This three-row crossover splits into two completely different vehicles by generation. The 2011-2019 Theta II models are mechanical time bombs, engines grenade between 50k-90k miles with oil burning and rod knock, leaving families stranded for months while dealers work through warranty backlogs. The 2024 redesign threw out that cursed powertrain entirely, but introduced two new problems: panoramic sunroofs that explode while driving (glass raining into the cabin, corporate denying coverage), and a 2024 dual-clutch transmission already failing at low mileage. The 2026 hybrid with conventional automatic looks promising, owners report 470-mile range and Range Rover looks at $50k, but it's too new to trust long-term. If you're buying used, the Theta II era is a hard pass. If you're buying new, the hybrid might be worth the gamble, but skip the sunroof and prepare to fight corporate if anything breaks. Honda Passport and Mazda CX-90 offer less drama.
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.