10 SUVs With The Most Spacious Third-Row (2024)

Observing a sharp and steady rise in consumer preference for SUVs over minivans, automakers are lining up more and more three-row models in the U.S. with each passing year. From carpooling and heavy grocery shopping to full-family outdoorsy road trips, three-row SUVs are more versatile models that suit almost every regular and occasional use case and promise more all-season capability.

While three-row SUVs have started to dwarf minivans in popularity, they still don’t match them in space levels, as their third-rows typically have some compromise, and this is particularly evident in compact and mid-size models. As a result, third-row passengers, especially adults, don’t get to sit comfortably, and that becomes a problem mainly on long journeys. More often than not, the main culprit behind the discomfort in three-row SUVs is insufficient legroom in the last row. Not all three-row SUVs are built the same, though, and some of them even have pretty spacious third rows.

10 Chevrolet Suburban

3rd Row Legroom: 36.7 inches

The Chevrolet Suburban has served as a household name for the American SUV for nearly nine decades. The truck-based SUV has stood the test of time by prioritizing two crucial aspects of an SUV – maximum passenger space and heavy-duty capabilities, like towing, for instance. Currently in its twelfth generation, the Suburban is available in three different seating layouts and can accommodate seven, eight, or nine occupants. Not surprisingly, it’s a fully non-electrified model, although there is a diesel option if you seek better fuel economy.

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No other three-row SUV available at American dealerships today offers third-row legroom as generous as the Suburban. Moreover, accessing the third row is easy and there’s a full-size space for an adult passenger in the center.

Even if you're much taller than six feet you'd find yourself comfortable in the third row of the Suburban. On the driving front, on the other hand, you'd appreciate the availability of GM’s Level 2 automated driving functions with Super Cruise. In addition to great third-row comfort, the Suburban offers exceptionally high towing capacities, so if you want to tow trailers and boats look no further. The large family SUV's price starts at $57,200 (excl. $1,895 freight charge).

9 GMC Yukon XL

3rd Row Legroom: 36.7 inches

The GMC Yukon XL is the Chevrolet Suburban’s more upscale cousin and flaunts a classier design, richer interior, and more standard features. All those upgrades entail a premium, as the flashier and fancier SUV starts at $62,995 (excl. $1,895 destination freight charge) and goes up to a whopping $100,595 (excl. $1,895 destination freight charge) in the top-end configuration (before options).

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The Yukon XL is available with the same engine options and has the same interior dimensions as Chevrolet’s Suburban. Its more assertive and sophisticated exterior gives it a better road presence, and it has a more premium cabin, replete with more advanced features like 16-way power front seats with massaging feature, 18-speaker Bose sound system, and genuine wood decor.

8 Jeep Wagoneer L

3rd Row Legroom: 36.6 inches

The Jeep Wagoneer L is the best pick of the lot if you have a knack for outdoorsy adventures and frequently go on group excursions like camping and hiking. Those into off-roading would particularly appreciate the Wagoneer L’s dual-role of being a spacious and comfortable commuter and a tough and truly capable tread-anywhere machine. The Wagoneer L offers the highest towing capacity in its segment – 10,000 pounds, which makes it the best option for hauling boats and trailers.

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In addition to space and capability, the Wagoneer L boasts high-end materials, great build quality, and a raft of premium technologies. As a third-row passenger, you'll particularly appreciate the power recline function, which will allow you to lean back and sit even more comfortably. The price range starts at $64,595 (excl. $2,000 destination charges) and tops out at $78,895 (excl. $2,000 destination charges).

7 Ford Expedition Max

3rd Row Legroom: 36.1 inches

The Blue Oval’s big daddy SUV is even fancier in the third row, as its final bench features a power-folding headrest as well. Elsewhere in the cabin, you'll appreciate features like front seats with a massage function, the slick 15.5-inch SYNC 4A infotainment system, and Level 2 automated driving functions with Blue Cruise, which may be better than Tesla's FSD.

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The Expedition Max, like the Wagoneer L, is a gas-only model. It’s nearly as good at towing, capable of hauling up to 9,000 pounds, and in the Timberline variant, it’s quite capable in off-road driving situations, too. Prices range between $62,590 and $83,695 (excl. $1,895 destination charges).

6 VW Atlas

3rd Row Legroom: 33.7 inches

From Hyundai Palisade to Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot, many new or fully redesigned mid-size SUVs have arrived after the VW Atlas, but none match the Chattanooga, Tennessee-built model in third-row space. The facelifted model that went on sale this year came with a significantly improved design with a squarer and more sophisticated appearance.

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The Atlas now packs a ton of premium features as standard, including a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless smartphone charger, three-zone automatic climate control system, and heated steering wheel. As a third-row occupant, you'll be able to fast-charge your smartphone at 45 watts and keep yourself entertained throughout long journeys. Moreover, as Kelley Blue Book says, the 2024 offers one of the easiest third-row ingress in its class. Prices start at $37,725 and go up to $52,455 (excl. $1,350 destination charge).

5 Toyota Grand Highlander

3rd Row Legroom: 33.5 inches

The Toyota Grand Highlander is the latest entrant among the XL mid-size SUVs that offer an adult-sized third row. With a polished design, an elegant interior that offers plenty of space and amenities, and Toyota’s top-crop Audio Multimedia infotainment system, there’s little not to love about the new Japanese people mover.

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More than space, practicality, or convenience, fuel efficiency, and performance make the Grand Highlander one of the best all-rounder three-row mid-size SUVs in the U.S. Toyota offers not one but two hybrid powertrain options, an efficiency-focused 245-horsepower unit that returns up to 36 MPG [combined (via EPA)]. and a performance-focused 362-horsepower unit that delivers 27 MPG [combined (via EPA)]. Prices of the Grand Highlander fall between $43,070 and $58,125 (excl. $1,395 DPH fee).

4 Dodge Durango

3rd Row Legroom: 33.5 inches

With extreme performance bits like the venerable 6.2-liter Hemi SRT Hellcat supercharged V-8 engine that cranks out 710 horsepower, Bilstein active suspension, and Brembo brakes, the Dodge Durango is the only one of its kind in this segment. The 2024 model year will likely be the Last Call for this family hauler with muscle car vibes. It’s also worth noting here that the Durango boasts the best-in-class towing capacity of 8,700 pounds.

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If you still prefer analog dials, physical controls, hefty dashboard designs, and essentially everything relatively old-school, you'll find yourself at home in the Durango. The go-fast SUV does have many modern features, though, including a 10.1-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, a three-zone automatic climate control system, and USB-C ports. Prices start at $40,640 and go up to a staggering six-digit sum – $105,810 (excl. $1,595 destination charges).

3 Honda Pilot

3rd Row Legroom: 32.5 inches

The Honda Pilot looks like a burly truck-based SUV, but it sits on a unibody platform that makes it purely a comfort and space-focused model. Honda does offer it in an extra-tough TrailSport trim with more ruggedness and capability for light-duty off-roading, but overall, it’s a silky-smooth SUV with a no-frills V-6 mill under the hood.

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The Pilot has a simplistic cabin that’s all about space, flexibility, comfort, and convenience. One of the coolest features of this model is the ability to remove the second-row middle seat and give third-row passengers easier ingress and egress. You can stow this seat in the SUV’s cargo area, which has a particularly deep underfloor storage space. The price range starts at $37,090 and tops out at $52,480 (excl. $1,375 destination charge).

2 Ford Explorer

3rd Row Legroom: 32.2 inches

Ranking third on the mid-size SUV sales chart in 2022, the Ford Explorer is one of the most popular models in its segment in the U.S. It’s also a unibody platform-based vehicle, but one with rear-wheel drive. If you seek driving pleasure and superb street performance along with a practical three-row interior, Ford offers a sporty 400-horsepower ST trim in the Explorer RWD. Of course, you can specify an all-wheel drive system as an option for more grip and off-road capability.

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On the downside, the Explorer’s interior isn’t as modern and high-tech as some of its rivals. Prices start at $36,760 and go up to $53,820 (excl. $1,595 destination charges), and these issues mainly affect the appeal of the higher trims.

1 Subaru Ascent

3rd Row Legroom: 31.7 inches

If you're a WRX or a BRZ fan or just a Subaru fan feeling particularly brand loyal, you need not look elsewhere for your family hauler. The 2024 Subaru Ascent is not the most spacious three-row SUV, but it can accommodate two children behind the two rows comfortably.

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The Ascent packs plenty of safety features as standard, although some of them tend to be more intrusive than usual and make drives unnecessarily annoying. Prices start at just $34,195 and go up to $48,495 (excl. $1,295 destination & delivery).