Three-row SUVs and crossovers are the answer for buyers who have a lot of kids and an ever-expanding pile of stuff, but don’t want to live with the sliding doors of a minivan. Here we've ranked the best 3-row SUVs in a variety of categories. Car and Driver's rankings are arrived at from the results of our extensive instrumented testing of several hundred vehicles each year and from our expert editors' subjective impressions gained in real-world driving. We've ranked the best electric three-row SUVs based on roughly 200 data points encompassing acceleration, handling, comfort, cargo space, fuel efficiency, value, and how enjoyable they are to drive. We take rankings seriously because we want you to know everything about the vehicles that you're interested in.
Some sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) have three rows of seating, with an extra row of back seats to expand passenger capacity beyond what two-row SUVs offer. The extra row of rear seats can be standard or optional depending on the model. In most cases, you can fold the third row of seats into the floor to expand cargo space when the seats are not in use.
Three-row SUVs can carry more people than two-row SUVs, as they offer six, seven, eight, or even nine seats in certain cases. Some three-row SUVs' third-row seats fit two passengers while others fit three passengers. The passenger capacity also depends on the configuration of the first two rows of seats. Three-row SUVs also offer more cargo versatility, as the third-row seats often have a split-folding arrangement that allows you to keep one or two seats intact while using the other side of the cargo area for storage.
Many different size segments offer SUV options with third-row seats, including subcompact, compact, mid-size, and full-size classes. Of course, the smaller the SUV, the less space there will be in the third row, so most subcompact and compact three-row SUVs are best for those who transport kids instead of adults. Many luxury SUVs also offer three-row configurations, and an increasing number of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric three-row SUVs are hitting the market.
For more than 60 years we've been answering the objective questions—How fast? How quick? How much grip?—comprehensively, and with an authority based in experience that our readers have come to rely on. Read on for the full details on how we collect more than 200 data points on the roughly 400 vehicles that we test every year.
Dave VanderWerp has spent more than 20 years in the automotive industry, in varied roles from engineering to product consulting, and now leading Car and Driver's vehicle-testing efforts.
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