Which SUV to buy?

[ghanaba]

Hello
I have been looking at the Volvo XC90 2.5T Suv and the Honda Pilot?
Which one of this is a good buy.
I am looking at safety, parts and repair costs, etc,etc.
In both instances I need a third row seat the the car does not have to be NEW.
Any suggestions are welcome.
thanks

[ES_Revenge]

Is the XC90 even comparable in price to the Pilot? I would have thought the XC90 would be way more than the Pilot.

[BradT]

Two different vehicles. I'd go with the Pilot if those are your only options. How about a Lexus RX?

[namdeeps]

go with the 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimted Ruibcon
i also have a 2006 lexus gx470 and love my jeep more than the lexus.

[bahasad]

XC90 and Pilot aren't really comparable. We have an 06 Pilot...nothing but praise for it. If you are looking for luxury look elsewhere...our Pilot is fully spec'd (leather, nav, sunroof, aftermarket dvd) and it doesn't feel high class or luxury at all. A Lexus or an Acura should be better. It is quite powerful, very spacey inside, and it doesn't cause any problems whatsoever.
Also, please don't tell me you are looking at an 09 Pilot. Looks god damn awful.

I would say, if you do not care about luxury, get the MDX or, if you can afford the Gas costs, Initial Cost, the Lexus GX470. It definitely isn't as spacious, but it looks nice, is a Lexus, and it is luxurious. Other then that, the MDX or Pilot. Gas mileage is okay with the Pilot/MDX, but it is better for highway cruising than Downtown Toronto streets.
The Volvo is good, but I would bet it feels weaker when driving than all the above. It is also less cozy inside, and it will cost more in repairs. If you can deal with all that, then why not get the V6 version?

[bythehour]

Surprisingly, the XC90 and Pilot are often cross-shopped. We did a few months ago.

For long-term reliability and cost of ownership, the Pilot is hands-down the winner. Owners see to swear by these things. I just couldn't bring myself to get one because of all the soccer-mom jokes the guys at the office were throwing at me.

The XC90 seems to have a good reputation, except for one of the models (the older five banger?). I was close to pulling the trigger but frankly, it didn't feel right (felt like I was buying a stove or a fridge).

We ended up with an LR3, horrible on gas, atrocious repair costs, hard to find parts...but dang, it makes us smile.

[ES_Revenge]

For long-term reliability and cost of ownership, the Pilot is hands-down the winner. Owners see to swear by these things.
What all 5 of them? LOL. Seriously I think I see like one Pilot a month on the road, if that. Such a boring, forgettable, vehicle.

We ended up with an LR3, horrible on gas, atrocious repair costs, hard to find parts...but dang, it makes us smile.
LR3, isn't that even more pricey than the XC90?

Given the Pilot or the XC90, I'd take the XC90 any day. The XC90 is apparently Volvo's best selling vehicle, whereas the Pilot has got to be Honda's worst LOL. (Note I have no idea how good a seller it is for Honda, just an exaggeration.)

The XC90 seems to have a good reputation, except for one of the models (the older five banger?). I was close to pulling the trigger but frankly, it didn't feel right (felt like I was buying a stove or a fridge).
The 2.5T is the inline 5 you're referring to, links to problems might be of interest to the OP... The 2.5T is gone though now, replaced by a 3.2L I6; but the OP did mention buying used.

As for the fridge feeling, I have to say that applies to most Volvo interiors--very "square" feeling. It's a modern square though IMO, not so much an "am I in the 80s?" square.

[RobDek]

I have a 2006 Pilot LX and I love it. Had it since new and now has 70km with no problems or warranty claims. If I wrecked it tomorrow, there would be another Pilot in the driveway within a day or so. In my opinion, XC90 is in another class.

[bythehour]

What all 5 of them? LOL. Seriously I think I see like one Pilot a month on the road, if that. Such a boring, forgettable, vehicle.


LR3, isn't that even more pricey than the XC90?

Given the Pilot or the XC90, I'd take the XC90 any day. The XC90 is apparently Volvo's best selling vehicle, whereas the Pilot has got to be Honda's worst LOL. (Note I have no idea how good a seller it is for Honda, just an exaggeration.)


The 2.5T is the inline 5 you're referring to, links to problems might be of interest to the OP... The 2.5T is gone though now, replaced by a 3.2L I6; but the OP did mention buying used.

As for the fridge feeling, I have to say that applies to most Volvo interiors--very "square" feeling. It's a modern square though IMO, not so much an "am I in the 80s?" square.


1. You're right. The Pilot isn't really a car that you notice. But, strangely, once you're tuned into them (like when I was shopping the market), there are quite a few around.

2. Wicked discounts on LR3s. $12,000 manufacturer's discount even before we started negotiating. The on-the road price was comfortably less than a comparably equipped XC90.

3. Sorry, I didn't save any of my links/research. My mistake, it's not the 2.5T. It's the T6 with autobox that has had a flurry of failures. Just Google "XC90 transmission problems". This is an example http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/volvo.htm

It's not so much the interiors that I didn't like. I just didn't feel connected to the car.

As for "I'm-in-the-80s" interiors - my vote goes to the E90 BMWs for that...reminds me of my dad's old Buick.

[tamil]

I would go with the pilot. I Heard that the new redesigned ones are more fuel efficient and are you looking for any other SUV's. Range Rovers are pretty good SUV but they might be in different classes.

[Sunney]

the acadia looks pretty nice and the mazda cx-9 is very nice to. Do a little resarch online there are alot to choose from.

[Pete_Coach]

Funny how SUV's are a topic for buying again, now that gas prices have gone down. Weren't they the topic for "how to get rid of them" not so long ago?
I await round two, when prices go back and all the SUV owners begin to whine and want to dump the gas guzzlers again. :)

[hagbard]

Funny how SUV's are a topic for buying again, now that gas prices have gone down. Weren't they the topic for "how to get rid of them" not so long ago?
I await round two, when prices go back and all the SUV owners begin to whine and want to dump the gas guzzlers again. :)

We bought a Jeep Patriot :D

[zivan56]

Don't know about the redesigned Pilot. But I just sold my 03 Pilot and that thing only had 1 warranty claim (a faulty transmission cooler, which was a design fault) and the regular oil changes. Nothing ever broke! I sold it because I wanted a newer car, but I would have kept it if I didn't have to pay so much for parking in my building. It just works and has plenty of power, the handling was among the best in any SUV I have ever driven.
Did you look at the Acura MDX? It shares the same platform as the Pilot. I would think it is closer to the Volvo in price and features.

[bahasad]

Surprisingly, the XC90 and Pilot are often cross-shopped. We did a few months ago.

For long-term reliability and cost of ownership, the Pilot is hands-down the winner. Owners see to swear by these things. I just couldn't bring myself to get one because of all the soccer-mom jokes the guys at the office were throwing at me.

The XC90 seems to have a good reputation, except for one of the models (the older five banger?). I was close to pulling the trigger but frankly, it didn't feel right (felt like I was buying a stove or a fridge).

We ended up with an LR3, horrible on gas, atrocious repair costs, hard to find parts...but dang, it makes us smile.

We would have bought an LR3 too. We found a great one about 5K more than our Pilot. I absolutely love Land Rovers/Range rovers (too expensive). It's just, coming from all Toyotas, which never ever broke down even with little maintenance, my parents didn't want the hassle.

Ahhh maybe some day ... I'll get a Land Rover :cheesygri

[Gloaming]

Try the Veracruz Limited- my friend has the infiniti QX Monster truck and he is now looking at a Veracruz when the lease expires on his infiniti- of course, you don't get snob appeal.

[The_Professor]

My brother has a Pilot and says it has been one of the best cars/trucks he's ever owned. It luxurious enough inside, powerful, roomy, cheap to own, and has been bulletproof in terms of reliability. Also, I see a fair number of them on the roads so I'm not sure what ES is talking about.

My only gripe with the Pilot is the styling, it's so boring.

I looked at used XC90's for my wife a while ago. I really wanted to like it since I have a soft spot for Volvo's, but I just couldn't. There are so many little problems and issues (check out the online forums), the interior seems very dated, and the model in our range had only a 4 speed automatic at a time when everyone else was offering 5 speed automatics.

I suggest taking both for a test drive.

[brendonp]

We would have bought an LR3 too. We found a great one about 5K more than our Pilot. I absolutely love Land Rovers/Range rovers (too expensive). It's just, coming from all Toyotas, which never ever broke down even with little maintenance, my parents didn't want the hassle.

Ahhh maybe some day ... I'll get a Land Rover :cheesygri

We picked up an '06 LR3 last week - head and shoulders nicer then any other SUV we drove (didn't look at many cross overs) and cheaper then any of the V8 XC90s we saw (parents have a 5cyl XC90, and I've never really liked it). Oddly enough it's also shorter and more maneuverable then the XC90 (heck, it's shorter then a new Honda Accord). Fuel economy obviously isn't great, but you can squeeze out 14-15L/100km if you're easy on the go pedal. And it's also really the only one we found with an adult sized third row seat...

(just don't step to hard on the gas - fun, but expensive!)

[ES_Revenge]

Funny how SUV's are a topic for buying again, now that gas prices have gone down. Weren't they the topic for "how to get rid of them" not so long ago?
I await round two, when prices go back and all the SUV owners begin to whine and want to dump the gas guzzlers again. :)
:lol: I was thinking the same thing. A friend of mine commented on how he saw lots more hummers driving around since the gas dropped, and though I didn't notice it at first it seems to be true.

2. Wicked discounts on LR3s. $12,000 manufacturer's discount even before we started negotiating. The on-the road price was comfortably less than a comparably equipped XC90.
Wow that's pretty good. Probably because LR doesn't move many of these units (or many units period, heh). LR3 is certainly a nice vehicle and probably more capable off-road than vehicles like the Pilot will ever be.

3. Sorry, I didn't save any of my links/research. My mistake, it's not the 2.5T. It's the T6 with autobox that has had a flurry of failures. Just Google "XC90 transmission problems".
Ah yes according to the Wiki Volvo use a GM transmission that they modified for the XC90. The 4T65 doesn't really have any significant problems in the GM vehicles it was in but then again they never used it in an SUV (though it was in the minivan based "SUVs" like the Aztek/Rendezvous); and who knows what changes Volvo made to it...

Going back to the Pilot for those buying one you may want to be sure to get a super-huge HDMI cable to use the port on the front. Don't get conned into buying Monster Cable though, get it from monoprice :lol:

[bythehour]

Going back to the Pilot for those buying one you may want to be sure to get a super-huge HDMI cable to use the port on the front. Don't get conned into buying Monster Cable though, get it from monoprice :lol:

LOL! Ever since I read that USB thing somewhere (TTAC, I think), I chuckle everytime I see the new Pilot.

I really wanted to like the Pilot. It is a smart purchase. But, I've never been accused of being smart.

If the OP is buying used, beware of US cars (not necessarily a bad thing, just be informed). I noticed that certain dealers were bringing in big volumes of the same cars; must be a volume discount? I even came across a couple authorized dealers doing the same (i.e., Volvo dealers offering US XC90s). Some were upfront about it; others were not. Caveat emptor.

[Ben Jr]

OP has gotta be the most indecisive car shopper I've ever seen; without searching I'm guessing 2 years comparing the XC90 to every SUV on the market.

[Kayne]

Between those two I would go with the Volvo.

[lockec]

go with the 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimted Ruibcon
i also have a 2006 lexus gx470 and love my jeep more than the lexus.

Got an '09 wrangler unlimited here and agree Jeep is the way to go!

[bahasad]

He wants a 7-seater. Jeeps are cool, but I personally think someone who is looking at a Pilot or XC90 will find them quite crude.