Best Three-Row SUVs at Every Price Point – Our Expert Rankings 

Every year, our Car Confections Team gets behind the wheels of hundreds of cars, many of which include family 3-Row SUVs. While buyers crave more space and usability, there are also more options than ever to sort through. Today, we will be sharing our Best Three-Row SUVs at Every Price Point in the US, all of which we have tested hands-on. We have ranked every option based on price, to help find an option for every budget. For an in-depth look at each, be sure to check out the associated video, as well as our full reviews of each on the Car Confections YouTube Channel!

Options Under $35,000

While not the largest category, we are still happy to see there are at least a few three-row options that start under $35,000 in today’s automotive market. And, as you’ll learn throughout this ranking, third row space and features do not directly associate with price! However, the only Compact Crossover with a third row now, the Mitsubishi Outlander, is certainly one of the most cramped third rows money can buy, mainly for use in case of an emergency. However, options like the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe are quite nice for the money, with the Santa Fe even including audio controls for rear passengers to use. While nice third rows, we do not have any “Best” options for this price point, as occurs in other segments as well.

Options Under $45,000

Upping your budget by about $10,000 or so will unlock the largest variety of three-row options to choose from. If you’re looking to combine a good third row with other factors, like reliability, power train, and more, then this is the most likely segment you’ll be shopping. When it comes to the most space at the lowest price, the Dodge Durango is an underrated option, with a starting price under $40,000. But, for the most overall space, the GMC Acadia, Chevy Traverse, and Toyota Grand Highlander are the newest segment leaders, with a surprising amount of unibody space. Notable options at the bottom of the segment include the Toyota 4Runner, which has limited availability for the least amount of space.

We will be focusing on SUVs for these rankings, so Minivans are not included on this list. For a detailed countdown of their small, but competitive segment, you can find one here.

Options Under $55,000

While not many options are added in for this price point, luxury automakers begin to enter the rankings to add to the diversity. Most notably, the least expensive option in the segment is actually the best equipped, with the new Buick Enclave. Riding on the same platform as the Acadia and Traverse, the Enclave ups the luxury while still offering the same third row usability. While the premium Buick may not carry as much luxury as the other options in this price point, it may be a perfect medium between usability and features.

Please keep in mind this ranking focuses on gas powered models only, not EVs.

Options Under $65,000

Upping the budget about $10,000 more adds in a lot of new luxury players, as well as the sought after body-on-frame SUVs. While these body-on-frame options are pretty bare bones at this price, just know they will offer the ultimate usability, especially when a 9-passenger Chevy Suburban exists. Looking for more luxury? The Lexus TX is the best unibody option for this price point, making great use of its new platform to offer peak family comfort. The TX truly stands out in its segment, with options like the Audi Q7 riding on an older and smaller platform.

As Land Rover does not send us models to test at this point, the Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover are not included on this list.

Options Under $75,000

Perhaps the most unique price point on this ranking, the options added under $75,000 all have a special setup. The exception is the GMC Yukon, which is the premium Chevy Tahoe with a large third row and body-on-frame platform. For the remaining options, a third row is a rarer, but still available, option for these models. On the Lexus GX and Genesis GV80, only specific trims will come equipped with a third row, slotting you in for a very specific model. The Mercedes GLE can add a third row on most models, but only if you equip it with one on the configurator. Finally, the BMW X5 has an unadvertised third row, which is special order only, and very rare to find. The Yukon is the obvious pick for the most usability at this price.

Options Over $75,000

Price sensitivity tends to lower above the $75,000 price point, so our final segment includes every option above the price threshold, which are few in number anyways. Each of these is a flagship luxury 3-row, which are known for the extreme luxury in spoiling each and every passenger. The best models in this segment are body-on-frame, except for one model, the Lexus LX. Lexus does not package the LX for third row usability, making it even worse than the unibody BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS. But, paying the big bucks for the options like the Cadillac Escalade will ensure the most features, even if the third rows don’t improve much upon their already large mainstream counterparts.

Highlighting the Best (and Worst) Options

The auto industry has more 3-row options than ever nowadays, so what are the best and worst options, regardless of price? For the least amount of comfort, the most and least expensive options ironically both fall in this category. While the Lexus LX and Mitsubishi Outlander have their appeals elsewhere, their third rows are more of a generous addition than a usable space. When it comes to the best of the best, there are quite a few strong options in both the mainstream and luxury spaces. Our mainstream winners prove that body-on-frame is not necessary for the ultimate third row experience. However, if you’re willing to pay the “big bucks,” luxury body-on-frame SUVs will always be the place to be for the family. Nonetheless, we are glad to see an option for most anyone on this expansive list.

Truly an option at every price point!

As you can see, there are a ton of unique and versatile three-row SUVs to choose from, at a range of different prices. While the third row is an important selling point, we know there are more factors to take into consideration, so we’d encourage you to check out our hand-crafted rankings here on each segment we’ve highlighted today. Buying a vehicle is a big task, so understanding each option in the segment is an integral part of being a smart shopper.

Thank you for checking out our expert rankings for the Best Three-Row SUVs at Every Price Point! Let us know in the comments which one you would choose and be sure to check out the associated video, as well as our individual reviews for each vehicle. We hope this helps in your journey to purchase a new vehicle!