If you need three rows without Tahoe money, the current Acadia delivers space and features at a competitive price, but you're buying into a nameplate with serious baggage. The 2010-2016 models earned their terrible reputation with timing chain grenades and transmission failures before 100k, while the 2017+ redesign is genuinely improved, especially the 2020+ turbo-4 versions most owners find solid. The catch: that turbo-4 sounds like it's working overtime to haul this thing around, droning loudly enough in the cabin that multiple owners specifically mention it, and nobody knows yet if it'll hold up long-term under that load. The newest generation also inherits recurring thermostat and electrical module issues that plague all Acadias. Buy current if you need the space and can live with the noise, but skip anything pre-2017 unless you enjoy surprise service appointments.
Three rows, serious towing capacity, and enough space to swallow a hockey team's gear, the Yukon XL handles the big-family hauling job when it's running. But the 6.2L V8 in recent models has a rod bearing problem: engines seizing under 40k miles, sometimes at highway speed, with replacement waits stretching into months while you're handed the keys to an Equinox. The 3.0L diesel avoids most of this drama, delivers 27 mpg highway, and pulls strong. If you're buying new, skip the V8 and load up on warranty. If you're shopping used, the 2000-2014 trucks earned their reputation for going 200k-plus; the current generation is a different story. Buy the diesel or buy something else.