Best 3 Row SUVs of 2021

The Volkswagen Atlas fulfills the German brand’s large SUV mission with a definitively American approach: hulking dimensions, a Cadillac-smooth ride and a cavernous cabin. The Atlas sets the bar among midsize rivals for offering adult-size passenger space in the third row and usable stowage behind it. The only thing missing is gutsy acceleration, which is lost due to the Atlas’s heavy weight and relatively modest engine options. Despite the power deficit, all-wheel drive is now offered on the four-cylinder engine, which widens its appeal for budget-minded buyers living in regions with seasonal rain and snowfall. Its understated, no-frills approach to style also will attract those looking for a three-row SUV that’s more function than fashion.
 
The Atlas offers almost 33.7 inches of legroom in its third row, which is top-of-class compared with rivals, and its near 21 cubic-feet of cargo space behind it is barely bested by the Kia Telluride. Chevrolet’s Traverse offers 23 cubic-feet of stowage with the rear seats intact, but it’s a massive entry in the midsize category that could almost be categorizes as a large SUV.

Top Telluride trims get premium features and all the tech goodies, but Kia’s biggest SUV is a solid value and great family vehicle no matter how it’s configured. The interior is comfortable and spacious, and its modern, muscular styling makes compelling case for young families disinterested in the shrinking minivan segment. Value also is a big draw here as the Telluride lands under $50,000 with every option and top trim level equipped.
 
Legroom in the Telluride’s 31.4 inches of third-row legroom is average among rivals—not the best and certainly not the worst (there are many entries that dip below 30 inches). It’s 21 inches of cargo space behind the third row tops both the Explorer (18.2 cubic-feet) and its “corporate cousin,” the Hyundai Palisade (18 cubic-feet). A worthy trade for families that like to travel between sports fields or out of town on the weekends.

The XC90 is a superb luxury environment on wheels. The quality interior materials stand out, as does its multitude of convenience functions. This is only matched only by the list of safety functions included as standard. The XC90 will carry over mostly unchanged for the 2021 model year. All models get a handful of tech updates, including front parking sensors and two USB-C ports on the back on the center console. The plug-in variant, formerly the T8, now sits under the Recharge sub-brand.
 
The XC90’s teeters the midsize and large categories as well as the mainstream and luxury brands. It’s a pricier choice, but buyers in this segment will often take a long look. It’s third-row legroom is 31.9 inches, a common measurement in the segment. It could be tight for adults, but a small price to pay when there’s 21.8 cubic-feet of usable storage space with the rear seats up.

Hyundai’s largest vehicle to date, it aims right for the heart of the large, three-row SUV segment. The Palisade is closely related to corporate cousin the Kia Telluride and replaced Santa Fe XL. While the Telluride boasts a rugged air, the Palisade offers a statelier experience and, depending on budget, can be an affordable family ride or high-class transporter with features and appointments closer to offerings generally associated with the premium brands such as Nappa leather, a 10.25-inch center touchscreen and a head-up display.
 
The Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride have an identical third-row legroom measurement of 31.4 inches, which is middle of the road amidst peers. But cargo space behind the Palisade’s third row is 18 cubic-feet compared with the Telluride’s 21. But the Palisade is more of a cruiser than a weekend warrior, which is why front-row legroom is a generous 44.1 inches (compared with Telluride’s 41.4 inches).

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse is the largest midsize SUV, roomier than Ford Explorer and cheaper than its near-luxury Buick Enclave sibling. It almost offers as much interior space as the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe. Every row is passably comfortable and it drives reasonably well. It also tows 2.5 tons and offers intuitive infotainment and standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Its cockpit appointments could be better and too much safety tech is restricted to costlier trim lines.
 
Buyers that want the largest three-row SUV also will get the most legroom in the rear (33.5 inches) and maximum cargo space with all seats intact (23 cubic-feet). The Traverse teeters between midsize and large with its 204.3-inches length. Most of the other entries merely flirt with 200 inches of length.

Ford’s updates to the Explorer in recent years have helped it make inroads against its European and Asian rivals, but it stumbles in the comfort and with fit and finish categories, which makes it hard to justify the exorbitant prices some configurations demand. Kia and Hyundai specifically make a compelling case with the Telluride and Palisade SUVs, both of which pack much more upscale interiors and better value than the Explorer.
 
The Explorer’s third row sits mid-pack amongst rivals, offering 32.2 inches of legroom. However, its 18.2 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the third row falls short of the Volkswagen Atlas, which offers a generous 20.6 cubic-feet of stowage with the rear seats intact. Some may argue that sacrificing third-row passenger space for cargo space is a worthy trade.

With a refined sporty-yet-understated interior, the MDX often flies under the radar in the luxury category. The fourth-generation 2022 MDX (Acura is skipping 2021 altogether) brings the three-row, midsize SUV back into focus with leading technology features that offer attention towards usability and flexibility, including a removable second row center seat, while retaining its reputation as a performance-oriented SUV. It’s 3.5-liter V6 engine carries over, but an all-new, Acura-dedicated platform brings more elegant proportions (similar to the TLX sedan and RDX compact crossover) and a new 10-speed automatic transmission brings a more athletic quality to the drive experience.
 
The new Acura also is bigger, offering 29 inches of legroom in the third row, almost an inch more compared with the outgoing model. The cargo bay also grew from 15.8 cubic-feet to 18, which is in step with the Hyundai Palisade and Ford Explorer.

The Ascent offers more of what Subaru’s famously loyal owners already like about their vehicles. It’s comfy, value-oriented and user-friendly. It can handle light off-roading duties quite well, with a very capable standard all-wheel drive system. On the pavement it isn’t a very exciting drive, but it’s quite talented at ferrying commuters and passengers around with minimal fuss in a logically-designed cabin. It also offers top-notch safety scores, many active safety features and good fuel economy for its class. It’s third row is a little smaller than some of its rivals, there’s no V6 option and it’s looks are in the eye of the beholder, but the Ascent is a solid buy for outdoorsy families.
 
The Ascent’s third row isn’t hard to access, but it isn’t as big as some competitors or as comfy. The Ascent’s seats tend to be on the hard side, wayback included. That said, its 31.7 inches third row legroom are very respectable, and it manages 17.8 cubic-feet of cargo space with the wayback seats in place. It also has more overall volume than the Honda Pilot.

The Pilot carries over mostly unchanged for the 2021 model year, except for Honda making its smooth-shifting nine-speed transmission standard across the lineup. The automaker’s all-wheel drive also is available across all models, a useful upgrade to families that live in seasonal regions, especially with driving modes that adjust for Snow, Sand and Mud (it also has a mildly impressive 7.3 inches of ground clearance). But driving dynamics are lackluster while cruising around town and styling is generic. Nonetheless, the Pilot’s spacious cabin, host of standard safety tech, fuel efficiency and plentiful small space storage makes it an effective tool whether running errands or embarking on long family road trips.
 
The Pilot might be road-trip friendly, but it only offers 16.5 cubic-feet of cargo space with the rear seats in use. That means families might have to choose between people and stuff when they hit the road, or just sprinkle everyone strategically throughout the cabin. The third-row legroom is on the small side (31.9 inches) but will appease most kids.

The Toyota Highlander offers a fairly spacious interior (the middle row is more in line with rivals than the third), an enhanced list of standard safety technology and superior safety scores. It also has a surprisingly capable towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. But the midsize SUV category is brimming with talent, so what really makes it standout is the hybrid powertrain that is available on all trims, including a new sporty XSE model. It makes the Highlander a compelling choice among mainstream competition for buyers that don’t want to sacrifice fuel efficiency for space.
 
Third row legroom in Toyota’s Highlander is on the smaller side with 27.7 inches and it only offers 16 cubic-feet of cargo space with the rear seats up. But the SUV is one of the pioneering minivan-like SUVs in the segment and the new generation sports a new, hipper silhouette so buyers will likely forgive the tighter spaces for one of three reasons: they like what they see, they prioritize fuel efficiency or they just want the Toyota.

For 2021, Kia redesigned its Sorento crossover with fresh styling and two new powertrains (one’s a hybrid), taking aim at buyers that a smaller SUV that straddles the compact and midsize segments in size. The Sorento could have become the odd man out in the Kia lineup, considering the Kia Telluride’s smash-hit success, but it manages to carve a niche in the family-centric segment by offering a three-row, seven-passenger layout with a slightly smaller footprint and lower price than its big brother Telluride. A Sorento plug-in hybrid is due out next year.
 
If the Chevy Traverse is on the large end of the midsize spectrum, the Sorento represents the small side. The 29.6 inches of legroom offered in its third row is less than some but not all. Its tight wayback cargo space is where its compact footprint falters. While the new-generation Sorento is a little bigger, its 12.6 cubic-feet of stowage will be unacceptable by most that need to fill seats and haul stuff at the same time.