The Cheapest 3-Row SUVs of 2025

1

Mitsubishi Outlander

• EPA Combined MPG: 26–27
• Horsepower: 181–248 hp
• Base Price: $29,645

The Outlander has carved out a niche for itself with its standard three-row seating, marking it as a real outlier among small SUVs. If you've got small kids and you need a small third-row seat to put them in, this Mitsubishi is one of the most cost-effective solutions you'll find. Just don't expect quick acceleration (unless you spring for the plug-in hybrid) or the latest cabin technology.

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2

Kia Sorento

• EPA Combined MPG: 23–36
• Horsepower: 191–281 hp
• Base Price: $31,990

The three-row Sorento splits the difference between the compact and midsize segments, and that could be the Goldilocks zone for families with younger children. Kia has managed to make the Sorento feel relatively small from behind the wheel, yet there's real versatility inside. Pro tip: try to work a deal for the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine if you can. The base engine is uninspired.

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3

Hyundai Santa Fe

• EPA Combined MPG: 23–36
• Horsepower: 231–277 hp
• Base Price: $34,200

The three-row Santa Fe splits the difference lengthwise between the compact and midsize SUV segments, but it feels larger and more substantial than its Kia Sorento corporate cousin. They have distinct personalities, in other words, so we definitely recommend driving both. One nice thing about the Santa Fe is that it comes standard with the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, whereas only certain Sorento trims are so equipped. Both SUVs also share an available hybrid powertrain that's well worth checking out.

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4

Kia Telluride

• EPA Combined MPG: 20–22
• Horsepower: 291 hp
• Base Price: $36,190

A best-seller practically from the day it debuted, this three-row Kia continues to hammer home the point that styling matters. A lot. That's far from the whole story, though, as the midsize Telluride also magically shrinks around you at speed, masking its substantial mass and making you forget it's a minivan substitute.

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5

Nissan Pathfinder

• EPA Combined MPG: 23
• Horsepower: 284 hp
• Base Price: $36,400

Nissan's three-row midsize crossover is especially appealing now that its upscale platform-mate, the Infiniti QX60, has switched from sharing the Pathfinder's V6 to using a weaker four-cylinder engine. It's no exaggeration to say that the Pathfinder is a better performer for less coin. We like the Pathfinder's more muscular design language these days. Now, if Nissan would just freshen up the dashboard with the latest screens and tech, like in the new full-size Armada.

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6

Hyundai Palisade

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–22
• Horsepower: 291 hp
• Base Price: $36,800

Its superstar Kia Telluride cousin gets all the press, but the three-row Palisade is a very similar vehicle beneath the sheetmetal, including the shared 3.8-liter V6 under the hood. If you're cool with the styling, you might be able to swing a better deal while everyone else is lining up at the Kia dealer.

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7

Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid

• EPA Combined MPG: 34–36
• Horsepower: 231 hp
• Base Price: $37,200

The Santa Fe Hybrid sacrifices a few MPG on the altar of versatility, and we're guessing a lot of families are here for it. The standard three-row layout lets two extra kids ride along if need be, and you still get plenty of efficiency and decent turbocharged thrust.

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8

Mazda CX-90

• EPA Combined MPG: 25
• Horsepower: 280–340 hp
• Base Price: $37,845

The CX-90 comes in two main flavors, one featuring a turbocharged inline-6 engine (with two available states of tune), the other a four-cylinder plug-in-hybrid powertrain. Oddly enough, you get about the same fuel economy either way, and both versions accelerate well, too. It really comes down to whether you want to pay more for the CX-90 PHEV's modest all-electric driving range.

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9

Volkswagen Atlas

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–22
• Horsepower: 269 hp
• Base Price: $38,200

Designed expressly to suit American shoppers' tastes, the Atlas is one of the larger three-row midsize SUVs, boasting a cavernous cabin with roomy seating for all. Its four-cylinder engine is a bit suspect in the power department, but this VW's refinement and versatility should earn it close consideration.

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10

Dodge Durango

• EPA Combined MPG: 13–20
• Horsepower: 295–710 hp
• Base Price: $38,495

Gleefully carrying the torch for the Hemi V8 engine, the Durango is big noisy fun if you don't mind that it's nearly a decade old. There are also truck-like towing capabilities here that you don't often see in this segment. The V8 doesn't come cheap, though, and the base V6 is adequate at best.

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11

Kia Sorento Hybrid

• EPA Combined MPG: 34–36
• Horsepower: 227 hp
• Base Price: $38,690

Dimensionally very similar to the Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, the closely related Sportage Hybrid nonetheless charts its own course with sportier styling and a generally smaller, more nimble feel. But there's still a standard third-row seat in case you need it.

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12

Jeep Grand Cherokee L

• EPA Combined MPG: 21
• Horsepower: 293 hp
• Base Price: $39,035

We miss the optional Hemi V8 that gave the Grand Cherokee L authoritative power, but to be fair, that engine also sent prices through the roof. Now available only with the venerable Pentastar V6, this hefty Jeep has its work cut out to keep up with the swifter three-row midsize SUVs. We want to like this rig more than we do — it just needs more motor to be its best self.

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13

Toyota Highlander

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–35
• Horsepower: 243–265 hp
• Base Price: $39,520

While the Highlander is slightly cheaper than its newer Grand Highlander stablemate, there's really no other reason to buy one of these rather than go Grand. Toyota created the Grand Highlander specifically because the regular Highlander didn't have a sufficiently roomy third-row seat or cargo area, and the Grand checks those boxes in a big way.

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14

Ford Explorer

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–24
• Horsepower: 300–400 hp
• Base Price: $39,855

One of the few midsize three-row SUVs to offer rear-wheel drive by default, the Explorer is a relatively sporty SUV, especially if you don't mind ponying up for the excellent turbocharged V6 option. It's got plenty of tech features, too. The main downside is that most rivals offer roomier third-row seats.

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15

Honda Pilot

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–22
• Horsepower: 285 hp
• Base Price: $40,200

We like the Pilot's no-nonsense V6 engine, which eschews turbocharging and simply delivers strong, lag-free acceleration. The big Honda also handles well and offers spacious seating in all three rows. We'd like to see a more advanced touchscreen interface inside, however.

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16

Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid

• EPA Combined MPG: 26
• Horsepower: 248 hp
• Base Price: $40,445

Give the Outlander PHEV a chance — you might be pleasantly surprised. It has a lot of electric range, especially for the money, and its standard three-row seating layout is a nice bonus for families with small kids.

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17

Chevrolet Traverse

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–23
• Horsepower: 328 hp
• Base Price: $40,600

Long and spacious, the Traverse trades on its extreme utility compared to smaller rivals in the midsize three-row segment. We're not thrilled about the turbocharged four-cylinder engine that Chevy has substituted for the previous generation's V6, but the technology and features in the cabin are fully contemporary.

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18

Toyota Grand Highlander

• EPA Combined MPG: 23–36
• Horsepower: 245–362 hp
• Base Price: $40,860

Who needs the regular Highlander anymore? The Grand Highlander has stolen the show with its roomier interior and dashing style. It's also barely more expensive, so we're seriously not clear on why anyone wouldn't want the Grand. Any conversation about the best midsize three-row SUVs has to include this Toyota.

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19

Toyota 4Runner

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–22
• Horsepower: 278 hp
• Base Price: $41,540

We consider the new-for-2025 4Runner a resounding success when it comes to exterior and interior design, at least compared to its ancient predecessor. Under the hood, however, it's a mixed bag, as the new turbocharged four-cylinder base engine gets better fuel economy than the old V6 but isn't notably quicker. Step up to the hybrid version of that turbo four and you may see marginally improved MPG, but the added weight largely cancels out the extra power and torque. The 4Runner remains a compelling factory off-roader with a sterling reputation, but we were hoping for more of a revolution in the engine room.

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20

Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

• EPA Combined MPG: 27–36
• Horsepower: 245–362 hp
• Base Price: $44,210

Toyota finally has a fully competitive midsize three-row SUV in the Grand Highlander, making the regular Highlander's cramped third-row seat a distant memory for most. Like the Lexus RX, the Highlander Hybrid offers a standard hybrid powertrain alongside a pricier and much more powerful version that Toyota calls Hybrid Max.

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21

GMC Acadia

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–23
• Horsepower: 328 hp
• Base Price: $44,500

The Acadia is enormous for a midsize three-row SUV, technically stretching well beyond the 200-inch length threshold into large-SUV territory. Fortunately, it's got a cavernous interior to match, so if you're looking for the most space in this class, the Acadia is a top contender. Less impressive is its somewhat gritty four-cylinder turbo engine, which accelerates the Acadia only adequately and doesn't sound happy doing it.

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22

Buick Enclave

• EPA Combined MPG: 21–23
• Horsepower: 328 hp
• Base Price: $45,000

The reinvented Enclave has switched to turbocharged four-cylinder power, yet the previous V6 was only slightly less fuel-efficient while delivering stout acceleration. The new powertrain isn't really a reason to buy, then, but the Enclave's upscale styling and tech-forward interior might tip the scales.

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23

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

• EPA Combined MPG: 35
• Horsepower: 243 hp
• Base Price: $46,020

The Highlander Hybrid has become something of an afterthought with the advent of the Grand Highlander Hybrid, but that could mean better deals if you're willing to accept the reduction in third-row and cargo space. Unlike the Grand, the Highlander Hybrid does not offer the amped-up Hybrid Max turbo powertrain, for better or worse.

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24

Mercedes-Benz GLB

• EPA Combined MPG: 23–28
• Horsepower: 221–302 hp
• Base Price: $46,650

The GLB is a unique proposition in that it's one of the shorter compact luxury SUVs from nose to tail, yet it also offers a tiny third-row seat that can be useful for parents with, well, tiny kids. If you don't need that extra seating row, however, you can do much better in this segment for the price. We'd start by looking at the GLB's slightly bigger brother, the GLC.

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25

Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

• EPA Combined MPG: 33
• Horsepower: 261 hp
• Base Price: $47,990

The Sorento has finally found a way to one-up its corporate cousin, the formidable Hyundai Santa Fe. How? By offering a plug-in-hybrid powertrain, which is not available in the Hyundai. As Sorentos go, we think the conventional Sorento Hybrid is a much better value, but the Sorento PHEV does add a useful amount of electric-only range.

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Next Steps

Even the cheapest SUV with third-row seating will be more than adequate for many families, but you may need to stretch a bit to get the size you're looking for, especially in that third row. One way to maximize that space, by the way, is to broaden your definition of the cheapest three-row vehicles by browsing our expertly curated Minivan Rankings. We don't have a separate page for the cheapest minivans because there are so few minivan models on sale, but you can browse through pricing, power, fuel economy and more at that link. If you're like most shoppers, though, the cheapest three-row SUVs are what you're looking for, and they'll always be right here on this page whenever you want to get a snapshot of today's marketplace.

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