Infiniti's three-row family hauler splits cleanly at 2022: before that year, you're buying a Pathfinder in a tuxedo with a CVT that grenades itself before 100k miles, and after it you're getting a genuinely improved interior wrapped around a wheezy turbocharged four-cylinder that takes eight full seconds to drag 4,700 pounds to highway speed. The current version looks sharp and undercuts German rivals by $15k, but the ride is stiff and loud for something wearing a luxury badge, and you're still paying a $15k premium over the mechanically identical Pathfinder for nicer leather and a different grille. One owner made it to 400k miles on a 2015, but that's the exception that proves the rule, most pre-2022 owners are nursing failed transmissions, dead alternators, and $5k timing chain bills while watching their resale value crater. Buy the new one if you want Highlander space without the Toyota tax and can live with the gutless engine, or skip the brand entirely if you're shopping used.
If you're shopping three-row SUVs and the Sorento catches your eye, know this: generation matters more than brand loyalty here. The 2011-2020 models earned their reputation the hard way, owners report needing two or three complete engine replacements before 110k miles, with Kia dragging its feet on warranty coverage until recalls forced action. The 2021-and-newer models fixed the engine drama but swapped it for DCT transmission failures in the turbocharged EX and higher trims, typically around 70k miles. The bright spot? The current Sorento Hybrid runs a bulletproof conventional six-speed automatic and delivers 32 mpg without the powertrain anxiety. It's genuinely competitive if you can live with a tighter third row than the Highlander offers and don't need to tow a boat. Skip the older generations entirely, and if you're buying new, either go Hybrid or stick with the base engine and transmission, the turbo DCT combo is a $6,000 repair waiting to happen.