Volvo XC90 vs. Toyota Highlander vs. Mazda CX9

[Anonymous]

Basically looking at those three 3-row SUVs. Thinking used is fine if we can find a decent deal.

Would love to hear thoughts on why one over the other. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

One of these things is not like the others.

I've test driven all of these cars in the last year. XC90 is going to cost way way more. Like crazy more. Its also at the very very end of its model run.

So is CX9 but those are at least more reasonably priced.

I thought the CX9 handled the best and was the best price for the options but also the smallest. Highlander is also going for top dollar (but nothing like the Volvo) and is at least a newer design.

In the end we bought nothing and still have our minivan. Its a jungle out there - good luck.

Happy to answer any more questions you have - I've pretty much shopped and test driven every 3 row out there this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of these things is not like the others.

I've test driven all of these cars in the last year. XC90 is going to cost way way more. Like crazy more. Its also at the very very end of its model run.

So is CX9 but those are at least more reasonably priced.

I thought the CX9 handled the best and was the best price for the options but also the smallest. Highlander is also going for top dollar (but nothing like the Volvo) and is at least a newer design.

In the end we bought nothing and still have our minivan. Its a jungle out there - good luck.

Happy to answer any more questions you have - I've pretty much shopped and test driven every 3 row out there this year.

We need a 3 row and would like to trade in car because we really just don't want more than one car. Because we only want one car, it's an SUV and not a minivan for us. Used Volvos seem more reasonable, less than a new Highlander or Mazda. If you had to buy, what would you settle on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of these things is not like the others.

I've test driven all of these cars in the last year. XC90 is going to cost way way more. Like crazy more. Its also at the very very end of its model run.

So is CX9 but those are at least more reasonably priced.

I thought the CX9 handled the best and was the best price for the options but also the smallest. Highlander is also going for top dollar (but nothing like the Volvo) and is at least a newer design.

In the end we bought nothing and still have our minivan. Its a jungle out there - good luck.

Happy to answer any more questions you have - I've pretty much shopped and test driven every 3 row out there this year.

We need a 3 row and would like to trade in car because we really just don't want more than one car. Because we only want one car, it's an SUV and not a minivan for us. Used Volvos seem more reasonable, less than a new Highlander or Mazda. If you had to buy, what would you settle on?

I don’t know what your budget is. But I think Volvos are very overpriced for what you get (but very nice exterior I agree.) I really loved the Mazda but DH did not think it comfortable for a very tall driver (him.) If you absolutely want to maximize space the best deals right now on space are VW Atlas and Honda Pilot. Both are about as big as it gets without going to Tahoe/expedition. I’m also looking at a lower trim MDX.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has had XC90’s over the years, I would not buy one again. We do love the car for many reasons, but with the one we previously owned, eventually it had so many problems and I was constantly taking the car in to the service center and they never had loaners for us. We leased this time around. I can’t speak for the other cars but maybe other people have had good experiences over the long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of these things is not like the others.

I've test driven all of these cars in the last year. XC90 is going to cost way way more. Like crazy more. Its also at the very very end of its model run.

So is CX9 but those are at least more reasonably priced.

I thought the CX9 handled the best and was the best price for the options but also the smallest. Highlander is also going for top dollar (but nothing like the Volvo) and is at least a newer design.

In the end we bought nothing and still have our minivan. Its a jungle out there - good luck.

Happy to answer any more questions you have - I've pretty much shopped and test driven every 3 row out there this year.

We need a 3 row and would like to trade in car because we really just don't want more than one car. Because we only want one car, it's an SUV and not a minivan for us. Used Volvos seem more reasonable, less than a new Highlander or Mazda. If you had to buy, what would you settle on?

I don’t know what your budget is. But I think Volvos are very overpriced for what you get (but very nice exterior I agree.) I really loved the Mazda but DH did not think it comfortable for a very tall driver (him.) If you absolutely want to maximize space the best deals right now on space are VW Atlas and Honda Pilot. Both are about as big as it gets without going to Tahoe/expedition. I’m also looking at a lower trim MDX.

We drove both the Atlas and the Pilot. Atlas was just too big and neither of us liked it. The Pilots button based gear box (or whatever it’s called) was a turn off also. Maybe Mazda is way to go…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One of these things is not like the others.

I've test driven all of these cars in the last year. XC90 is going to cost way way more. Like crazy more. Its also at the very very end of its model run.

So is CX9 but those are at least more reasonably priced.

I thought the CX9 handled the best and was the best price for the options but also the smallest. Highlander is also going for top dollar (but nothing like the Volvo) and is at least a newer design.

In the end we bought nothing and still have our minivan. Its a jungle out there - good luck.

Happy to answer any more questions you have - I've pretty much shopped and test driven every 3 row out there this year.

We need a 3 row and would like to trade in car because we really just don't want more than one car. Because we only want one car, it's an SUV and not a minivan for us. Used Volvos seem more reasonable, less than a new Highlander or Mazda. If you had to buy, what would you settle on?

I don’t know what your budget is. But I think Volvos are very overpriced for what you get (but very nice exterior I agree.) I really loved the Mazda but DH did not think it comfortable for a very tall driver (him.) If you absolutely want to maximize space the best deals right now on space are VW Atlas and Honda Pilot. Both are about as big as it gets without going to Tahoe/expedition. I’m also looking at a lower trim MDX.

We drove both the Atlas and the Pilot. Atlas was just too big and neither of us liked it. The Pilots button based gear box (or whatever it’s called) was a turn off also. Maybe Mazda is way to go…

If you feel like those are too big, and haven’t driven the Mazda yet, absolutely do it. Our only issue was the space for the driver if very tall - for DH it was specifically his right knee. But he’s 6’4”. It was going to be my car but he drives the family a lot on weekends and road trips. If it were only me I would have gotten it for sure. Handles amazing and the top trims feel super luxurious. Ugh - I want it just talking about it.

[Anonymous]

Mazda is the best value and most fun to drive. Highlander will last forever, but it is bigger and is a bit boat-like to drive, and is more expensive. Volvo = meh.

[Anonymous]

We love our 2021 highlander. We got the hybrid too, which I’d encourage you to consider. Huge amount of trunk space with third row down. Third row up still gives a solid amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love our 2021 highlander. We got the hybrid too, which I’d encourage you to consider. Huge amount of trunk space with third row down. Third row up still gives a solid amount.

DP here. They are just crazy expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has had XC90’s over the years, I would not buy one again. We do love the car for many reasons, but with the one we previously owned, eventually it had so many problems and I was constantly taking the car in to the service center and they never had loaners for us. We leased this time around. I can’t speak for the other cars but maybe other people have had good experiences over the long term.

DP here – I keep hearing similar stories. I have an older xc70 and it’s been wonderful with almost zero issues over the years and I am loathe to give it up and end up with a PITA that makes me crazy.

[Anonymous]

Shopped all of these plus Pilots. The XC90 was our favorite, especially the plug-in hybrid, but it was not 20k better than the tricked-out CX-9. We love our CX-9, but the poster above who mentioned that it is a bit tight-fitting inside is right. We're short so it doesn't matter for us.

Some people love the Highlander and Toyota hybrid engines are great, but I hate the rear visibility on the latest line of Toyotas. It was a dealbreaker for us on the Highlander. Drive one and see where you come down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has had XC90’s over the years, I would not buy one again. We do love the car for many reasons, but with the one we previously owned, eventually it had so many problems and I was constantly taking the car in to the service center and they never had loaners for us. We leased this time around. I can’t speak for the other cars but maybe other people have had good experiences over the long term.

I loved and wanted the new xc90 so badly but checked out the website swedespeed many times. The endless problems that they had with crazy things as they rolled those cars out completely stopped me. I believe it was recently rated as having the worst reliability by one of those groups that rates these things.

[Anonymous]

I wanted the volvo xc 90 and a volvo dealer out west actually told me to avoid it. I love my highlander but as someone said above, it drives like a barge.

[Anonymous]

We've had our XC90 for three years and only maintenance has been yearly oil changes and routine maintenance.