Best Midsize 3-Row SUVs – The best vehicles on the road, ranked by our experts:
#1 – Kia Telluride
I have a SX X-Line and it’s been better than advertised. Beautiful interior, smooth ride, wonderfully practical features (surround view camera, heated & cooled seats, blind spot camera, an AWD switch, etc). The ride is smooth and the X-line has 8.4 inches of ground clearance so you get a great view from the driver’s seat and can move confidently during heavy rain / snow. Considered the VW Atlas & Honda Pilot. Glad I didn’t compromise. In-person this looks better and if you’re online you know it rates better everywhere.
#2 – Hyundai Palisade
Please don’t waste your time purchasing any Hyundai cars, especially Palisade Limited. High-end means low-end product. Here are the issues: not reliable, not safe, no customer service from the corporation and dealership. Purchased the Calligraphy AWD. I’m used to luxury SUVs as I drove BMW X5 for years but because of growing family, I now need a spacious 3rd row for a family car. This is very limited on options. I looked at Lexus GX and LX, Cadillac XT6 and Escalade and my spouse really liked the Palisade Calligraphy, even though Hyundai had the worst interest rates and no incentives for top tier buyers on this model. Between the over MSRP dealer charges and 8% interest rate for top tier credit of 750 -800, my Hyundai purchase is a mortgage payment for some people… of over $1k a month. Will cost me $73k over term of 6 yrs! I would lease but it was $850 for 10K miles per yr + $20 for tire plan per mo. At this price difference, we decided to buy. Here in South Fl dealers go over MSRP on this model. I negotiated as close to MSRP as possible. I put 5k down and still paid about $2k over MSRP in the end. Not happy. Worst economy I’ve seen in my lifetime and worst deal I’ve got! Buy the lux brand if you don’t need the very spacious third row badly, and won’t use all the tech/added features the Calligraphy has.
#3 – Toyota Grand Highlander
It’s a great vehicle.!!! If you want comfort, a roomy interior and the option to seat 7 or 8 passengers you should take a look at this vehicle. Our family is growing and I had recently 2 years ago had purchase a brand new SUV at Mazda which I had so many issues with given that is was a new car. We really needed a reliable vehicle specially driving around with my toddler and a new baby coming soon I didn’t feel safe. I really loved the Grand Highlander for its reliability safety and so spacious. I love this vehicle it provided us all the extra space we need. The Grand Highlander is so much spacious and bigger but I can still drive it comfortably. It feel super roomy inside and I can fit my mother in laws walker and my toddler stroller in the trunk. The vehicle looks amazing has a great build. I get a lot of compliments.
#4 – Mazda CX-90
Purchased mine on 9/25/2023, and, I still have smile on my face. My wife and I are in our mid 70’s, no grand kids yet, and, this was the perfect SUV for us. I’m a Mazda fan and still own a 2013 Miata MX5 converitble as my fun in the sun toy. The Preferred Plus trim was perfect of us as we needed a 2nd row bench seat, which is not available on upper trims, for our dogs. 280hp is more than enough power for hwy merging and has ample passing power when needed. Like all Mazdas this is a “drivers vehicle”. Great handling, good power, and, the fit and finish is fantastic. Test drove the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, and, Hyundai Palisade, which were okay, but none of them drive like this CX90. Yes, those have more cargo space, and, legroom in the 3rd row, but that was not a necessity for us. I traded a 2018 VW Atlas V6 I had for 5 1/2 years and it was cavernous like the other 3 I test drove. However, none of these are a “drivers vehicle” like this CX90. The Turbo charged 3.3 liter at 280hp uses regular gas, and, gets better gas mileage than the others. If you want a midsized SUV that has more than adequate power, fantastic handling, and, the best fit and finish of any vehicle in its price range, the CX90 is a real winner. Especially in the Preferred Plus trim. It’s both Zoom Zoom, and, superb handling all in one package. Personally, I don’t have a single dislike.
#5 – Honda Pilot
Leased a honda pilot trail sport 2023. It drives amazing and has all the features a family needs. I wanted the lighter steering and more comfortable drive on bumps and the new pilot had everything I wanted. I also love the new body style since the previous style looked more like a minivan. It does waste a bit more of gas than my previous pilot but it’s worth it. I test drive 2 Honda Pilots one a basic with no frills, the 2nd one in the Red Metallic fully loaded. I wanted a lease. However the down payment was very high as well as the monthly cost. I skipped this vehicle because it’s over-priced for a lease. To buy it was worse the dealer wanted 20K down without running my credit and that’s a down payment for a house. I’d rather keep my money in my pocket. Research also showed consumer complaints of car breaking down on a trip after purchase. I’m not throwing away my hard earned money on any vehicle that is unreliable.
