2017 Toyota Highlander
MSRP: $30,630 - $46,260 (Details Below)
The Toyota Highlander will please families looking for a safe, reliable 3-row SUV with plenty of passenger and cargo space. The Highlander, a highly-ranked midsize SUV, is unmatched for standard active safety features. Toyota’s Safety Sense includes adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and lane keep assist, which work to help the driver avoid collisions. The Highlander is equipped with a four-cylinder engine, but a V6 is available.
2017 Toyota Highlander
Third-Row Legroom: 27.7 inches (Details Below)
Priced to start at $30,630, the SUV has a stylish, upscale interior thanks to a model refresh. The Highlander seats eight with bench seats in the second and third row. Four upper trims seat seven with standard captain’s chairs in the second row. Third row seating offers limited legroom. Good cargo space extends from 60/40 split seats which fold flat. Expect 13.8 cubic feet of space behind the third row, and up to 83.7 cubic feet with both rows of seats folded. A height-adjustable power liftgate is available.
2017 Honda Pilot
MSRP: $30,595 - $47,070 (Details Below)
Not many midsize SUVs have a third-row that can comfortably seat adults, but the Honda Pilot does. No wonder it is named the Best 3-Row SUV for Families. The Pilot also has great cargo space and high safety scores.
2017 Honda Pilot
Third-Row Legroom: 31.9 inches (Details Below)
The Pilot, priced to start at $30,595, is more expensive than most in the midsize class. However, critics say the Pilot is a well-rounded value. It comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 280 horsepower. Reviewers like the Pilot’s capable handling and power. Four upper trims are available. The Pilot has 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the two back rows folded. Use the large storage bin in the center console to hold a purse or an iPad, and the space under the center stack to store and charge a small electronic device. Beneath the cargo floor, a hidden storage compartment keeps valuables out of view.
2017 Kia Sorento
MSRP: $25,600 - $45,900 (Details Below)
A 3-row SUV priced to start under $30,000? Deal in the Kia Sorento. The Sorento LX V6 trim is well-equipped with user-friendly convenience features, superior safety scores, and a confident reliability rating. In fact, the 2017 Sorento is the winner of the Best 3-Row SUV for the Money.
2017 Kia Sorento
Third-Row Legroom: 31.7 inches (Details Below)
Look for models with the V6 engine to get standard 3-row seating. The lowest priced Sorento with this design is the LX at $26,900. The best value is the EX V6 at $33,300, with the UVO infotainment system, including Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. J.D. Power and Associates gave the Sorento an above-average predicted reliability rating, which is better than most SUVs in its class. Kia covers the Sorento with one of the best warranties in the market.
2017 Dodge Durango
MSRP: $29,995 - $44,695 (Details Below)
Third-row seating is optional in the Dodge Durango. The midsize SUV offers five trims, but the third-row seat is not included in the lower two trims. With the third-row, even adults will be happy in the space. The Durango excels in cargo space, and delivers in performance that is among the best in its class.
2017 Dodge Durango
Third-Row Legroom: 31.5 inches (Details Below)
The base Durango SXT is priced at $29,995. To get the third-row seat, pay $1,600 extra on the base Durango or the SXT Plus trim priced at $31,595. Third-row seating is included with the Durango GT at $37,495 and higher trims. GT standard features include Capri leather seating, heated front- and second-row seats, power-adjustable driver and passenger seats, remote start, and memory settings. The Durango comes with a V6 engine, and a V8 is optional. Enjoy 17.2 cubic feet of space behind the third row, and up to 84.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe
MSRP: $30,800 - $41,150 (Details Below)
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a very attractive option for a family SUV. The Santa Fe, is generously equipped with a strong V6 engine, satisfying list of tech and safety features, and solid safety scores. The Santa Fe also has one of the best warranties in its class. Many features included in the base Santa Fe are options on competitors, making the Santa Fe a bargain to consider.
2017 Hyundai Sante Fe
Third-Row Legroom: 30.9 inches (Details Below)
The Santa Fe, priced to start at $30,800 for the base SE, can seat up to seven, with comfortable, reclining 40/20/40 split-folding second-row seats and a 50/50 split-folding seat back to the third-row bench. Hyundai also offers the Santa Fe Sport, for about $5,000 less than the SE, but the Sport offers only two rows of seats. In addition to the SE, the Santa Fe has three upper trims with three-row seating.
2017 Chevrolet Traverse
MSRP: $28,700 - $44,045 (Details Below)
The Chevrolet Traverse has a low entry price point, and offers generous seating for up to eight. Large rear doors and sliding second-row seats ease entry into the third-row back seat. The Traverse won’t save money at the gas pump, but it excels in safety and cargo room. It ranks in the middle of the midsize class, but this SUV is worth checking out.
2017 Chevrolet Traverse
Third-Row Legroom: 33.2 inches (Details Below)
The Traverse starts at $28,700, which is less than competitors. The Traverse is outfitted with a quiet, upscale interior, typical of a more expensive vehicle. Standard features include a Wi-Fi hot spot, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 6.5-inch touch screen, and OnStar services, including navigation. Three of the four upper trims range between $31,300 and $36,650, with several available packages. The Traverse has one of the largest cargo spaces in its class of a whopping 116.3 total cubic feet. A power liftgate is available.
2017 GMC Acadia
MSRP: $29,070 - $47,070 (Details Below)
The GMC Acadia has a lot to like in a 3-Row SUV. The Acadia has a low starting price, great safety scores, budget-saving fuel economy, and it’s packed with convenience features.
2017 GMC Acadia
Third-Row Legroom: 31.1 inches (Details Below)
The Acadia is priced to start at $29,070. It comes with a third-row bench that seats seven. Replace the second-row bench with a captain’s chairs, and the SUV seats six. The All Terrain model does not have the third row. Expect 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with the base four-cylinder engine. A V6 engine is available. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety names the Acadia a Top Safety Pick, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awards it a five-star overall rating.
2017 Mazda CX-9
MSRP: $31,520 - $44,315 (Details Below)
If performance is a priority over cargo space, step into the Mazda CX-9. The SUV is fun to drive and will get you where you need to go for day-to-day driving. Excellent steering and handling add to the CX-9 experience. Redesigned in 2016, the midsize SUV has a luxurious interior, and can seat seven passengers with three-rows.
2017 Mazda CX-9
Third-Row Legroom: 29.7 inches (Details Below)
The front row captain’s chairs are comfortable for long drives. The second row 60/40 split-folding seats slide and recline. The third row is a bit tight for adults. Both second- and third-row seats fold flat, which helps loading cargo. The CX-9 is equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower. Expect 22 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway with standard front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available.
2017 Nissan Rogue
MSRP: $23,820 - $31,310 (Details Below)
The Nissan Rogue may attract you for the Star Wars tie-in, but you can reasonably make the case that it is a decent 3-row SUV. The Rogue is comfortable, with good passenger and cargo space. Positive safety scores and an affordable price make it a value. The Rogue isn’t at the top of the crowded midsize SUV class, but could it be the one for you?
2017 Nissan Rogue
Third-Row Legroom: 31.4 inches (Details Below)
The Rogue, priced to start at $23,820 is equipped with a 2.5-liter engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT). The base and mid-level SV trims offer the third-row seat, but the top-level trim does not. Expect a spacious, comfortable interior. Second-row seats can slide and recline. The third-row seats two passengers. The Rogue offers 18 cargo configurations as part of the Divide-N-Hide system. Enjoy fantastic fuel economy at 26 mpg in the city and 33 on the highway.
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Best Cars for Families
Family Haulers With Affordable Prices
Finding a SUV that fits a larger family, while on a budget, may seem like locating a needle in a haystack. Many SUVs are equipped with three-rows or have a three-row option. U.S. News & World Report lists the top ranked 3-Row SUVs, which helps cut through the clutter. Today, we’re focusing in on SUVs around $30,000. Midsize SUVs, including the Chevrolet Traverse, deliver excellent cargo space in addition to passenger space. Some third-rows are better-suited for children, but others, like the Honda Pilot and Dodge Durango, surprise with ample room for adults. SUVs with top safety and reliability scores make the list like the Kia Sorento and Toyota Highlander. Check out nine 3-Row SUVs that fit: