and features, that makes it even harder.

I messed up by getting my wife hooked on BMW, now she’s more brand loyal than I am.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by allinon72

I’m on a similar search, although I don’t need a 3rd row but my budget is around 50k. My wife currently drives an X5 but wants to go back to something smaller. We’re considering the a CX-50, CX-90, X1 and Acura MDX. A bit of a wierd mix but my favorite so far is the MDX. I’m worried about the already dated infotainment being damn near unusable in a few years time.

Good news is there are a ton of options in this segment, but bad news is none of them are perfect and if you expect a certain level of luxury and features, that makes it even harder.

I messed up by getting my wife hooked on BMW, now she’s more brand loyal than I am.

She wants something smaller than the X5 yet is looking at a bigger CX-90 and MDX?

[allinon72]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

She wants something smaller than the X5 yet is looking at a bigger CX-90 and MDX?

Shoot sorry I meant RDX. Went back and changed.

[ZL9M2]

A real SUV? The Suburban with the straight six turbo diesel. Over 30 mpg highway and does everything else an SUV should.

[e90Dawg08]

I'm in a similar boat but have MPG as a large factor since this will be the family roadtrip vehicle. We went over to Toyota to test drive their hybrids and were initially thinking a CPO since those have historically been better rates & significantly cheaper. The supply chain issues seem to have flipped that.

Since we like to go camping with 3 kids, a med-large dog, and all the gear we need something a bit larger than the standard Highlander. The sales guy suggested the AWD Sienna hybrid, but neither of us could stand the aesthetics. We learned in 2024 they are coming out with a Grand Highlander hybrid that we can get in AWD which is priced about the same as a new Sienna and just a couple thousand more than a standard Highlander. I would definitely recommend checking that out as well, although with desired options you're probably looking closer to $55k.

[Clark_Kent]

Are you looking for any SUV with a third-row or a functional third row? There's a difference as all three row SUVs are not created equally.

[gatorfast]

VW Atlas checks all those boxes. It has been our family car for years. Tons of room for passengers and all the creature comforts you need. Great price point as well.

[T0RM3NT]

We just bought a 2023 SORENTO X-LINE SX-PRESTIGE AWD. It's Kia's highest trim level for the Sorento. Lots of amenities for a vehicle at the 45k price point. The warranty helps with peace of mind too:

10 Year/100,000 Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty
5 Year/60,000 Mile Limited Basic Warranty
5 Year/60,000 Mile Roadside Assistance

Now as for that third row of seating, as Clark_Kent mentions, it has a third row that is functional for kids or small adults. Or, in a pinch, (short rides) for an average-sized adult.

Just drove it back to Colorado from Kansas City where I purchased it about a week ago. Very comfortable, and peppy for the engine and tranny it has:

2.5L Turbo Engine; 281hp & 311 lb-ft Torque
8-Speed Dual Clutch Auto Transmission
All-Wheel Drive w/ Center-Locking Differential

Some pics (not of my specific car, but exactly the same trim/specs/colors):

[XutvJet]

Mazda CX-90. I6 turbo, RWD layout, German-like refinement, and old world timeless German styling (not talking present day German styling LOL).

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by T0RM3NT

We just bought a 2023 SORENTO X-LINE SX-PRESTIGE AWD. It's Kia's highest trim level for the Sorento. Lots of amenities for a vehicle at the 45k price point. The warranty helps with peace of mind too:

10 Year/100,000 Mile Limited Powertrain Warranty
5 Year/60,000 Mile Limited Basic Warranty
5 Year/60,000 Mile Roadside Assistance

Now as for that third row of seating, as Clark_Kent mentions, it has a third row that is functional for kids or small adults. Or, in a pinch, (short rides) for an average-sized adult.

Just drove it back to Colorado from Kansas City where I purchased it about a week ago. Very comfortable, and peppy for the engine and tranny it has:

2.5L Turbo Engine; 281hp & 311 lb-ft Torque
8-Speed Dual Clutch Auto Transmission
All-Wheel Drive w/ Center-Locking Differential

Some pics (not of my specific car, but exactly the same trim/specs/colors):

Attachment 3219815

Attachment 3219816

Attachment 3219817

Attachment 3219818

Attachment 3219819

Attachment 3219820

Good looking SUV. Did you cross shop the Telluride? If so, what were the material differences?