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.
Mazda built this two-row SUV to deliver luxury materials and a punchy inline-six at thousands below German pricing, but the brand-new platform wasn't ready for showrooms. Rear brakes squeal so persistently that Mazda extended the warranty and redesigned the pads, yet parts remain backordered six months out. Radiators crack at 17,000 miles. Rattles infiltrate the cabin after 20,000. MotorTrend's yearlong tester called it one of their worst long-term vehicles, citing quality lapses that shouldn't exist at $50,000. The CX-90 costs the same, adds a third row, and shares these same problems. If you want Mazda's excellent driving feel without the early-adopter tax, wait for the second model year or choose the CX-50 Hybrid, which uses Toyota's proven powertrain instead of this troubled architecture. Skip this one unless steep discounts compensate for likely warranty visits.