In the market for a new mom mobile for the wife. Second kid on the way so the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee is getting a bit tight.

We have looked at quite a few and seem to have it narrowed down to the 2026 Infiniti QX80 Pure AWD. This is the lower end QX80 but still very nice. It has the 3.5L twin turbo V6. It had good power and drove nice. I see that the 9-speed transmission that they are putting in these is new to the QX80 but not necessarily a new design.

Any known, major issues with this vehicle? Seems like a good all around vehicle but seem to recall there were some recent issues with these.

The Yukon is nice. It's the tried and true mom mobile for a reason. The build quality and interior quality is definitely a step below the Infiniti but nothing to scoff at. Looking at the lower end Elevation without the tech package. I have a 2018 Sierra so very familiar with the 5.3L, know all about "lifter lottery", and know that it's not the ballsiest engine ever made when put in a truck or large SUV. I have to say that it seems to drive a bit better with the new 10-speed transmission.

Any known issues with the new Yukons that I should be aware of or things to stay away from?

Thanks.

Get the diesel in a Tahoe or Yukon.

We have a wagoneer and really like it. You can get a really good deal on one. Go test drive one.

Those QX80s are STEEP. And you have to get the top of the line one for a 110v plugin. Seriously? My wagoneer has 3 of them. And USBC in every row and seat.

Also, the wagoneer has more cubic feet space and storage behind the 3rd row than the Yukon. QX80 significantly smaller inside. Sequoia is basically a 4Runner.

I guess that's the new one? My father has a 2022 3.0 Denali with about 80k absolute trouble free miles. He also pulls about a 7k travel trailer loaded and gets about 12-13mpg

ChoppinDs40 said:

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I guess that's the new one? My father has a 2022 3.0 Denali with about 80k absolute trouble free miles. He also pulls about a 7k travel trailer loaded and gets about 12-13mpg

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Yes, that's the new one.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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Good looking ride!

ChoppinDs40 said:

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I can't stop looking at the pavers. Nice driveway.

I did a bunch of paver work at my house in Los Angeles during the first year of Covid and now I'm obsessed with them.

Just wanted to say that we did the same thing as far as our Jeep Grand Cherokee was great with kid 1. But when kid 2 came along, we went with a Ford Expedition.

The Grand Cherokee had more luxury features but the Expedition had a lot more room which was the main feature we needed.

And for Christmas 2025, the Expedition did a great job at carrying 4 passengers, 1 German Shepherd, luggage and Christmas presents with a smooth ride - even though it's 26 years old.

Yeah expeditions aren't too bad either but they still have significantly, IMO, less space than Yukon or wagoneer. I feel like there's 0 space behind the 3rd row.

Could look at an expedition max though. Can be had for a good deal also. Not as premium as some of the others. I do NOT like the new body style or trims. The king ranch is hideous.

Now a navigator?…. They both have the tried and true 3.5 ecoboost in them.

Wagoneers seem to be hit & miss.

My friend's mom has one and they haven't had a single issue.

I've seen others that have to be completely disassembled under warranty for multiple issues

Same.

A silver lining is at least you'll get a loaner since wagoneers are on lots.

Good luck getting a Yukon loaner if you're having issues.

Also… before the auto board jumps in "what about a Honda odyssey? We love ours!"

HollywoodBQ said:

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ChoppinDs40 said:

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I can't stop looking at the pavers. Nice driveway.

I did a bunch of paver work at my house in Los Angeles during the first year of Covid and now I'm obsessed with them.

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Included in the build for "uniformity" in the phase of the subdivision.

They're great until they're not, especially in this north Texas clay soil.

Thanks for all the feedback. I like the Expedition Max but the wife doesn't care for the looks of it which I tend to agree with. Not my favorite looking vehicle on the road right now but very nice, super practical, and can be had for a good deal right now. I also like that it's basically an F150 with an SUV cab but alas...

This thread is very relevant to our family as well as my wife will be getting something new. Currently leaning base gx550 or a used sequoia. Also maybe the new armada. I'm having mental breakdowns trying to understand how people are paying so much for tahoes. If I'm being forced to pay 72k or so im leaning Toyota or Lexus. They at least retain some value.

Armada is nice but the value drops in half after a month which is my hang up

AustinCountyAg said:

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This thread is very relevant to our family as well as my wife will be getting something new. Currently leaning base gx550 or a used sequoia. Also maybe the new armada. I'm having mental breakdowns trying to understand how people are paying so much for tahoes. If I'm being forced to pay 72k or so im leaning Toyota or Lexus. They at least retain some value.

Armada is nice but the value drops in half after a month which is my hang up

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Tahoes, Yukons, Suburbans, and Yukon XL's hold their value pretty well. It's not quite Toyota or Lexus but they don't depreciate like some of the other brands and vehicles.

That's been my struggle with the QX80. You take a $15k hit when you drive it off the lot. The wife is sold on getting one so I think I'm gonna look for a 2025 with less than 30k miles. The Infiniti CPO warranty is solid.

Wish I could convince the wife to get the GX. They're sweet. And I don't care what they cost. It's worth it. Honestly they're reasonable by comparison. You're still gonna push Tahoe prices for one. But she wants 3+ kids so it won't be big enough long term.

Yeah resale isn't great. Not to keep harping on it but the wagoneer also loses a lot of value off the lot. We're going to be driving it until the wheels fall off so it'll hit that flat depreciation curve before too long.

We really wanted a Tahoe or Denali at the time but this was late 21 and 22 when they were impossible to find. They're still hard to find and I just don't want the 5.3 or 6.2. Diesels are still rare.

Take a look at a used wagoneer. I bet you can get a loaded series 3 for like 60k.

TSJ said:

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Taking a step back, how is a grand Cherokee not big enough for two kids?

My fourth will be here in March and I feel like just about any car can work for two kids.

Also, join the minivan master race.

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Wasn't really looking for the step back but thanks.

Would the Grand Cherokee work? Yes.

Is it comfortable? No.

My big ass in that thing with the wife and kid is enough to push me to something else. I would have to adjust the driver seat and move closer to the steering wheel by an uncomfortable amount to get a car seat on the driver side, second row.

I would absolutely go for the minivan. The wife would not. Here we are.

Amen. That's what my feedback on the grand Cherokee when we test drove. Just knew it wouldn't be comfortable enough for long drives with kids, dog, luggage, stopping at bucees, turning around and messing with iPads and snack trays.

I miss the plush seats of the mid 90s GMC tahoes/trucks. Like sitting in a recliner.

Minivan was also not an option for us lol.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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Yeah expeditions aren't too bad either but they still have significantly, IMO, less space than Yukon or wagoneer. I feel like there's 0 space behind the 3rd row.

Could look at an expedition max though. Can be had for a good deal also. Not as premium as some of the others. I do NOT like the new body style or trims. The king ranch is hideous.

Now a navigator?…. They both have the tried and true 3.5 ecoboost in them.

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Max is the only way to go

TSJ said:

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Taking a step back, how is a grand Cherokee not big enough for two kids?

My fourth will be here in March and I feel like just about any car can work for two kids.

Also, join the minivan master race.

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When we were in that situation, we could fit two car seats in the Grand Cherokee but the luggage and all the kid stuff we'd travel with could fit if packed precisely.

My wife didn't like the precision vehicle load out at all. With the Expedition, she could just randomly throw stuff in it and there was enough room that everything would fit.

As far as the minivan, being heterosexual, we never really considered it LOL. But seriously, my wife likes the SUV ability to sit up high in traffic and I like the 4x4 capability for those rare situations when you need it.

In our case, we moved from Austin to Denver within the first year of ownership so already owning a 4WD vehicle was a huge win. Paying vehicle registration fees in Colorado was a huge loss because they were based on the original sticker price.

ChoppinDs40 said:

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Nailed it!

That's exactly the kind of load plan I'm talking about.

Which is what I had to do this Christmas with the Expedition because 4 adults and the dog takes up 2 seats which left only 2 seats, the back area behind the 3rd row, and some floorboard space to get everything packed in.

I had a QX80 as a rental in LA last year and it was a POS. Felt like a bus-sized unguided missile going down the road with zero steering feel and basically no road feedback. I guess they're going for the demographic that wants to pretend they're floating in a cloud, but whatever. Also there was something wrong with it, sounded like the engine cooling fan clutch was stuck and the fan would rev up to eleventy billion RPMs (loud) whenever I accelerated onto a freeway.

I know these are probably some unlucky data points from one rental but the whole experience left me scratching my head and happy to get back home into our Yukon.

We've had both the expedition max and navigator L (extended storage). Both with the 3.5 Ecoboost.

Both made it to about 175K miles until it got to the point where more repairs was more hassle than just getting a new vehicle.

Both were very reliable until about 150K. Storage was fantastic. They drive way better than suburbans IMO.

High mileage maintenance:
Both turbos on both vehicles around 150K
Both O2 sensors on both vehicles
Navigator needed a new Cat around 170K
Navigator has some wonky stuff like tailgate lift motor went out. Sideview mirrors went rogue and had to be replaced.

If I were to get one again, I'd likely go with the Expedition Max. While the new Navigator are super luxurious, our navigator had too many annoying little things go bad for the price point. The expedition being less frills has less things to worry about.

The early Wagoneers had some serious issues as well. Do your research on those, and make sure it's all been corrected.

We had a QX80 with no issues other than intermittent P0420 code for bad cats for the last couple years. I'd get it inspected when it was off and we sold it with 150K miles for an LX570. Nicer interior than the LX, but not as planted.

Never driven a Wagoneer, heard they're nice but r/whatcarshouldibuy and r/askmechanics does not approve of them.

Wife has the new QX80 high on her next car list, but they depreciate fast so likely going the used route. Doesn't hold as much as a burban or expo max, but the roof top box solved that for long trips.

Yup. This is 2 car seats in the captains chairs, the single 3rd row for my wife to "maintain" the toddler. And then pack pack pack.

This was for a weeklong ski trip where we also brought a good amount of HEB groceries and a travel toilet

TSJ said:

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Taking a step back, how is a grand Cherokee not big enough for two kids?

My fourth will be here in March and I feel like just about any car can work for two kids.

Also, join the minivan master race.

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I had a Civic until my two kids were ages 4 & 6.

You just pack less crap when you travel.

We went from a '22 diesel Yukon Denali to a '25 qx80. In my opinion, the ride quality and noise dampening is noticeably better in the qx. We got rid of the diesel Yukon because of constant tech glitches and engine codes. Loved the diesel but did not love being in the shop every couple of months. Only issue with the qx is it sometimes does not connect to Apple CarPlay automatically.