There’s no escaping it: SUVs are everywhere. Minivans offer the space for the most passengers and gear, but big, three-row SUVs deliver on both while offering some level of performance, on and off the paved roads. The most common three-row SUV is the mid-size class, which bridges quality and quantity for a range of budgets.
At CarGurus, we've put together a list of the 10 best three-row SUVs. We've selected only mid-size SUVs, as price is a major factor. (Truck-based, full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator are generally more expensive than car-based, crossover SUVs.)
Read on to learn which of these three-row SUVs might be the right fit for your next new car.
Looking for a three-row SUV? Shop our favorite options on CarGurus.
The Best Three-Row SUVs of 2023
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Dodge Durango
- Honda Pilot
- Hyundai Palisade
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L
- Kia Sorento
- Kia Telluride
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
- Subaru Ascent
- Toyota Highlander
Chevrolet Traverse
Best for: When you want a family hauler for less than a Tahoe
Chevrolet makes some seriously capable truck-based SUVs, but they also cost a pretty penny. The Traverse is a full-size crossover, not to be mistaken with an SUV. It provides a spacious cabin with seating for up to eight, depending on your choice of a three-seat row or two captain’s chairs, and as much as 98.2 cubic feet of cargo space. It might not have the highest-quality cabin materials, but if you need the room for people and gear, the Traverse delivers.
The Traverse is also all-new for 2024, now powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which makes 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. It routes power to the front wheels or available AWD, and it can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Traverse, which competes in a crowded class alongside the likes of Ford Explorer, the Nissan Pathfinder, and the Volkswagen Atlas, boasts a rugged new look for 2024. It comes standard with a full suite of driver-assistance features, as well as push-button start, tri-zone climate control, and a 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Dodge Durango
Best for: Families who have the need for speed (and take towing seriously)
With its rear-wheel-drive (RWD) layout and muscular styling, the Durango stands out like a sore thumb… and Dodge likes it that way. Base power comes from a V6, but the Durango is also available with a selection of V8 engines. Dodge brought the Durango Hellcat back for 2023, along with its incredible 710-horsepower supercharged V8 engine. There’s also the SRT 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 and the optional "Tow N Go" package. It’s a family SUV with an impressive 8,700 pounds of available towing capacity. With the 5.7-liter V8, it can still tow a respectable 7,400 pounds.
Heated front seats became standard in the Durango for 2023, joining other standard features such as four USB ports, a push-button start, tri-zone climate control, a fully digital instrument panel, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Buyers can also select a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless device charging, and a wall-style power outlet.
Honda Pilot
Best for: Plenty of cargo space and adult-friendly seating
Following in the footsteps of its corporate cousin, the Acura MDX, the Honda Pilot was completely redesigned for the 2023 model year. It remains an ideal choice for anyone who needs to seat adults in all three rows. It has an impressive 114.3 cubic feet of cargo space—a spec that places the Pilot among the best in its class. It comes standard with push-button start, remote start, and all four windows are one-touch auto up/down power windows. It also comes with dual-zone automatic climate control, a seven-speaker stereo, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upgraded trims feature tri-zone climate control, a fully digital instrument panel, and a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.
The Pilot comes standard with a 285-horsepower V6 engine, routing power through a 10-speed automatic transmission. It also comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features. This includes forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitor, and automatic high beams.
Hyundai Palisade
Best for: When high-class motoring doesn’t have to come with a badge
If you're shopping for a Kia Telluride, you may have also come across its corporate cousin, the Hyundai Palisade. It has the same 291-horsepower V6 and the same generous list of driver-assistance features. Hyundai’s infotainment system looks a bit different from Kia's, but it's just as easy to use, and it also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For 2023, the Palisade got minor revisions to its interior and exterior aesthetics, and for 2024, Hyundai has introduced a new Calligraphy Night Edition to really up the style ante. The automaker has also made dual-zone climate control standard on the 2024 Palisade.
While the Palisade is slightly shorter than the Telluride in length, it’s a very marginal difference. You still get spacious, adult-friendly third-row seating, as well as up to 86.4 cubic feet of cargo area. Compared to the Telluride’s clean lines, the Palisade looks a bit flashier, but it packs a luxury presence both inside and out. The Palisade includes standard features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and vehicle exit warning, which can sense nearby traffic and lock the doors to prevent a passenger from stepping out into danger.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Best for: Families who want to get away from it all
It seems crazy that it took five generations of the two-row Grand Cherokee before a three-row variant to arrive, but it finally hit the scene in 2021, and it was worth the wait. The Grand Cherokee L leverages its elongated wheelbase and overall length not only to add a third row, but also to increase cargo space to 84.6 cubic feet. Even with all three rows in use, the Grand Cherokee L provides 17.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
The Grand Cherokee L is powered by a 293-horsepower V6 in most models. The Overland and Summit trim levels are available with a 357-horsepower Hemi V8. Inside, the Grand Cherokee looks like a more attainable version of the cabin from its SUV big brother, the Wagoneer. The Grand Cherokee L features a long list of driver-assistance features, as well as a fully digital instrument panel, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Navigation became standard on Limited and Overland models for 2023, and the Limited also gets new wheel designs for 2024. Prices on these higher trims can climb quickly, so prioritize the features you need.
Kia Sorento
Best for: When you rarely use the third row and don’t want it detracting from your usual drives
The Kia Sorento is a former compact SUV which evolved into a three-row midway through its third generation. It offers spacious seating for first- and second-row passengers, although the third row is best suited for kids, and it gets a substantial refresh for 2024. The new front end’s modern style appears to reference the futuristic-leaning Kia EV9, and shoppers interested in more rugged accents now have the option to add the X-Pro package.
Inside, the Sorento now features a curved display housing the 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard. Higher trims come with a 12.3-inch driver information display as well, which makes the whole ensemble appear to be one large screen. Other optional cabin features include wireless device charging, leather seating, and a 12-speaker Bose stereo. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert became standard last year, along with the same vehicle exit warning feature found in the pricier Hyundai Palisade.
Because the Sorento’s platform and powertrain options haven’t changed, we feel confident saying that it will continue to offer a smooth, comfortable ride on top of the additional features it’s gained with this refresh. The base four-cylinder engine can feel a bit underpowered in situations like getting up to highway speeds, so we recommend checking out the available 281-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder instead for more brisk acceleration.
Kia Telluride
Best for: Keeping up with the Joneses without breaking the bank
You could be forgiven for confusing the Kia Telluride for a Land Rover, with its tall, boxy shape and large block letters on its hood. That boxiness provides ample headroom and legroom for the first two rows of seating. It also offers 87 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded down. The Telluride preceded the Sorento in getting its styling refresh last year, along with the addition of X-Line and X-Pro trims.
The Telluride boasts a luxury-level cabin, with upscale soft-touch materials and plenty of features, but it avoids the steep MSRP of a true luxury SUV. For 2023, the previously-optional 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system became standard, replacing the old 7-inch touchscreen. The Telluride comes equipped with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Other standard features include five USB ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and remote start. It also comes standard with a full suite of driver-assistance features, including forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, blind-spot collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control.
The Telluride's standard 291-horsepower V6 engine is punchy and routes power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional in case you want to venture off road. Though not as agile as some other SUVs, the Telluride has a comfy, smooth ride.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Best for: When you need three rows on a budget
Mitsubishi has been a bit of a forgotten brand lately, but ever since its alliance with Renault and Nissan, the company has been churning out better products with minimal price hikes. The 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander is one such example. Based heavily on the popular Nissan Rogue, the Outlander wedges a third row of seats into its relatively compact platform. Drivers can expect a driving experience similar to what they’d find in a new Rogue, yet those extra seats provide a level of functionality that you simply can’t get in the Nissan.
Best yet, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a genuine bargain on the three-row crossover market. With a starting price less than $30,000, this is one SUV worth looking at if you need capacious transportation that doesn’t break the bank. Even better, Mitsubishi offers a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Outlander—something you won’t find from many other competitors.
Subaru Ascent
Best for: Active families who like to bring their activities with them
The Subaru Ascent was lightly updated for the 2023 model year. In addition to fresh looks, the previous two-screen infotainment system was replaced with a single large tablet-oriented screen. Cargo space was bumped down from 86.5 down to 75.6 cubic feet, which is small for the segment. Luckily, there are plenty of cubby spaces for gear, and the seats have a stain-resistant surface that's perfect for a muddy adventure.
The only available power plant is a turbo-charged four-cylinder "boxer" (horizontally opposed) engine. It makes 260 horsepower and delivers stout acceleration. The Ascent corners and handles like a smaller vehicle. It also has above-average fuel economy and the capability that comes with 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
The Ascent comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as four USB ports, tri-zone climate control, and Subaru’s EyeSight suite of driver-assistance and safety features.
Toyota Highlander
Best for: When cabin quality and high-tech safety features matter
For 2023, both the Toyota Highlander and the related Lexus RX replaced their V6 engines with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, which makes 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque in the Toyota. The Highlander is also available with a hybrid powertrain that combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric power to make 243 horsepower and return an EPA-estimated 36 mpg city. Even the conventionally powered Highlander returns up to 29 mpg highway, which is certainly considered fuel-efficient for the class. Acceleration is decent, and the ride is comfort-focused. (That’s a nice way of saying that the Highlander isn’t very athletic.)
The first- and second-row seats are roomy, but the third row's passenger space is tight. For those who really need adult-appropriate seating all the way through the cabin, a new, larger Toyota Grand Highlander joined the lineup this year.
With all rear seats folded, the regular Highlander has 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space. Cabin quality is impressive, with plenty of high-quality soft-touch materials. The Highlander comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen that features wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and even Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system has been updated for 2023, but it continues to be an intuitive system with minimal learning curve. Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 suite of safety features also comes standard, and includes a pre-collision system, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams.
