Scotty, where to turn for reliable 3rd row vehicle under $45k for family of 5. Pilot and Odyssey have timing belt and not Toyota, highlander and grand highlander has turbo and cvt(I think), sienna is hybrid, don't trust vw atlas. Am I wrong on any of this or miss something else? What is the best option for reliability? Is 4 runner the only one? What would you buy? Is there an option I overlooked?
Any help is appreciated!
Love your videos and info!
now Toyota, highlander and grand highlander has turbo and cvt(I think)
The new Toyota Highlander has the 2.4L turbo engine mated to an 8-speed regular automatic transmission. The eCVT is only offered in the hybrid version.
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https://www.toyota.com/content/dam/toyota/brochures/pdf/2023/highlander_ebrochure.pdf
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Same with the Grand Highlander except some trim versions of the Hybrid have regular automatic transmission and others have eCVT. You have to look at the brochure closely.
https://www.toyota.com/content/dam/toyota/brochures/pdf/2024/grand_highlander_ebrochure.pdf
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Anyways, I would look at a used Highlander with the naturally aspirated V6 (mated to 8-speed automatic transmission). They were still offering them for the 2022 model year.
https://www.toyota.com/content/dam/toyota/brochures/pdf/2022/highlander_ebrochure.pdf
I do not count out A vehicle because it has a timing belt. Yes, after a 100k miles you need to change it, costing maybe $1000. My 98 4runner and my current GX470 have timing belts, but are also among the most reliable vehicles made.
Many cars these days are blowing transmissions and engines by 100k, don't count out a vehicle that has a timing belt, if it is reliable.
You mention sienna is hybrid, do you mean the one you are looking at? Toyota does make the best hybrid, but I would only consider it if I were doing a ton of city miles, and you only plan to keep it for 10 years or so. Normally, a non hybrid will come out better if you plan to keep it a long time.
The ideal car would have be naturally aspirated, timing chain driven, port injected, non-hybrid, and an automatic transmission.
No timing belt.
No turbo.
No direct injection.
Not hybrid.
No CVT. No DCT. Maybe Manual.
Alas, those kind of cars are hard to come by brand new these days. And even if a new car met these requirements, brand quality history and projected reliability matters.
So we are left with basically a Toyota. Modern Toyota’s are both port and direct injected.
Of the Toyota’s my preference would be with the regular hybrid options, NOT the hybrid max NOR turbo hybrids. The technology of the regular hybrid options for the Highlander, Grand Highlander, and the Sienna has been around for quite some time. It has a strong history.
Hybrid Max and Turbo Hybrids are too new. And regular Turbos in Toyotas are relatively new en masse as well.
I am hesitant to recommend a Honda 3 Row vehicle, because of issues with a transmission from the ZF company they have been having. Maybe they resolved it, maybe they haven’t. If perchance there is one without a ZF transmission, I would entertain that option.
Honorable mentions that are brand new,, but may be worth a gamble:
The Subaru Ascent is also a possible option. Granted it has direct injection, turbo, and CVT. Although Subaru has had a better history more recently. This engine combination is brand new. So not much is known on longevity and reliability.
My personal gamble would be the Mazda CX-90. Unfortunately it is direct injection, turbo, but it is an automatic! This drivetrain is brand new. So it much is known about longevity and reliability.
