Honda's luxury three-row splits the difference between sport sedan reflexes and family hauler practicality, torque-vectoring AWD that actually makes winter fun, a V6 that runs forever, and enough cargo space to shame the Germans. The catch is a generation-specific landmine: 2016-2020 V6 models grenade their rod bearings at 30k-60k miles, stranding owners with five-figure engine replacements now covered under recall 23V-751. Avoid that window entirely. The current 2022+ generation sidesteps the issue and earns genuine owner loyalty, but it drinks premium like a pickup (16-21 MPG real-world) and costs nearly X5 money while delivering a noticeably less plush cabin. Buy it if you value sharp handling and Honda durability over German badge prestige, and you're fine burning a tank every 350 miles. Skip it if fuel economy matters or you need that third row for actual adults.
Standard AWD and real ground clearance make this crossover genuinely capable off pavement, not just mall-parking-lot capable. The crash safety is exceptional, owners walk away from collisions that total larger trucks. But the 2.0L engine is genuinely slow, the kind of slow that makes highway merging feel like a gamble and passing on two-lanes an exercise in patience you might not have. The 2.5L fixes this completely but costs more upfront. Cargo space is tight for families, and the infotainment lags behind rivals. If you need AWD confidence for snow or dirt roads, value safety over speed, and mostly drive city streets, it's a smart buy that'll run past 100k miles without drama. If you merge onto highways daily or haul kids and gear regularly, get the 2.5L or consider the roomier Outback.