So I've been researching the 5th gens, ready to sell my 08 SR5 and trade up to a 2017 Limited 4WD in Magnetic Gray...tomorrow! 22k miles for $35.7k

I'm eating lunch with my friend and tell him what I'm about to do and he says have you driven a Volvo XC90? "no...but they look sweet" and he says, let's go right now.

So I find a 2016, Pearl White, 26k miles for the same price. AWD and sadly, I loved it. It had all the tech that Toyota has neglected, Carplay, blind spot, panoramic sunroof into the backseat, wave your foot under the back hatch to open it, push a button to close it, heads up display, panoramic camera view of the car, it parks itself, the list goes on, I couldn't believe it all. Much more luxurious.

Someone tell me why I shouldn't buy it! LOL but keep in mind I live in FL so snow and 4x4 type life really doesn't apply, which, along with value, is one of the strongest 4runner arguments.

Consumer reports

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IMO a 4runner is nothing to consider when Offroad capability doesn’t matter, sure there is the Toyota reliability as well but that could be delivered by other Toyota models as well!
I’m not that familiar with all the Toyota models but I think the highlander would be a more competitive to the xc90
I wouldn’t hassle to get an old Volvo “tank” and one day I probably will because I think they build great cars back in the days but these were days long before a park assistant was even utopian.

But back to topic: the 4runner has not much to offer for you since Offroad isn’t a thing for you, there is the great reliability but again other Toyota’s can offer that too probably with a better mileage and more gimmicks aboard
Not sure about the reliability on the xc90 but when the gimmicks are triggering you than go for it

If you don't need a truck with extra seats, there are at least a dozen crossovers I'd choose over a 4Runner. The Volvo wouldn't be one of them. Although I do like the styling, the quality isn't great. I also have a Lexus RX, so obviously that was my choice. But there's a wide world of car with big tires SUVs out there to choose from that do everything except off road better.

A few more reasons to reconsider

Drive a Highlander and check out the new Honda Passport. Good luck.

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Very new 5th gen owner here, and I may be able to give you a little more insight into this as my girlfriend has had a 2018 XC90 for a year now and 30k miles. I'm not sure if the 2016 has all of these same options im going to mention. I can agree with you all the tech/bells and whistles are nice and makes things convenient and easier at times but they do have their quirks. I've driven the XC90 myself for a few of our longer trips (500+ miles) and some of the driver assist/safety features get very irritating. The lane keep assist will fight you if you try to move to the edge of a lane to avoid a pothole (we live in MI so these are very abundant) other road debris, or maybe just a vehicle that's hugging a line and you want to scoot over a little, unless you have your blinker on it gets very upset if you're not in the center of your lane. Also the emergency braking can get sketchy on the highway. for example if a vehicle merges on the highway right in front of you it will automatically slam on the brakes even though you may be completely aware of the vehicle. its doing its job but in heavy traffic this can be very dangerous. We have had some close calls when this has happened. Now you can shut off the lane keep assist but you have to shut it off every time you get in and I always do, Im not 100% if you can shut off the emergency braking.

The start/stop is also not the greatest in my opinion. when you're sitting at a red light and the engine shuts off it turns the air down very low, and if its 100*+ out it doesn't take long to heat up in there, especially longer stops. Again you can shut this feature off.

Those were my biggest complaints when driving it, but my girlfriend loves it and aside from the things I mentioned I like it a lot as well, its a very nice vehicle and you certainly can't go wrong with it. However when I boughtt my 4runner TRDOP in August and brought it home, the first thing she said was "I wish I would've looked at these when I was shopping for a vehicle."

She likes how simple it is theres no fancy gadgets or doodads and not 20 buttons to push, that you sit up higher in the vehicle, that it was comfortable and nice on the inside but not too nice where you feel like you should baby it. For myself I did consider a XC60 when i was shopping around but I kept ending up back at the 4runner. I do like it better than her XC90 because its simple, rugged, proven, old school, and it has everything I wanted to be able to off-road in a SUV, but still be comfortable as a daily driver and at the end of the day it put the biggest grin on my face. All the gadgets in the XC90 don't impress me and most of that is I feel I just don't need them.

You will get bettery MPGs in the XC90 though haha

I hope this helps you. Either way you would be getting a very nice vehicle and is a tough decision to make but only you can determine which vehicle truly puts a smile on your face and which one you want to look back at when you park it.

*Keep in mind the 2020 4runners are getting a refresher in the technology department.

get a GX. much nicer interior and ride than a 4runner.

4runner is pointless if youre just going to drive around the city. far better cars for that

Thanks, I appreciate the input. I agree with you there are better city drivers to consider, if I don't need off-road. The highlanders are sweet, but I feel like they're a little more like a mom car than a dad car (lol). I'm 38 this month, no kids of my own yet, but my girlfriend has 2 kids that are 9 and 10 and we're about to have 1 or 2 of our own.

She wants me to get a 3rd row for those extra occasions with friends over and what not. I don't care much, but I'm down to get it.

My list of willing to consider is Acura MDX, Lexus GX470, XC90 (all 3 premium gas) and 4Runner.

I love having a hitch on my 4Runner to throw my Kuat bike rack on. Or putting seats down and throwing boxes in or a rug. Or renting a UHaul in NC to bring some furniture down to FL. The Volvo doesn't look like much of a hauler. I don't even know how a hitch would work/look in the back bc the bumper trim goes so low. Same for the Acura. Seems too nice to pack up for a once a year camping trip. The Lexus seems like a gas hog, not sure I want to afford that. Maybe my next vehicle...

@BaddaBing yikes! 2016 is the first year that Volvo pumped out all these new designs and slickness after getting all that Chinese money. Not sure I want to buy that first iteration after seeing those reports...

Thanks, super helpful insights. The last rental car I got had all that lane departure nonsense and you're right, its soooo annoying. I would turn all that off. Especially that start and stop engine feature, I don't like that either. TBH I just liked that it felt more luxurious by having a big touch screen with carplay, a big open panoramic sunroof, the camera features, the auto trunk hatch, etc but you're right, I gotta go for the one that makes me smile...

Nothing puts a smile on my face like saying I NEVER have an issue with my Toyotas.

Bought a 99 Taco TRD with 70k miles in 04 for 10k and sold it 7 years later with 200k miles on it for $6500. Never fixed a thing. Huge smile.

Bought my 08 SR5 with 28k miles in 11 for 24k and about to sell it 8 years later with 175k for 7k. Never fixed a thing. Another huge smile!

The current Acura MDX has the ZF 9spd transmission. Avoid it. The lower trim Honda Pilot has the better 6spd transmission.

Drivetrain was built in China. It’s the Harbor Freight of SUVs.

My cousin was a master Volvo tech 18yrs and he quit when it went Chinese
Volvo are awful service /reliability they are great drives and tech but long term ownership Is pitiful I had 2 Volvo XC60 and t5r loved them but I had a built in mechanic otherwise
Mike

LMAO. Two completely different vehicles.

"Man I love my corvette, but one day my friend mentioned the new Lincoln MDX. It has so many more tech features the corvette lacks. IDK guys what should I do?" That's what you sound like. You want to jump from an offroad vehicle to something a dentist would drive on his trips to aspen.

Welcome to my life my friend. I have many different angles to the life I lead. Sometimes I'm the guy with an MBA that does business consulting and co-owns a small jewelry/fashion company and I go to events and business meetings and I'd rather be in my girlfriends Lexus ES. Sometimes I take her and the 2 little kids on a road trip to NC to ski and hike. What I love about the 4Runner is I can do anything with it, but considering I've owned both my previous vehicles for 7 and 8 years, I weigh out my options heavily before deciding. That's all.

But I get your point, different tools for different jobs. I'm just looking for the best swiss army knife for my next adventure.

Thanks for all the input. Heading out car shopping for the day!