Even as three-row crossovers become increasingly ubiquitous, the rate of change in this class isn’t exactly what you’d call fast-paced. The previous generations of the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot hung around showroom floors for six and seven model years, respectively. The current Ford Explorer has been with us since 2011, and after a refresh this year, appears set to stick around for quite some time to come. The Durango seen here also bowed in 2011, and plans for a follow-up act are still unclear. We like the Dodge a lot – I have fond memories of it being one of the first vehicles I reviewed for this site – but five model years is fast approaching “over the hill” in the car business.
It’s clear that despite strong sales, several of these vehicles could be accused of greying a bit around the temples. In fact, it’s the Enclave that really feels familiar – this largely-unchanged model first hit showrooms in mid-2007. Along with the 2008 Malibu, it’s the vehicle that most heralded the General’s return to competitive form. GM has adopted a “don’t mess with success” attitude toward the Lambda platform underpinning the Enclave (platform mates include the GMC Acadia, Chevy Traverse, and long-defunct Saturn Outlook) since in most of the model years since its introduction, its sales have steadily increased. 2016 will be the current generation’s final model year, with a complete redesign expected to be unveiled this winter.
How do these old guards of the three-row crossover set compare? Read on to find out.
