The best 3-row SUVs in 2024 for big families

Business Manager 25/07/2024

While minivans are the purpose-built answer for the people-moving question, the most popular answer for modern buyers is the 3-row SUV. All-around spaciousness is the primary requirement for a top-ranked 3-row, but comfortable seating, quality construction and enough power to efficiently move a family around are also important factors. Based on our testing and experience, these are the best 3-row SUVs on the market, with great choices for every budget and need.

Best Midsize 3-Row SUV: 2024 Hyundai Palisade | MT Score 9.0

Our favorite midsize 3-row SUV is the 2024 Hyundai Palisade. Although its third row borders on child-sized, the interior is a luxurious place to be. The standard V-6 powertrain of the Palisade offers good power and acceptable gas mileage, and the ride is both quiet and comfortable. We favor the Palisade because it’s a great all-around package for around $40,000, without the staggering price tags of larger SUVs.

2024 Hyundai Palisade: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $40,420
Engine: V6 3.8 Liter Lambda II
Horsepower: 291@6,000
Torque: 262@5,200
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 19 / 26 / 22 mpg (FWD)
Rear Headroom: 40.1 in
Rear Legroom: 42.4 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 18.0/86.4 cu-ft

Best Full-Size 3-Row SUV: 2024 Chevrolet Suburban | MT Score 8.4

If the maximum space for the money is your prerogative, the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban is just about the best choice you could make besides its smaller Tahoe sibling. Available from the low $60,000 range and boasting an enormous 144.7 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, the Suburban hauls just about anything just about anywhere. A selection of beefy engines makes that possible, including the excellent Chevy V-8s, though fuel economy is not one of the Suburban’s strong suits. By our reckoning, the Suburban is the best full-size 3-row SUV not just on account of its relatively reasonable price and massive size, but also because it drives noticeably smaller than it is.

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2024 Chevrolet Suburban: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $65,387
Engine: V8 5.3 Liter EcoTec3
Horsepower: 355@5,600
Torque: 383 lb-ft @ 4,100
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 15 / 20 /17 mpg (2WD)
Rear Headroom: 38.9 in
Rear Legroom: 42.0 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 41.5/144.7 cu-ft

Best Hybrid 3-Row SUV: 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | MT Score 8.6

The 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid represents a well-trod path for families in need of highly efficient, solidly reliable mobility. This top-rated 3-row SUV's hybrid powertrain allows it to traverse huge distances on a single tank of gas, and potentially do weeks of the daily family commutes without a trip to the gas station. Although the Highlander lacks impressive acceleration on the highway, its power is more than adequate around town.

2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $45,391
Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cyl
Horsepower: 243 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 175 @ 4,400 rom
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 36/ 35/ 36 mpg (FWD)
Rear Headroom: 39.4 in
Rear Legroom: 38.7 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 16.0/84.3 cu-ft

Best Electric 3-Row SUV: 2024 Rivian R1S | SUVOTY Finalist

Although there are now several electric SUVs with third-row seating, the 2024 Rivian R1S has some overwhelming advantages. (Note that the 2025 Rivian R1S and R1T models are rolling out this year with some significant changes under the skin, but we haven’t rated them yet.) A unique look and an uncommon in-between size already make this three-row SUV stand out, but extraordinary performance both on and off the road mark the R1S as unparalleled within the segment. Besides the bracing charm of up to 908 lb-ft of torque (in Quad-Motor trim), the R1S has a gracefully minimalist interior that’s as practical as it is high quality. Rounding out all these positives are annoyances like occasionally iffy driver assistance systems and an overly digital control layout.

2024 Rivian R1S: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $74,620
Horsepower: 835 (total)
Engine: Motors, dual electric
Torque: 600 lb-ft
Maximum Range: 316 miles
Rear Headroom: 39.7 in
Rear Legroom: 36.6 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 7.1/105 cu-ft

Best Luxury Midsize 3-Row SUV: 2024 Lincoln Aviator | MT Score 8.8

American luxury 3-row SUVs have taken a step up with the moderately sized yet radically potent 2024 Lincoln Aviator. Among even the best SUVs with third-row seating, the 2024 Aviator offers an impressively plush interior and trims to suit a variety of buyers. Unfortunately, the bonkers Grand Touring Hybrid is gone for the 2024 model year. The Aviator's third row is small and difficult for adults to access but should fit children just fine. This modern American road-bound luxury yacht is mainly built to offer stately speed and supreme comfort.

2024 Lincoln Aviator: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $57,549
Engine: 3.0-liter V-6 turbo
Horsepower: 400 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 415 @ 3,000 rpm
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 18/ 26/ 21 mpg (RWD)
Rear Headroom: 38.4 in
Rear Legroom: 39.0 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 18.3/41.8 cu-ft

Best Luxury Full-Size 3-Row SUV: 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer | MT Score 8.4

Massive size is a luxury all its own with the 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. This particular three-row SUV has a third row that's among the most spacious available, with more than 36 inches of legroom — one of the few around that adults can reliably and comfortably fit in. That said, all this old-school size has the predictable disadvantage of very bad fuel economy.

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2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $97,363
Engine: 3.0-liter 6-cyl turbo Hemi
Horsepower: 510 @ 5,700 rpm
Torque: 500 @ 3,500 rpm
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 13/18/15 mpg
Rear Headroom: 40.0 in
Rear Legroom: 42.2 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 27.4/70.9 cu-ft

Cheapest 3-Row SUV: 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan S | Fair Market Price $30,766

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan S is perfect if your goal is moving seven people, mostly children, in the cheapest new SUV capable of doing so. Granted, the cheapest of SUVs with optional third-row seating is comfortable and quiet on the daily drive, civilized and easy to live with. That said, the third row is tiny, to the point of being unsuitable for adults in general. As a happy bonus, highway gas mileage is good for such an inexpensive SUV.

2024 Volkswagen Tiguan: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $30,036
Engine: 2.0-liter 4-cyl turbo TSI
Horsepower: 184 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 221 @ 1,400 rpm
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 23/30/26 mpg (FWD)
Rear Headroom: 39.1 in
Rear Legroom: 36.5 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 12.0/65.3 cu-ft

Most Expensive 3-Row SUV: 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography LWB 7 | Fair Market Price $186,235

As is true with any luxury SUV with as long a name as the 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography LWB 7, this wheeled private jet is priced more like a modest piece of real estate than a vehicle. While this long-wheelbase, three-row SUV makes this list simply by cost, it does offer a raft of features and amenities that few vehicles of any price can challenge. Beyond impressive performance on- and off-road, the Range Rover offers an elegant interior with luxuries at the beck and call of the occupants of all three rows.

2024 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography LWB 7: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $178,865
Engine: 3.0-liter 6-cyl electric compressor & turbo
Horsepower: 395 @ 5,500 rpm
Torque: 406 @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 16/22/18 mpg
Rear Headroom: 39.2 in
Rear Legroom: 40.4 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 40.7/77.8 cu-ft

Biggest 3-Row SUV: 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV | Length 227.0 in

SUVs with third-row seating tend to be about impressive and usable interior size, so it's possible the 227.0-inch-long battleship that is the 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV isn't just about vanity. The Escalade has always been a bruiser in terms of size, and a rolling lounge in terms of interior comfort. Plush seating is matched with truly expansive interior space that could virtually swallow smaller SUVs whole. What's more impressive is that the exorbitantly large Escalade ESV can be optioned with the downright violent performance of the V-Series supercharged engine.

2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV: Pros and Cons

IntelliChoice Fair Market Price: $93,978
Engine: 6.2-liter EcoTec3 V-8
Horsepower: 420 @ 5,600 rpm
Torque: 460 @ 4,100 rpm
Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 14/19/16 mpg (2WD)
Rear Headroom: 38.9 in
Rear Legroom: 41.7 in
Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 25.5/121.0 cu-ft

Best 3-Row SUVs for 2024

Best Midsize 3-Row SUV: 2024 Hyundai Palisade | MT Score 9.0
Best Full-Size 3-Row SUV: 2024 Chevrolet Suburban | MT Score 8.4
Best Hybrid 3-Row SUV: 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | MT Score 8.6
Best Electric 3-Row SUV: 2024 Rivian R1S | SUVOTY Finalist
Best Luxury Midsize 3-Row SUV: 2024 Lincoln Aviator | MT Score 8.8
Best Luxury Full-Size 3-Row SUV: 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer | MT Score 8.4
Cheapest 3-Row SUV: 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan S Fair Market Price $30,036
Most Expensive 3-Row SUV: 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography LWB 7 | Fair Market Price $186,235
Biggest 3-Row SUV: 2024 Cadillac Escalade ESV | Length 227.0 in

Best 3-Row SUVs for 2023

Best Midsize 3-Row SUV: 2023 Kia Telluride | MT Score: 8.9/10
Best Full-Size 3 Row SUV: 2023 Ford Expedition | MT Score: 8.3/10
Best Hybrid 3-Row SUV: 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | MT Score 8.7/10
Best Electric 3-Row SUV: 2023 Rivian R1S | MT Score 8.5/10
Best Luxury Midsize 3-Row SUV: 2023 Lincoln Aviator | MT Score 9.1/10
Best Luxury Full-Size 3-Row SUV: 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer | 8.5/10
Cheapest 3-Row SUV: 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan S | Fair Market Price $30,036
Most Expensive 3-Row SUV: 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography LWB 7 | Fair Market Price $178,865
Biggest 3-Row SUV: 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV | Length: 227.0 in

Photos by Manufacturer and Alan Muir.

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