What mid-sized SUVs w/3rd row are leasing well?

Ask the Hackrs
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1

Hey all, first-time, long-time.

I live in the bay area and are looking for a mid-sized SUV. Curious what’s leasing well.

Me/us:

  • 1 toddler, another on the way
  • Currently have a Outback 3.6
  • Ride bikes a lot, ski, etc.

Looking for:

  • 2nd car w/3rd row to ferry our fam + grandparents on short trips
  • AWD for Tahoe trips
  • Prefer decent power (ie not a Subaru i-4)
  • Payment <= $500/mo

What I’m looking at:

  • Ford Explorer - These have solid engines, but get mixed reviews and seem to be sitting on lots as a result (>120 days). Have seen new Platinums marked down from $60k to $48k, and local dealer even has a couple low-mile loaners up right now.
  • Toyota Highlander - Uninspired, but seems decent.
  • Volkswagen Atlas - Biggest boi, pref 6cyl
  • Honda Pilot - Kinda ugly but gets decent reviews
  • Palluride - Doesn’t seem remotely doable

Am I missing anything that’s currently leasing well? Is the Ford Explorer worth the effort?

Thx, all!

2

Pilot is probably leasing best at the moment.

3

Pilot or atlas will probably be most value out of this bunch. Drive both see which one you like.

4

Pilot. Others will be expensive

5

Traverse might be worth taking a look at based on the deal @chevysalesgirl posted yesterday. That one was FWD but the programs should be similar.

6

EX-L Pilots were leasing for quite a bit under $400 during the summer here on the East Coast. Though inventory might be tighter than ever at the moment.

7

Pilot out of the bunch.

I wonder if you can finagle an XC90 T5

8

Had that thought as well. Great cars and seem to be leasing ok now that the 2022 refresh is widely known

9

Check out the Volvo XC90 T5. T5 has 250 HP, 3rd row has good room. Should be in that low 500 mo range.

10

2020 mdx lease very well with conquest

11

If you don’t drive much (like sub 10k per year), and are ok owning for like 5-6 years maybe just buy something.

A Palisade SE financed should be in your budget and should have equity

12

Assuming we’ll be heading toward an EV in 3 yrs, so want to keep options open and cash outlay down.

13

There’s no reason for the SE to exist. Stepping up to a base SEL costs very little over an SE and offers a high value for the dollar in the added features.

1 Like
14

Consider the Lexus GX. The tech is a bit dated compared to Audi or other luxury mid size cars but it’s a great looking car and you can get it for cheap. I was in your shoes 3 years ago with a 2.5 year old and a 9 month pregnant wife. I forget the details but we put down $3k, and the payments are $520 per month including high California taxes. I think MSRP was 55k, with 12k per year allowance. The trunk space is huge when the 3rd row is down.

15

I think a lot of reviews have indicated that the 6-cyl offers no advantage over the 4-cyl and has worse gas mileage?

16

How is effectively $600+ cheap? It’s a barely gussied Prado with 16MPG combined, and a virtually useless third row.

Cheap is sub 400 for a QX60 or MDX.

17

It’s heavy, so the extra 40hp helps. Either way, it’s not quick.

18

Quotes on XC90 T5 Mom AWD came in around $620 w/zero down, no MSDs, etc. Not bad by any stretch, but more than we should spend for a second car we’d barely drive (even if it becomes a primary car we barely drive).

Explorer XLT AWD is sitting about $475 w/zero down, no MSDs. I think they’re overpriced, but would take it around $400/mo as it drives fairly decent.

Going to look into Ascents since I’m already familiar w/Subarus. Interior looks a bit nicer than the Ford, and it’s where I’d be spending all my time.

19

I haven’t driven either, so I can’t say what the subjective experience is like, but Car and Driver has tested both (the 2.0T admittedly did not have AWD), and the acceleration times were virtually identical. But YMMV.

20

I am in a similar boat, I have been diligently researching 3 row SUV’s and looking for a payment in the $400 range in Northern Colorado. Currently have a 2011 Explore XLT, was disappointed with it’s performance in the Mountains. Wanted an equal size or bigger for passengers and storage, limited off road capabilities, and reliability. A couple of take aways in my couple of months of looking.

Started off wanting a Telluride or Palisade. They are just too high priced for me right now, don’t think they are a good value. Looked into CX -9 but was to small, haven’t looked at the new Explorer beacause I have heard to many horror stories on the last few model years and ground clearance.

Test drove a Pilot SE and an Ascent Limited today and I really preferred the Ascent. Will post lease offers when I have post privileges.
Still need to drive the Highlander to decide.

Any questions let me know!