Best 3-Row SUV: New Mazda CX-90 vs 7 Rivals

foreign [Music] so this is weird I've been instructed to gather every new or significantly updated mainstream three-row SUV for a special shootout comparison pretty much everything is here from the class except the Jeep Grand Cherokee L which just couldn't make it actually speaking of missing where the heck is Mike hey Kyle sorry I'm late you ready to get started uh yeah Mike but isn't this the brand new cx-90 from Mazda like this isn't even out yet how did you get it don't worry about it let's just get going it's time for the auto guide three row SUV comparison shootout brought to you by WeatherTech thank you [Music] thanks to the wonders of modern video editing I'm now going to tell you everything I just learned driving the all-new Mazda cx-90 now I know some journalists will sneer at that term but really just about everything you see here is all new for Mazda in North America the Sears 90 rides on a rear drive bias platform although here all-wheel drive is of course standard there's also a new inline six-cylinder turbo engine and on this side of the Atlantic the cx-90 will debut mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants oh yeah and this paint color is new it looks pretty good right Mazda's current design language is as handsome as ever and Artisan red is an appropriately fancy Merlot like color we all gave the cr70 top points for exterior styling liking its just right amount of flashy Chrome smooth lines and its Classic rear drive proportions those enormous 21 inch wheels sure are pretty too they're the biggest in the test and come wrapped in the widest rubber inside the cx-90 Mazda isn't afraid to get a little adventurous with the materials and design you've got this unique material that's covering the dashboard and door panels where it mixes with this light wood and highly reflective Chrome strips it's also pretty practical in here too with good storage on the doors and an entire center console in the second row over here on the dashboard you've got this hanging Stitch feature that goes across which Mazda says is inspired by ancient Japanese book binding techniques if I had to nitpick I'd probably talk about how this steering wheel is now a little thicker than normal and there's this weird knock it to the side shifter they're both quaint premium German the Bavarian comparison isn't just aspirational either under the hood is a silky smooth 3.3 liter inline sex turbo this engine produces a test best 340 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque though it's also one of the few to drink from the premium tap the other one being the other Mazda a lower power version of this engine produces 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel just keep that in mind for later those setups come with a mild hybrid system standard all-wheel drive and an 8-speed transmission simply put this is the best drivetrain of the bunch powerful in the mid-range smooth at low speeds thanks to the seamless mild hybrid setup and wildly efficient the cx-90 is quoted at 28 miles per gallon highway or eight and a half liters per 100 kilometers for Canadians but our condensed mixed-use test Loop saw 29.4 miles per gallon or an even 8 liters the cx-90 also has an easy Dynamic Edge it might be a hefty thing but this is a rear bias platform that gives it a smooth sophisticated and really composed feel from behind that embigened wheel even in pre-production form cs90 has one of the quietest cabins in this test too drive it down a curvy Road and the cx-90 Really shrinks around the driver like the CX-9 it has a ride that's a little on the firm side but it's in no way uncomfortable Mazda has loaded up its new Range topper with a smorgasbord of features a head-up display heated and ventilated seats in the front two rows a high-res 360 degree camera you name it the cx-90 has it matching those loaded Korean competitors we especially like the in-cluster display showing the Mazda's place in its Lane as well as the other cars on the road there is just one area where Mazda continues to lag behind its infotainment system there might be a bigger screen but the lack of native touch capability still hurts it there is one area where the cx-90 struggles at least in the U.S price as equipped this thing rings in almost 62 000 which is eight grand shy of the next priciest model the Telluride remember that less powerful engine we were talking about yeah that saves you almost seven thousand dollars and really you only lose out on a handful of the fanciest features in Canada this is still the most pricey model but it's only a thousand dollars or so pricier than the pipe overall the Mazda cx-90 makes a very strong first impression but I'm getting ahead of myself here how about the rest of the welcoming party let's hand it over to Mike to find out yes the box is back after the curvier more rounded previous generation pilot Honda has gone back to basics and given the new model a boxier shape we're big fans of the look on the new vehicle especially the Black Edition now for our American viewers who may be scratching their heads the Black Edition is the top Canadian trim package which is very similar to the US spec Elite along with the sports blacked out appearance but enough about the pilots looks is the rest of the SUV just as good in short yeah it is here's why Honda is one of the few manufacturers still offering a naturally aspirated V6 in this class many have jumped to turbocharged four cylinders as these big six cylinders can feel strained and overwhelmed at times with the pilot though that is not the case Honda's 3.5 liter V6 makes 285 horsepower which only puts it about mid-pack in this competition but in real world use we scored it as our second favorite drivetrain a lot of that has to do with how easy and smoothly the engine res as well the 10-speed automatic transmission not only has the most gears out of any vehicle here it is one of the best in operation when it comes to ride Comfort the pilot once again excels receiving top marks in our comparison the pilot absorbs bumps with these isolates vibrations and treats all passengers to a pleasant experience the soft suspension also doesn't sacrifice handling which we found to be above average with the latest pilot Honda seems to have taken the bigger is better approach this is the second largest vehicle here but it offers the most cargo and interior space the second and third row seats scored second best in our test as did the cargo in the back up front we really appreciate the driving position which we found to be the best in test the interior is laid out in a logical manner but we would gladly take a few more hard buttons for the infotainment screen controls of course no vehicle is perfect and there are a few things working against the pilot for starters there's the price as tested it's nearly tied as the second most expensive vehicle on hand the big revhappy V6 is also a bit thirsty with fuel economy figures registering near the back of the pack and when it comes to the interior we find it could look and feel a bit more premium especially when compared to some of the similarly priced competition on hand Honda's latest SUV isn't just a great new pilot it is a great new vehicle period with good looks excellent Road manners and tons of Passenger space couldn't win this whole comparison or will its price point hold it back before we let you know we have more vehicles to look at to talk about of a sponsor custom made for an exact fit WeatherTech offers complete protection for your vehicle's interior there's the original WeatherTech floor liner and the new WeatherTech floorliner HP that's made from a more flexible material both work with your vehicle's floor mat clips and protect up the side of your foot well plus the floor liner HP comes with v-spikes for even better grip I have one set in my car and another in my wife's car and we both love them and let's not forget the cargo liner which is particularly important for utility vehicles like these all WeatherTech products come with a lifetime guarantee so do yourself a favor and click the link in the description below and find the perfect fit for your car today the Hyundai Palisade and its corporate cousin the Kia Telluride rolled into the new year as the three row SUVs to beat with a fresh round of improvements to keep them in fighting form this is the Palisade calligraphy or ultimate calligraphy in the land of Tim Hortons and we're going to start with what's changed and if that's enough for it to hold on to its crown Hyundai has dropped in bigger screens because that's the style at the time both behind the wheel and atop the center of the dash they're both highly legible and customizable though Apple carplay and Android auto both remain of the wired variety crucially Hyundai has kept the big physical dials and buttons below so it's easy to flip between menus or adjust the audio and climate settings we appreciate these sizable storage space below the center console too this interior still shames some so-called premium Brands the soft leather seating surfaces pinstripe dashboard and Alcantara headliner combined for a Swanky cabin one lit with just the right amount of color adjustable ambient lighting so the driver's seat is now of the Ergo motion variety which is a quasi-massage seat that subtly moves around to stretch your muscles and reduce fatigue in sport mode it also gently hugs you because why not the Palisade was top of the clasp in terms of interior Comfort it came second behind the pilot for the front seats but it was top of the charts for the second and the third row so not only are they comfortable but they're pretty practical too with storage options and charging the Palisade also includes test exclusive power folding third and second row seats making it easier to extend the storage space when you're in the back there's a whole heap of other Tech in here too not only does the Palisade have a head up display that's clear and large it has a robust safety Suite including the always excellent blind spot view Monitor and even the sound system is pretty good also new for 2023 is there's a digital key function that lets you use your phone as the key it's almost sounding too good to be true right the Palisades lone drivetrain option is its biggest weak point the 3.8 liter V6 is 291 horsepower ain't nothing to sneeze at but it needs to be revved to deliver the goods even then the 8-speed isn't exactly eager to kick down it's not as if the fuel economy makes up for the merely okay performance either it's best to really lean into the Palisades big softy personality as the suspension tuning is all cushy comfortableness yes there is a sport drive mode but it's about as appropriate as wearing a pair of Asics with a custom suit the Palisade does not like to be hustled and honestly with that super high up driving position you probably won't enjoy it either none of our judges were exactly enamored with the Palisades exterior styling either scoring it near the back of the pack we know looks are subjective but when the rest of the package is so darn good the parts that don't wow stand out the Palisade now aligns better with the rest of Hyundai's SUV and Truck Line but that big grill can be a little overwhelming lesser trims listen to Mick and paint it black but that still feels played out too foreign with the Palisade Hyundai is really asking the same question that Mazda is with the new cx-90 that is do you really need to spend thousands more on a luxury model when you can get all the Ambiance and features right here sure this is a pretty minor refresh but at the same time the Palisade didn't need a whole lot of fixing so can its good value its laundry list of features and its comfy capacious interior really overcome that shrug inducing Powertrain before I answer that question I'm going to hand this back over to Mike for something same but different [Music] the Kia Telluride in a few short years went from unknown quantity to segment standout the stylish 3-row SUV is a star in its segment and this year received a significant refresh but everything else here is just as new so the question is is it still a front runner one of the biggest standouts about the boxy Telly ride has been the vehicle stylish looks inside and out with the recent refresh even if those cool Amber daytime running lights are gone it's just as true as ever the interior in particular drew a lot of praise for its premium look and feel the clean look doesn't affect usability either as most functions can be done with a hard button scattered around the infotainment screen still there are a few nuances we change if we could front seat Comfort ranks about mid-pack while the second row Trails most mainly due to the overly stiff seating surfaces why are the Palisade seats so much better than the tellurides in the second row we do not know Kia does pick up points though when it comes to third row comfort and the Telluride has good cargo carrying capability the telluride's 3.8 liter V6 is the largest in test and one of the most powerful with 291 horsepower on tap it's paired to a smooth 8-speed automatic transmission in isolation this drivetrain operates quite well but when compared to the competition it receives some of the lowest marks in our test the engine feels strained in the lower RPMs at higher revs the power and response explodes to light it's a bit of an All or Nothing experience not helping the case is a slow to respond transmission that takes a moment to downshift when not in sport mode once it does kick down a few gears the Telluride hustles forward with authority overall the drivetrain lacks the instant torque feel of the Subaru Ascent or the flexibility of the Honda Pilot ride comfort and vehicle response are other areas where the Telluride struggles a bit the ride can get choppy on broken pavement and the vehicle feels heavier than it is when maneuvering through bends the Telluride drives like a big SUV but not quite the truck-like fuel we found in the Pathfinder on the technology front the Telluride is hard to beat it's crammed full of features like blind spot cameras heated and ventilated seats for the first two rows Head Up Display and a fully customizable Digital dash although we did complain a bit about the infotainment system controls there's no denying how well the software works it's intuitive customizable and straightforward to set is it slightly easier to use in the telluride's corporate cousin the Palisade yes yes it is is it still fantastic in here though that's also true the updates the Telluride received this year should keep it as competitive as ever but we do feel some of the competition has closed the Gap significantly add in the fact that KIA has the second highest as tested price in our comparison and the Telluride may be hard-pressed to finish on the podium but before we get to that on to the next vehicle [Music] when we're Distributing the purely objective points at the beginning of this comparison the Toyota Highlander took an early lead and then we drove it and found that the new turbo engine is actually a really good match for the Toyota's 3-row SUV unfortunately by the end of the comparison it had tumbled clear out of Podium contention that doesn't make it a bad SUV it just makes it a compromised one first off this is the run to the litter the Highlander would be the least lengthy if not for the extended bumper of this xse model it ties the ascent as the narrowest and it's the shortest we like a tidy footprint as much of the next person but the Highlander's Dimensions leave it with a comparatively tight interior one that in this case is liberally bathed in very red leather the front row is all gravy but the issues start creeping up in the middle row with an awkward bump in the headliner that's right at eye level for adults then there's the back row which can make even reasonably sized adults feel like Ian from The Simpsons that the red leather doesn't even extend to the way back tells you how much of a priority it really is Toyota's upcoming Grand Highlander would have remedied this space related criticism but it's still a few months away none of our judges had any such complaints about the Highlander's powertrain the 2.4 liter has strong mid-range and more torque than anything here not wearing a Mazda badge that 8-speed Auto is also a really smooth shifter too with good response times that are better than either of the Koreans this xse trim also has some added sportiness with torque vectoring for its all-wheel drive system you're not really going to notice that back and forth to the mall but nonetheless the Highlander is one of the more fun cars to hustle around here I've said it before and I'll say it again Toyota has leapfrogged the competition with its latest infotainment going from the back of the pack to right up front the system is a cinch to use the navigation is good so long as your subscription is active and it pairs to smartphones wirelessly the lack of a tuning knob makes station hunting more work than it should be and the small screen does make for some cramped screens like the serious menu but otherwise this is one of our favorites unfortunately this mid-gray model comes with one of the lightest equipment lists here you can get things like a fully digital instrument panel ventilated seats and hands-free liftgate but a lot of them are locked away in the highest trim thank you so what holds the Toyota back well the Ecstasy does get hit pretty badly for low material quality it's missing some of the premium feel that's in most of the other competitors here it is more affordable than most of them but you notice it even more so than the Nissan Toyota's new infotainment and new engine does improve the Highlander but it still feels like a half size too small for this class the Subaru Ascent is the no-nonsense vehicle of the three-row SUV world it's designed to excel at its job without any excessive flash or flare shuttling seven or eight passengers from point A to point B regardless of rotor weather conditions is its main goal but this year Subaru was giving it a little more personality to help broaden the vehicle's appeal for 2003 Subaru was given the ascent a refresh inside and out the most notable changes are the larger infotainment screen on the higher end trim levels and the revised front end styling so conservative was the original Ascent styling it was easily confused for other vehicles on the road especially other Subarus with the newest sense look that should no longer be the case as it's um definitely different unchanged is the ascents drivetrain which continues to use a 260 horsepower 2.4 liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission despite the countless CVT detractors in practice this drivetrain works just fine is it noise easy it can be but even with the second lowest horsepower rating the ascent is very responsive after the scores were tallied we rank the engine transmission convo third best in test also receiving a lot of Praise is the ride Comfort which places second in test the best part is that it doesn't overly affect handling which still ranks in the upper half of the test and of course how can we discuss a Subaru without mentioning its all-weather capabilities even though every vehicle on hand is equipped with all-wheel drive and most have various Drive modes for slippery conditions if a sudden snow storm hits US during filming we are probably all going to be seeking out the ascent inside the good news continues as the ascent provides a terrific driver's Vantage Point as is a Subaru specialty sight lines are fantastic all around we all agree this is probably the easiest vehicle to operate as all the controls are light responsive and do exactly what the driver intends them to do secondary controls for things like the climate control and radio are just as easy to find but the infotainment may take a moment to get used to less impressive is the the front seat itself which scored near the back of the pack in terms of comfort it's a similar story for the second and third rows as well which trailed most in terms of seat comfort and space even after the refresh the ascent still lacks the premium feel of many of the competitors on hand here everything is laid out in a logical fashion throughout the cabin but the design and materials Trail much of the competition it's still the no-nonsense functional reform interior that does appeal to some but it won't to others Subaru has aggressively priced the ascent as it's one of the more affordable options here but still features plenty of content like ventilated front seats a panoramic sunroof and a driver distraction mitigation system but there's still no wireless phone charging are you listening Subaru I really want that feature but overall the ascent does offer consumers a lot who are looking for all-weather multi-person Transportation the question is will its lack of refinement and desirability keep it off the podium the Nissan Pathfinder is a bit of an anomaly in this comparison test while most manufacturers sent us fully loaded trims with price tags to match Nissan sent us this it is the Pathfinder Rock Creek and it oozes Charisma and it has the lowest as tested price of anything here the Rock Creek is a familiar name to the Nissan faithful as it signifies a more rugged version of the Brand's popular 3-row SUV with the latest Pathfinder this is still true it receives Rock Creek badging everywhere a revised look up front more aggressive wheels and tires as well as a tubular roof rail system it also has increased ground clearance but even at the raised 7.7 inches it's still one of the lowest vehicles in the group we really like this look especially painted in Baja Brown like our test vehicle it stands out in a crowd of look-alike SUVs and adds some real personality inside orange stitching and multiple embroidered Rock Creek badges can be found but it's not enough to liven up the interior the design is basic and a bit drab but at least it's very functional there are large knobs and buttons for most controls making the Pathfinder very user friendly passenger space and comfort are other strong points for the Pathfinder at least when it comes to the front two rows in fact the second row probably has the most face out of any vehicle in this group part of the reason for that is because there is no sunroof whatsoever in the Rock Creek to make this vehicle look so cool it also be affordable mining had to be saved elsewhere this is the least equipped vehicle on hand and lacks items like heated rear seats a power passenger seat navigation and wireless phone charging in the USA there isn't even a power liftgate which we find to be a big emission even on a lower price trim like this under the hood of the Rock Creek does have another trick up its sleeve the 3.5 liter V6 found in all Pathfinders receives a minor power boost up to 295 horsepower total which is the second most in our test parted up with a new 9-speed automatic transmission we are divided on the drivetrain some of us really like the ample power that's available at nearly every speed While others find the engine to be a bit coarse and truck-like it was a similar story with ride Comfort most found it to be one of the better riding vehicles on hand While others found it to be a bit choppy when it comes to handling though we all agree the Pathfinder is one of the more truck-like vehicles to drive it has more of a traditional SUV feel behind the wheel than anything else in our comparison the Pathfinder Rock Creek is a niche vehicle but still a really compelling one it appeals to those who want a multi-passenger vehicle with a bit more personality it probably won't win our comparison test but for certain consumer is exactly what they're looking for eagle-eyed viewers must have figured out that the Mazda CX-9 is the odd one out from the very beginning we said new or recently updated and this thing is neither however as the Elder Mazda 3 row we had to bring it along to see how it compares to its sibling and if it's still relevant to the market turns out it is this is a very satisfying SUV especially if you care about style and driving Dynamics so it's almost a car reviewer cliche at this point but yes at least to our eyes an internal funometer the cx-9s has still got it okay Soul red does do some of the heavy lifting as the best red on the market the cs9 is just classically good looking solid proportions a lack of fuss in the flanks and wide squinty headlights personally I find the tailgate much more identifiably Mazda than the newer SUV too these 20-inch alloy wheels are just kind of there however and still despite its age the CX-9 is one of the best looking large SUVs out there the good feelings continue behind the Mazda cx-9's thin steering wheel hey Mazda can you just Swap this back into the cx90 thanks the CX-9 was one of the first three row SUVs to go to a turbo four-cylinder engine and it remains one of the better ones out there there's a ton of torque in fact more than anything here except the cx-90 in fact it makes it a really easy car to drive around every day although that six-speed automatic is starting to show its age not so much with its smooth shifts but with the way that it holds the revs a lot higher on the highway than some of the other SUVs here this being the lightest SUV here the CX-9 is quick off the line adapted Highway passing and good fun to Chuck along a Winding Road the steering has good weight and consistency making the CX-9 shrink around the driver is this a genuinely fun to drive large SUV yes okay so large is kind of pushing it even though the CX-9 is one of the lengthiest vehicles here and like everything I set the cs90 it's built on a front drive based platform the cabin is a little on the snug side so up front you have a wide center console which gives it a definite cockpit feel but larger drivers might be penned in the second row is honestly pretty good there's good Headroom good leg room and those Captain's chairs are super comfortable but then you get back here and uh if you're an adult it's not so much sitting in here as being installed um and you don't get a whole lot of Creature Comforts either back here uh I'm good can I get out now please where the Elder Mazda also falters is its feature list and refinement there's buzz from the drivetrain and as mentioned before the six-speed can't keep up with the newer Transmissions out there you're missing out on the gaggle of charge ports and cup holders and the others to say nothing of fancier features like a digital instrument cluster while the CX-9 does have a 360 degree camera it's grainy and permanently Overexposed we still find Mazda's super simple infotainment more frustrating than freeing too foreign so there are two questions that we needed to answer with the Mazda CX-9 is this still competitive in its segment and does it justify its existence with its newer sibling now available the answer to both questions is yes this is still a satisfying SUV depending on your priorities and it's a very different experience than the luxury brand chasing cx90 is that enough to upset the finishing order well we've done all the cars now so let's move to the results after all the testing was complete and the scores were added things were close all the vehicles scored within 10 percent of each other and the top two finishers were only a fraction of a point apart so let's get on to the podium finishers coming in a comfortable third place is the Honda Pilot spacious comfortable and with excellent Road manners the new pilot Builds on all the old pilot strengths and improves on its weaknesses if it were a little lower priced it might have even won the whole competition the other newcomer scores an impressive silver Metal finish here Mazda cx90 is its third double digit model and it's its most impressive yet this is truly an impressive SUV one that can easily take on the established luxury Brands however that does come with a big price penalty at least in the U.S had we had the lower powered engine option here it probably would have won outright and in Canada where the pricing is that much closer the cx-90 is an easy choice this is the best model here but you have to pay to play and that brings us to the overall winner from the auto guide three row SUV comparison shootout brought to you by WeatherTech as Kyle said the Mazda cx-90 is the best vehicle here but when it comes to the best value the winner is the Hyundai Palisade it's feature packed spacious easy to operate and feels premium but this wasn't as decisive as a win as it once was for Hyundai as the competition continues to improve but for now the Palisade is the champion of the three row SUVs [Music] thank you

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Keywords: AutoGuide, Car, Automotive, Automobile (industry), Drive, vehicle, car review, cars, mazda, cx-9, cx9, cx-90, cx90, toyota, highlander, honda, pilot, hyundai, palisade, kai, telluride, subaru, ascent, nissan, pathfinder, 3-row suv, 3 row suv, three-row suv, three row suv, family suv, 7 seat suv, 7-seat suv, 8 seat suv, 8-seat suv, seven seat suv, seven-seat suv, eight seat suv, eight-seat, suv, crossover, seven seater, seven-seater, eight-seater, eight seater

Id: mO4uoepaZfM

Length: 27min 45sec (1665 seconds)

Published: Mon Apr 03 2023