Best 3 Row SUVS
Mazda CX-9 The CX-9 is one of our top SUV picks. There’s a reason that automotive journalists tend to love Mazdas — for the money, this three-row SUV offers bang for your buck. Cover up the logos, accents, and emblem and the CX-9 tricks you into thinking it could be a bonified luxury model. While it might not be the most spacious or have the fastest pickup, it’s roomy benough, handles well, and takes curves with grace. It boasts and integrated exterior and interior design. CX-9 is a solid SUV at a great price.
A word of caution the CX-9 is not for you, if you need a ton of cargo room, or seek out super chic style. But if you have a couple kids, haul moderate amount of gear, and want a vehicle at a reasonable price that does everything well, CX-9 is a high-quality contender.
BMW X7 BMW has a reputation for making drivercentric rides. The German automaker sought to get the SUV just right, so they waited until they had a exquisite entry to dive into the full-size SUV market. The X7 is the flagship SUV, and arguably one of the best full-size luxury SUVs on the market.
X7 has a ton of passenger and cargo room inside. Despite its ample proportions, it still handles nimbly. The interior is well appointed and offers tons of luxurious features such as heated front and middle-seats, a power-operated second row, customizable ambient interior lighting, wireless charging, and in-car Wifi.
BMW has improved it once fraught infotainment system. There’s a giant touchscreen and a fully digital gauge cluster in the X7. It’s more ergonomically designed with easy-to-use analog buttons. And the cabin is incredibly quiet, comfortable, and large.
The BMW X7 is great for a larger family that likes to take road trips, in comfort and in style. You can add a rear seat entertainment package.
X7 prcing starts around $74,000.
Volvo XC90
The XC90 stands out outside and in, and is a fantastic option to consider for a family with kids looking for a large, stylish, and safe vehicle.
Volvo has been the safety leader in the industry for decade. The XC90 doesn’t deviate from this core value of its brand DNA. The XC90 is as safety-focused as it is luxurious. Safety features that other brands would charge extra for, Volvo includes as standard: forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning, to name a few.
Volvos bright, fresh interiors strike a distinct from BMW, Audi and Lexus. Real wood tri and Napa leather underscore the Scandinavian aesthetic and make the inside feel nice. The touchscreen is large, vertically oriented (unlike most other cars in the category) and serves as the control center for most systems in the car.
The XC90 outward appearance is r unchanged since its 2016 debut, so in the eyes of some it can look a bit dated. In the eyes of others, it’s aging beautifully.
The XC90 isn’t the most spacious vehicle in its category. Like most luxury SUVs, you can deck it out at the higher trim levels. Pay for one of the more premium trims and you can access features like ventilated front seats, lane-keep assist, and a Harman/Kardon audio system.
For people who care about environmental impact, and are willing to pay extra for it, the XC90 also offers a plug-in hybrid option.
Audi Q7
Audi maintains its casual reign as the cool kid on the block,dating back a couple decades now.
The Q7 is the best Audi for family duty. But if you’re seeking space, watch out. The Q7 is a tweener – it’s not quite a true full-size SUV, but it’s a little more capable than a midsize SUV.
The folks at Audi will hate to hear this, but the Q7 is a bit like a more stylish, enriched version of a Subaru – it’s fun to drive and comes standard with Audi’s favorite all-wheel drive feature, Quattro, for those who live in more inclement weather.
The Q7’s all-around features make it a great competitor to the mid-sized SUVs. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert comes standard. You can plus it up with an available 360-degree exterior camera system, surround sound stereo system, wireless charging, and ambient interior lighting options. The highest trim Executive package has heated front and rear seats, adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and 4-zone climate control.
Back to that size issue, tho. This one is NOT for large families – the last row is pretty tiny, and when in use, the car’s cargo space largely disappears. It’s for people who might occasionally need the third row. If you have more than two to three kids, you might be more comfortable with the next size up.
Mercedes GLS
The GLS is Mercedes’ flagship luxury SUV and competes head to head with the BMW X7, but is probably the best luxury SUV on the market. If you’re considering the X7, you should look at the GLS, and vice versa. Mercedes always leans more towards luxury, and BMW towards the oomph of road response. While BMW makes you fully aware of your road’s need for repair, the GLS glides over the imperfections.
If you want your rear-seat passengers to enjoy the same front-of car luxuries, you might want to go all in with the plush Executive Rear Seat Package Plus. The second row will ride with plush headrests, wireless charging, a built-in Android tablet, comfort headrests, heated/ventilated seats with massage. Optional features include soft-close doors, four zone automatic climate control, and power rear sunshades (great for babies or napping kiddos in the back seat), among many more.
GLS wins:
Cabin size: The GLS is larger than the X7 and has greater interior capacity. The back row is big enough for adults.
Off-road handling: The GLS handles better than the X7 off-road. It’s not meant to do any off-roading, but it could if you needed to. Consider it capable if you’re going off-pavement while going camping
Infotainment: Mercedes’ infotainment software is probably best out there now. It’s super intuitive, easy to use, and has a Siri-like feature. If infotainment is important to you, it is superior to the X7.
X7 wins
Driving: The X7 drives with a bit more zest – but just barely.
Style: The styling is bolder than the GLS, which has a little less personality.
TL;DR: If money is no problem and you just want the most comfortable, cushiest, luxurious SUV on the market, go with GLS.
Starting at $77,000.
VW Atlas
The VW Atlas is the perfect vehicle for someone who will never buy a minivan. If you probably need a minivan but absolutely refuse to buy something with sliding doors, the VW Atlas has lots of storage, lots of cupholders, ample power outlets, and additional USB ports. Basically, VW built this car to carry a lot of folks who carry a lot of things.
Standard models are well equipped. The touch screen is pretty intuitive. It comes with Android Auto, Apple Carplay, and a WiFi hotspot. If you upgrade, you get a larger display screen.
The VW Atlas’s boxy appearance is the price of its cavernous interior. Consider it the (designer) outlet mall version of the GLS – you want that Tory Burch dress, but you’d rather drive an hour and wait in line to pay $99 than the $499.
The VW Atlas is a true three-row SUV that competes with the Mazda CX-9. It’s large but spartan cabin lacks a little bit of style. It’s not quite as fuel efficient as the CX-9, not quite as fun to drive, and the ride’s a little rougher – but it’s also less expensive.
The VW Atlas still offers a composed, smooth, nimble enough ride. For someone who wants a reasonably priced, three-row German SUV, this is your choice. Or rather, it’s the choice at this price.
Cadillac Escalade
You don’t give a damn about fuel economy, you probably already know that you want it, and nothing else will meet that need – obviously, we’re talking about the Escalade. This vehicle is in a class all by itself, there’s really not much to compare it to at this level.* (* Except for its historic crosstown rival, the Lincoln Navigator, I’ve been told.) – not at this price, or at this size.
More than just a car, you’ll get the Escalade’s pop culture status – everyone recognizes it when they see it. And Cadillac offers a ton of bells and whistles that really will make you feel like a Kardashian. Heads-up display; an AKG audio system with 36 speakers; 16-way power front seats with massage; (massage, people! yes!) soft-close doors, a self-parking feature, HD surround vision, front pedestrian braking, rear pedestrian alert, lane keep assist. The list goes on. To experience the Escalade in its full glory, you really have to get in one, and after you do, you might never want to drive anything else again.
Cadillac’s new generation Escalade – the 2021 model year – should handle much better than previous generations. Its fuel economy is generally dismal especially in comparison to the smaller all-electric Tesla Model X , but the new available diesel engine should be much more efficient. The new interior boasts curved OLED displays, taking the dashboard into the digital age. The gauge cluster and infotainment system are all one piece – creating an impressive 38” of combined digital real estate.
Standard features include automated emergency braking, lane keep assist, semi-autonomous driving. The available and truly impressive semi-autonomous Super Cruise is far better than Tesla’s risky autopilot, making the Escalade the biggest, most luxurious car that is also now probably the easiest to drive (at least on “compatible highways”).
The 2021 Escalade is head and shoulders above the previous generation, in terms of technology, features -- everything but style, but hey -- beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Starting at around $77,000.
Subaru Ascent
If you want an all-around useful vehicle that can handle any weather, read on.
Consider the Ascent the bigger, more muscular, impressively large and outdoorsy older brother of the better-known Subaru Outback. If you like the outdoors, driving upstate, and really want all-wheel drive security and peace of mind – this could be a great option for you.
There’s a reason the Ascent is great for the outdoors: all Subarus come with Boxer engines – if that sounds familiar, it might be because they have this in common with Porsche. Boxer engines are flat and sit low, giving the car a better center of gravity.
Despite the unique engine choice, which will give you a decent ride with decent acceleration, the Ascent isn’t the most fun car to drive: it has a lot of wind noise and a lot of road noise.
If you’re safety-conscious, the Ascent offers a Rear-seat Reminder System and Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, standard. 19 cup and bottle holders should be enough for max eight passengers at any given time – and if it’s not, I don’t want to see the inside of your car.
But if you are driving around eight passengers, know that the Ascent’s third row isn’t the largest you can get.
In terms of Infotainment, the Ascent’s system isn’t the best, but it does offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you have room in your budget, you can splurge for the upgrades you’d expect: blind spot monitor, lane departure warning, Wifi, heated second row seats, etc.
Overall, the Subaru Ascent is kind of like the economy version of a Land Rover -- it has the ability to go off road; it handles inclement weather well; and every model comes with all-wheel drive. It drives great in rain and snow. It’s not the all-around winner in its class because of its mediocre performance and fuel economy, but still a solid pick for outdoorsy folks who want a car that can go off road, with the room of a minivan.
Starting at $32,000
Kia Telluride
What happens when that kind of dorky kid in your class shows up on the first day of junior year having grown four inches and developed a six-pack over the summer? That’s the glow-up, and that’s what happened to Kia with the Telluride.
If you can handle a less-than-perfect dealership experience, the Kia Telluride is the best value you’ll get on a three-row SUV.
Real talk, for the brand-conscious: Kia isn’t the coolest brand in the U.S. The Telluride is not a status car, and your favorite celebrity is not driving one to their mountain escape – but maybe they should be. If you can overcome some brand stereotypes, put the Kia Telluride on your radar.
For $42K, you can get an incredible vehicle with the highest-trim SX package: head up display, heated and ventilated second row seats, premium leather, power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual sunroof, tow package, the list goes on. It competes with luxury brands for a considerably lower price, making it “The car to drive” for suburbanites in Colorado, according to my suburbanite friend in Colorado. For those that live in such inclement weather, all-wheel drive is an option.
The Telluride is super spacious – you’ll get great overall cabin space, and the third row can fit adults comfortably for longer trips. With features like real wood trim, a Harmon Kardon sound system, and driver assistance technology available on all models, you’ll get a car that feels luxurious and well made.
Its Achilles heel is performance. While it’s not terribly slow, it doesn’t have the most powerful engine. And that’s our one criticism of this vehicle.
Also, because Kia is still fighting its brand stereotypes, it offers the most comprehensive warranty available. While Kia’s quality and reliability have improved over the years, the brand still offers a 5 year, 60K mile warranty. Their powertrain warranty is 10 years, or 100,000 miles. You shouldn’t need it, but it does provide peace of mind.
Overall, the Kia Telluride is a very capable car with decent performance. We say: go get it.
Starting at $33,000.