Best 7-Passenger SUVs For 2023

Still in its first generation, the Kia Telluride is a stylish three-row SUV with a roomy and comfortable interior and high-quality materials that create an upscale experience at an affordable price. Standard features are extensive, from infotainment to safety, making the Telluride a good value, especially for families on a budget. There’s also plenty of room for cargo, the ability to tow, and enhanced off-road capabilities this year for more adventurous families.

The Telluride comes in 10 trims, making it a bit confusing to figure out which one is best for you. The four base trims offer front-wheel drive with pricing from $35,690 to $45,490, but you can add all-wheel drive for $2,000. With improved off-road capabilities, new X-Line and X-Pro trims are available on midrange and top SXP trims with standard all-wheel drive. Pricing tops out at $52,785. A 12.3-inch infotainment screen and navigation are now standard for the full lineup. The Kia Telluride has one of the segment’s most upscale interiors and stylish exteriors. The Ford Explorer doesn’t match up on interior quality, but it offers hybrid and performance engine options. The Honda Pilot is gas-only, with a more modest interior. The Toyota Highlander offers a new turbocharged engine this year, or a hybrid for better fuel economy. The Telluride also faces renewed competition from its recently-upgraded Hyundai Palisade sister and the smaller, hybrid-optional Kia Sorento.

At 197 inches long, the Telluride is on the smaller end for midsize three-rows. Yet, it offers the second-largest cargo capacity behind the third row of all vehicles on this list (21 cubic feet, beaten only by the cavernous Chevy Traverse). In addition, second-row legroom is an impressive 42.4 inches, and seats there are available heated and ventilated. And with a third row that’s comfortable for adults, expect all your passengers to be happy campers. Click here to read our review.

The Traverse’s main claim to fame is its truly titanic cargo capacity: the 23 cubic feet it can stow behind the third row beats everything on this list, and its cavernous 98 cubic feet with the two rear rows folded flat has yet to be bested by any segment rival. At 206 inches, the Traverse is the largest unibody crossover, and its supersized body pays dividends for passenger comfort as well as cargo.

The 3-seater third row is comfortable for adult passengers with its 33.5 inches of legroom, and second-row captain’s chairs (standard above the base trim) recline and slide, are optionally heated, and get their own climate controls.  

Despite its utilitarian bent, the Traverse is also pleasant for the driver. The exceedingly user-friendly Chevrolet Infotainment 3 puts screen-related functions right where you need them, and the perky V6 and lithe suspension seem to defy the vehicle’s gargantuan size for smaller-handling road feel than you’d expect.

The Hyundai Palisade gets a refresh this year, improving what was already an exceptional three-row SUV. It has one of the more upscale interiors in the class, with quality trims and attractive styling that edge toward luxury territory. The ride is smooth and well-mannered, with strong acceleration from the standard V6 engine and a quiet ride. A range of five trims makes it easy to find one that fits your needs and budget. Standard features include a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and numerous active-safety features to help keep the family safe. 

Like its corporate stablemate, the Kia Telluride, the Palisade offers an astonishing degree of luxury and feature-richness for a relatively frugal price. But although both rigs are evenly matched in rear-occupant room, the shorter Palisade provides slightly less cargo space behind the rear seats—though it still beats competitors like the Toyota Highlander. 

While the Palisade closes the gap with some frills that the Kia doesn’t get—like included complimentary maintenance, and available power-folding third-row seats and an all-digital gauge cluster—the sales numbers suggest that it’s the Telluride that most buyers want in the garage. Click here to read our review.

The Atlas provides room for days, with class-leading legroom in the third row, grownup-sized seating throughout, and cargo capacity that’s bested only by the supersized Chevy Traverse. Its large window openings and an available panoramic sunroof gives the Atlas’s cabin an airy feel that the more cavernous three-rows sometimes lack. While its massive size can make it feel underpowered with either engine, the well-dialed handling makes it lighter on its feet than a vehicle of this size has any right to be. 

The competitively-priced Atlas boasts a functional interior with some great standard tech, including VW’s nifty Digital Cockpit, but it otherwise looks a little ho-hum inside compared to more glamorous competitors. Also, owners report that the Atlas is prone to some glitches, resulting in spending more time in the shop than busy families might like. However, those who can handle this risk will find the Atlas a spacious, stylish and comfortable people-hauler that can be had at an average price.

All new this year and bigger than it’s ever been before, the 2023 Honda Pilot is a surefire hit for practical and active families. With its comfortable interior, great storage space generous standard safety tech and smartly configurable and accessible rearward rows, the redesigned Pilot has upped its game once again.

While its single-choice V6 and comfort-tuned suspension make it not the first choice of driving enthusiasts, it wins back some points with its available torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and array of drive modes, particularly on the new TrailSport model, which is surprisingly and refreshingly capable off-road.

The updated looks are much more distinctive than previous Pilots, which add lots of curb appeal, but the vehicle itself is pretty large, just shy of Dodge Durango dimensions now. There’s also no hybrid option, so fuel economy is only so-so. The interior, though much larger, is also still a bit on the plain side. Despite these shortcomings, Honda has turned outa clear winner here, and family buyers should at least try before buying.

The Explorer is a versatile hauler, offering a wide array of trims and excellent powertrain choices to its credit. With its twin-turbocharged V6 and nimble handling, the ST variant gives the Mazda CX-9’s driving dynamics a run for their money, and even knocks at the door of German rivals. An also-impressive 318-horsepower hybrid is available, but its paltry 25 mpg combined won’t do you any favors at the pump. 

While performance is its focus, the Explorer gets a hefty dose of comfort and practicality as well, with a smooth ride, decent cargo space for its size, and agreeable seating in all three rows. Ford doesn’t try to cram in too many seats, so roominess for a maximum of 7 passengers is preserved. Top-notch tech abounds, with available features like a traffic-sign-aware adaptive cruise and a nearly seamless self-parking function. Finally, an above-average towing capacity—5,600 lbs when properly equipped—makes the Explorer a capable and well-rounded three-row. 

Sensible, economical, and well-executed, the Ascent offers a family-fun-sized version of the best aspects of the Subaru brand. While occupant and cargo room are solidly average and interior furnishings are hardly opulent, the Ascent’s cabin is thoughtfully-equipped all the way to the rear, with cupholders and connectivity galore. Its generous suite of active driver assists, including adaptive cruise control with lane centering, is standard on all trims. For 2023 the Ascent also earns the IIHS’s coveted Top Safety Pick+ rating even though the agency has dramatically tightened its requirements this year.

The Ascent further distinguishes itself with its standard all-wheel drive—an optional upgrade on most rivals—and its budget-friendly starting price of $35,120 with destination, which on this list is beaten only by the much smaller Kia Sorento. While its ride and handling are agreeable, the Ascent’s main downside is its powertrain, which feels peppy enough at low speeds but struggles to motivate the heavy crossover on the highway.

As one of the more sleek seven-seaters, the Mazda CX-9 can be a squeeze—it’s particularly constrained on cargo space, where it ranks second-worst on our list behind the much smaller Sorento. However, you simply will not find a better-driving three-row with a more luscious interior at this price point. Its standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, 320 pound-feet of torque, and beautifully dialed handling make the CX-9 a joy to drive at any trim. And the slick interior finishes and muted palette gives the cabin a serene and sophisticated feel.  

While it’s not the ideal choice for moving a whole pile of kids or gear, the CX-9 is a fine fit for smaller families just dipping their toes into the three-row realm. The annoying clickwheel-based infotainment system is a substantial downside, but nearly everything else about Mazda’s largest crossover makes it hard to resist once you’ve driven one. 

As Kia’s daintier three-row, the Sorento offers seating for seven in a pinch, while tucking many of big-brother Telluride’s great qualities into a much less imposing (and even more affordable) package. The Sorento comes standard with a generous suite of driver assists, including blindspot and cross-traffic detection. Starting at $31,415 with destination, it’s the cheapest crossover on our list and also one of the most economical ways into any three-row, save for the pokey Mitsubishi Outlander and smaller Volkswagen Tiguan. 

With its premium interior and tidy handling, the Sorento shines among midsizers. It also packs an impressive array of optional powertrains, including a torquey turbocharged four-cylinder, and both gas-electric and plug-in hybrid options that offer some of the best fuel economy you can get from a three-row. However, the Sorento’s smaller size requires compromise on cargo capacity and rear-occupant room: it’s at the bottom of our list in both columns, and earns a place on our best small three-row list.

As the muscle-car of the three-row world, the Dodge Durango is a great pick for those who don’t want to give up performance for passenger capacity. With its truck-like 8,700-lb maximum towing capacity, the Durango lives up to its macho looks and beats everything on our list at lugging stuff as well. You can also option it with a beastly 710 horsepower Hellcat V8, the Durango is a muscle car and a midsize SUV in one package.

With its oversized seats and plush interior, the Durango offers comfort in all three rows, but its high beltline and big pillars add blind spots and bring a cloistered feel to the cabin. Fortunately, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are finally standard on the Durango, but common active-safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist still must be optioned despite the SUV’s hefty ($40,090) starting price.

The Highlander impresses with its refined driving manners and sensibly laid-out cabin, and its tidier dimensions make it more manageable in the city than larger seven-seaters. In addition, a pair of excellent powertrains, including a gas-sipping hybrid, give it the best available fuel economy of anything on our list save the plug-in versions of the Sorento. 

However, although the Highlander’s first two rows are comfortable, its third-row legroom is even less than the Sorento’s, making those three crowded seats provisional. Cargo space behind the third row is similarly constrained, though it does better on overall cargo capacity than some larger competitors like the Pilot. Still, the Highlander is nonetheless a solid pick for families who don’t regularly haul a ton of extra people or gear. Its suite of active-safety assists is among the best on the market, and standard on all trims. Click here to read our review.