3-Row SUV Shopper Next Year

I'll be in the market in about a year for an AWD 3-row SUV of the larger variety with an emphasis on reliability, cargo capacity and certain electronic safety features, primarily blind spot detection, in a package as close to the base model as I can get.

The Subaru Ascent also offers a nice package of features. However, I like to keep vehicles for 10 years/150,000+ miles. You can call me behind the times but I don't trust turbo longevity. In the case of Subaru concerns are justified. There have been class action lawsuits over the WRX turbo (excessive metal shavings in the oil) and dealers complaining about pre-production testers of the all-new 2020 Outback (2.4 turbo) blowing smoke.

The 2020 Highlander will be on the radar. I'm not impressed with the Pilot's or Atlas's reliability ratings. Hopefully the Kia will have worked out the kinks by this time next year.

Frankly, from my experience with a 2014 Toyota Sienna with 80,000 miles (and previous experience with Toyotas), I don't think any of these 3-row SUVs stack up on price from the standoint of performance, basic functionality, cargo capacity, reliability and longevity. However, to get AWD, which is a new priority for me, you have to go the top Sienna trim line to get it which unfortunately rules it out. For those of you in climates without snow and ice who are not concerned about aesthetics, you might consider that Mommy is pretty darn smart with her mommy wagon in a form-follows-function kind of way.