The Best 3-Row SUVs of 2025
by Josh Sadlier
Last Updated Jun 13, 2025
- Compact 3-Row ($29,645+)
- Midsize 3-Row ($36,190+)
- Midsize 3-Row Hybrid ($44,210+)
- Compact Electric 3-Row ($44,990+)
- Midsize Luxury 3-Row ($49,195+)
- Large Electric 3-Row ($54,900+)
- Full-Size ($56,520+)
- Full-Size XL ($61,500+)
- Midsize 3-Row Luxury PHEV ($73,000+)
- Full-Size Luxury ($82,450+)
- Full-Size Luxury XL ($90,595+)
Offered in various shapes and sizes, three-row SUVs are among the most versatile and family-friendly vehicles on the road. You'll find plenty of mainstream and luxury options among the top-ranked SUVs with three rows, many featuring distinct personalities and also different fuel types — gas, electric, hybrid, diesel, you name it. We've rated and ranked them all to help you decide. If price is top of mind, our list of Cheapest 3-Row SUVs will show you the starting prices of today's most affordable three-row models. And if your consideration of three-row vehicles extends to minivans, check out our Minivan Rankings for all the latest options with sliding doors. Learn about how we rate vehicles.
Best Compact 3-Row SUVs
Price Range: $29,645–$34,200
Ranked Models: 3
- Hyundai Santa Fe ($34,200+)
- Kia Sorento ($31,990+)
- Mitsubishi Outlander ($29,645+)
If you'll only need a third row occasionally, or only for small children perhaps, then why not get a cheaper SUV that's easier to park? There aren't many options in this segment, but they aim to fill an interesting niche.
Best Midsize 3-Row SUVs
Price Range: $36,190–$45,000
Ranked Models: 15
- Toyota Grand Highlander ($40,860+)
- Kia Telluride ($36,190+)
- Hyundai Palisade ($36,800+)
- Ford Explorer ($39,855+)
- Mazda CX-90 ($37,845+)
- Honda Pilot ($40,200+)
- Buick Enclave ($45,000+)
- Chevrolet Traverse ($40,600+)
- GMC Acadia ($44,500+)
- Volkswagen Atlas ($38,200+)
- Toyota Highlander ($39,520+)
- Nissan Pathfinder ($36,400+)
- Subaru Ascent ($39,995+)
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L ($39,035+)
- Dodge Durango ($38,495+)
SUVs with three rows have become America's default family haulers, and the Midsize 3-Row segment is the most popular of all. These trucksters generally aren't so big that they feel unwieldy, yet their cavernous interiors provide serious versatility.
Best Midsize 3-Row Hybrid SUVs
Price Range: $44,210–$49,945
Ranked Models: 3
- Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid ($44,210+)
- Mazda CX-90 Plug-In Hybrid ($49,945+)
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid ($46,020+)
It's surprising how few midsize 3-row SUVs come with hybrid powertrains — so few, in fact, that this segment currently puts regular hybrids and plug-in hybrids together. We'd rather rank them separately, but until the automakers give us more models to work with, these are your options if you're looking for a mainstream 3-row hybrid SUV. Which is a smart thing to be looking for, by the way, because what sensible family wouldn't want to save more money at the pump?
Best Compact Electric 3-Row SUVs
Price Range: $44,990–$53,050
Ranked Models: 2
- Tesla Model Y ($44,990+)
- Mercedes-Benz EQB ($53,050+)
For some electric SUV shoppers, the third-row seat is either a nice-to-have bonus or else a means of ferrying small children here and there. If that sounds like you, we get it. You don't really need a massive SUV that gives adults room to stretch out back there; you're just looking for a third row that'll do in a pinch. The electric SUVs gathered here offer the versatility of an extra row in the way-back while still providing the nimbleness and parkability of a smallish vehicle.
Best Midsize 3-Row Luxury SUVs
Price Range: $49,195–$69,700
Ranked Models: 10
- Lexus GX ($64,235+)
- Lexus TX ($55,140+)
- Audi Q7 ($60,500+)
- Lincoln Aviator ($58,495+)
- Acura MDX ($50,900+)
- Volvo XC90 ($59,745+)
- Land Rover Defender 130 ($69,700+)
- Land Rover Discovery ($60,200+)
- Cadillac XT6 ($49,195+)
- Infiniti QX60 ($50,200+)
These upscale family haulers pair minivan-like passenger capacity with all the trappings that luxury SUV shoppers expect. But if you're looking for minivan-like comfort, too, you might be in the wrong place. Many of the SUVs here have small third rows, whereas non-luxury midsize three-row SUVs tend to offer more practical seating. You'll find some exceptions, though, and if you only need that third row occasionally, or only for little ones, any of these haulers will get the job done with refinement and features to spare.
Best Large 3-Row Electric SUVs
Price Range: $54,900–$127,405
Ranked Models: 11
- Rivian R1S ($75,900+)
- Lucid Gravity ($94,900+)
- Cadillac Escalade IQ ($127,405+)
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 ($58,995+)
- Kia EV9 ($54,900+)
- Cadillac Vistiq ($77,395+)
- Volvo EX90 ($79,995+)
- Tesla Model X ($89,990+)
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV ($105,250+)
- Volkswagen ID. Buzz ($59,995+)
- VinFast VF 9 ($73,800+)
EV segments aren't yet as clearly defined as traditional ones, and these three-row electric SUVs are a case in point. Some of the rigs assembled here are what we’d ordinarily call midsize, while others are downright massive. They run the gamut from mainstream to luxury, too. If you want less size, we also track compact three-row electric SUVs, but the market balance right now strongly favors larger three-row EVs.
Best Full-Size SUVs
Price Range: $56,520–$66,900
Ranked Models: 6
- Chevrolet Tahoe ($58,500+)
- GMC Yukon ($66,900+)
- Ford Expedition ($61,700+)
- Jeep Wagoneer ($59,945+)
- Toyota Sequoia ($62,425+)
- Nissan Armada ($56,520+)
Large and in charge, these massive haulers are like full-size pickup trucks with a three-row cabin instead of a bed. They're extremely functional, in other words, which helps their typically absymal fuel economy go down easier.
Best Full-Size Extra-Long SUVs
Price Range: $61,500–$69,900
Ranked Models: 4
- Chevrolet Suburban ($61,500+)
- GMC Yukon XL ($69,900+)
- Ford Expedition Max ($64,700+)
- Jeep Wagoneer L ($62,945+)
Loving the three-row accommodations of standard truck-based SUVs but yearning for more cargo space? This segment was engineered specifically for you. Assuming you have the garage or driveway space to accommodate one of these beasts, you'll enjoy three-row versatility along with peerless cargo capacity (well, unless we're talking minivans).
Best Midsize 3-Row Luxury PHEV SUVs
Price Range: $73,000–$77,210
Ranked Models: 2
- Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid ($77,210+)
- Volvo XC90 Plug-In Hybrid ($73,000+)
That's a mouthful, right? But this very specific segment will be of interest to many families, as it promises to eliminate the gas-sucking nature of sizable SUVs on short drives. Keep your plug-in hybrid charged up and you could avoid gas stations for weeks, if not months, unless you happen to be taking a long trip. That adds a lot of value given that most family haulers do most of their work close to home.
Best Full-Size Luxury SUVs
Price Range: $82,450–$114,900
Ranked Models: 7
- Mercedes-Benz GLS ($89,200+)
- Cadillac Escalade ($87,595+)
- BMW X7 ($83,500+)
- Lincoln Navigator ($99,995+)
- Land Rover Range Rover Long Wheelbase ($114,900+)
- Infiniti QX80 ($82,450+)
- Jeep Grand Wagoneer ($84,945+)
You know they've got three rows of seats, so we don't even have to say "full-size 3-row luxury SUVs." But we should warn you that there's a lot of diversity in this segment, with options ranging from autobahn-bred Germans to corn-fed Americans.
Best Full-Size Extra-Long Luxury SUVs
Price Range: $90,595–$102,985
Ranked Models: 3
- Cadillac Escalade ESV ($90,595+)
- Lincoln Navigator L ($102,985+)
- Jeep Grand Wagoneer L ($101,945+)
Only in America can you find such a rich selection of upscale extended-length brutes. Seating space and capacity tends to stay the same relative to the standard-length versions of these rigs, but cargo space behind the third row increases significantly.
Next Steps
Taking a step back, it's clear that full-size SUVs are where it's at if you really want your third-row passengers to be comfortable, although certain midsize three-row SUVs can also check that box (and a few full-sizers fail to). If it were our money, we'd be taking a close look at our aforementioned Minivan Rankings, too, but we definitely understand the appeal of a tougher-looking solution without the stigma of those (super handy!) sliding doors. To get a broad overview of all of today's SUV segments, our SUV rankings are a great place to start.
FAQ
The answers to these frequently asked questions are powered by MotorDonkey's ranking methodology and remain valid while published. Because we continuously update our ratings and vehicle data, our answers are subject to change as new information and impressions emerge.
What is the best compact 3-row SUV?
The best compact 3-row SUV is the Hyundai Santa Fe, which has a overall rating of 8.1 out of 10.
What is the best midsize 3-row SUV?
The best midsize 3-row SUV is the Toyota Grand Highlander, which has a overall rating of 9.0 out of 10.
What is the best midsize 3-row hybrid SUV?
The best midsize 3-row hybrid SUV is the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, which has a overall rating of 9.0 out of 10.
What is the best compact electric 3-row SUV?
The best compact electric 3-row SUV is the Tesla Model Y, which has a overall rating of 8.5 out of 10.
What is the best midsize 3-row luxury SUV?
The best midsize 3-row luxury SUV is the Lexus GX, which has a overall rating of 8.6 out of 10.
What is the best large 3-row electric SUV?
The best large 3-row electric SUV is the Rivian R1S, which has a overall rating of 9.1 out of 10.
What is the best full-size SUV?
The best full-size SUV is the Chevrolet Tahoe, which has a overall rating of 7.9 out of 10.
What is the best full-size extra-long SUV?
The best full-size extra-long SUV is the Chevrolet Suburban, which has a overall rating of 7.9 out of 10.
What is the best midsize 3-row luxury plug-in hybrid SUV?
The best midsize 3-row luxury plug-in hybrid SUV is the Lexus TX Plug-In Hybrid, which has a overall rating of 8.5 out of 10.
What is the best full-size luxury SUV?
The best full-size luxury SUV is the Mercedes-Benz GLS, which has a overall rating of 8.3 out of 10.
What is the best full-size extra-long luxury SUV?
The best full-size extra-long luxury SUV is the Cadillac Escalade ESV, which has a overall rating of 8.1 out of 10.
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