Best 8-Passenger Vehicles for 2024: For a Capacity Crowd, Grab One of These SUVs or Vans
Both three-row SUVs and minivans are represented here, but only one type of people mover can move people best.
What’s the best way to move up to eight people in comfort over long road trip distances? Perhaps surprisingly, it’s a minivan, not the bestselling way people choose to move people in comfort over long distances (big SUVs). Regardless, you want three rows of seats, something offered in carlike large crossovers, large SUVs, and vans alike, and if you want maximum people-carrying abilities, that means going for an eight-seat option. Here are the best eight-passenger vehicles you can buy in 2024, according to MotorTrend's Ultimate Car Rankings.
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2024 Lincoln Navigator | MT Score: 8.3
If you have the money, the 2024 Lincoln Navigator is a mean bit of kit. The Navigator has the look, feel, and price of a true flagship product, with swagger to spare. Any negatives are largely drowned out by the sumptuous cabin and surprisingly good driving dynamics, though nitpicks still exist. BlueCruise hands-free driving is powerful when it works but overly sensitive in terms of its driver attention monitoring features. For space, the Navigator is as massive as it looks, but it’s beat in terms of interior volume and cargo space by the Chevy Suburban.
2024 Lincoln Navigator Pros and Cons
Pros
- Swagger inside and out
- Smooth, capable powertrain
- Surprisingly controlled drive
Cons
- Ride quality could be better
- BlueCruise can be too sensitive
- Less cargo space than Escalade
- Price: $85,260
- Cargo Capacity: 36.0/120.3 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer | MT Score: 8.4
Equipped with the powerful Hurricane I-6 engine and blessed with a school bus’ worth of exquisitely furnished interior space, the 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and long-wheelbase Wagoneer L might inspire sticker shock, but both just might be worth their shocking stickers. Luxury can be had by the ton in the Grand Wagoneers, in every row, making road trips relaxing rather than taxing. Fuel economy is where you’ll be taxed in the Wagoneer, though only by a few mpg more than the other massive full-size three-row SUVs.
2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L Pros and Cons
Pros
- The most luxurious Jeep
- Muscular turbo inline-six
- Not a bad seat in the house
Cons
- Awful fuel economy
- High cost of entry
- Looks like a (not-Grand) Wagoneer
- Price: $93,945
- Cargo Capacity: 27.4/70.9 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Chevrolet Suburban | MT Score: 8.4
As the reigning monarch of SUV interior spaciousness, the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban provides a jaw-dropping amount of interior room for much less money than its luxury-oriented counterparts from GMC and Cadillac. The trade-off is that the interior fittings of that enormous space are far less elegant than those of GM’s other SUVs on this same platform, the Navigator and Wagoneer, or even direct non-luxury counterparts like the Ford Expedition. The Suburban also doesn’t drive as well as those counterparts, and the ride quality on the base suspension isn’t great. But it does have the most space for the least money, and its larger faults are ameliorated as you move up the trim ladder.
2024 Chevrolet Suburban Pros and Cons
Pros
- A truly enormous interior
- Powerful engines
- Nimble despite size
Cons
- Cabin's lackluster appointments
- Wallowy standard suspension
- Miserable fuel economy
- Price: $61,195
- Cargo Capacity: 41.5/144.7 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Subaru Ascent | MT Score: 8.5
Recently refreshed and equipped with a third row, the 2024 Subaru Ascent has a much smaller footprint than large SUVs like the Suburban, Navigator, or Wagoneer, yet the Ascent maintains an eight-seat capacity. Because of its carlike crossover construction, the Ascent gets noticeably better gas mileage than its more trucklike counterparts. But whereas eight adults could very reasonably road-trip in a Suburban, the Ascent’s rear rows are sized more for children. Third-row ingress and egress are also more challenging than they should be. But the Ascent has a solid engine and the same maximum passenger number as the Suburban, at roughly half the price.
2024 Subaru Ascent Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong turbocharged engine
- Well-packaged interior
- Strong feature-per-dollar value
Cons
- Ride is a bit stiff
- Folded seats don't provide a continuous cargo floor
- Dated tech
- Price: $35,740
- Cargo Capacity: 17.6/72.8 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Kia Carnival | MT Score: 8.5
SUVs dominate the family vehicle space, even though they’re not as space efficient as humbler minivans, and that’s where the 2024 Kia Carnival comes in. Marketed as an MPV (multipurpose vehicle) rather than a minivan (even though it’s basically a van), the Carnival has the sharp look normally associated with large SUVs but the far superior packaging, pricing, and economy of a proper minivan. The Carnival is purpose-built to lure people who believe SUVs are the practical answer for their people-moving needs, by eschewing the minivan look while still providing minivan space and comfort. Despite all this for a very reasonable price, the interior's capacitive touch buttons would’ve been better left out. For 2025, Kia has improved the Carnival and even added a more efficient hybrid option.
2024 Kia Carnival Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comfortable ride doesn't sacrifice control
- Interior tech and storage solutions
- Feature-per-dollar value
Cons
- No hybrid or AWD option
- V-6 can be noisy under load
- Capacitive touch buttons
- Price: $34,995
- Cargo Capacity: 40.2 cu-ft/NA (rear seats up/down)
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | MT Score: 8.6
It might not be as practical or space-efficient as a minivan, but the 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid offers more impressive fuel economy than other midsize three-row crossover SUVs. But although its hybrid powertrains make an impressive 36 mpg highway, even our top-ranked three-row hybrid SUV loses out to minivans in terms of interior spaciousness. The first and second rows offer plenty of room, but the third row is exclusively for young children, and its cargo-carrying capacity also lags behind vehicles like the Carnival or Toyota Sienna. The Highlander Hybrid also has a distinct lack of power, especially at important highway passing speed. These bugaboos are largely fixed on the larger (but not as highly ranked) Grand Highlander model.
2024 Toyota Highlander Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great driving range
- Solid fuel economy
- Good cargo capacity
Cons
- Loud engine
- Tight third row
- Poor passing power
- Price: $42,420
- Cargo Capacity: 16.0/84.3 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Kia Telluride | MT Score: 8.7
We’ve always loved the 2024 Kia Telluride, and its recent updates have sweetened the pot. Good looks, a smooth ride, and some of the best packaging to be found in a crossover SUV combine with knockout looks to great effect. Infotainment is also good, but the third row is characteristically smallish, like other SUVs. While not as spacious as a minivan, the Telluride is among the best crossovers for those dead set on the trendier body style. It lacks hardcore off-road ability on models outside of the X-Pro, but for the road, it's hard to do better with an SUV.
2024 Kia Telluride Pros and Cons
Pros
- Smart interior packaging
- Excellent ride and handling
- Large screens with responsive UI
Cons
- V-6 engine's thirst
- Third row could be bigger
- Just one engine option
- Price: $37,585
- Cargo Capacity: 21.0/87.0 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Toyota Sienna | MT Score: 8.9
There are very few family vehicles that move families better than the 2024 Toyota Sienna. Smaller on the outside than a large SUV but packing more interior space, the Sienna has storied Toyota reliability, sleek bodywork, and excellent powertrain and drivetrain options. The infotainment system isn’t as modern as some of the competition, but good looks and plenty of space make the Sienna worth its not-quite-bargain price.
2024 Toyota Sienna Pros and Cons
Pros
- More interior space than most SUVs
- Standard hybrid powertrain
- Available all-wheel drive
Cons
- Doesn't use latest infotainment tech
- Loud engine when pushed
- Rivals' lower starting prices
- Price: $39,135
- Cargo Capacity: 33.5/101.0 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Hyundai Palisade | MT Score: 9.0
Our favorite SUV is the 2024 Hyundai Palisade. An interior that borders on luxury for much less money, a serene ride, and solid value keep it at the top of our eight-seater charts. It’s not as engaging to drive as the mechanically related Telluride, but the Palisade offers plenty of space in the first two rows and an array of standard driver assists. Overall, the Palisade has the Telluride’s upsides but with a calmer and more buttoned-down demeanor in terms of its driving characteristics. But even the best SUV still doesn’t have a third row usable for adults, even if it’s highly ranked overall.
2024 Hyundai Palisade Pros and Cons
Pros
- Near-luxury interior trim, features
- Plenty of cabin space
- Many standard driver assist features
Cons
- Middling fuel economy
- Third row isn't very spacious
- Somewhat button-heavy center console
- Price: $38,215
- Cargo Capacity: 18.0/86.4 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
2024 Honda Odyssey | MT Score: 9.1
With more than 38 inches of third row legroom, the 2024 Honda Odyssey’s third row is more spacious than some cars’ front rows. But more than that, the Odyssey is simply the best choice for moving families, with truly enormous amounts of interior space combined with slick features like the CabinWatch camera system for drivers to keep an eye on passengers in the way back. The Honda will outdo any SUV competition in terms of people moving not just on practicality, but on features, as well. Besides that, it’s just a great, highly ranked minivan.
2024 Honda Odyssey Pros and Cons
Pros
- Clever family-friendly features
- Surprisingly pleasant driving experience
- Smart packaging and tons of space
Cons
- No hybrid or AWD option
- Dated infotainment
- Occasionally finicky third-row seats
- Price: $43,315
- Cargo Capacity: 38.6/158.0 cu ft (rear seats up/down)
Best 8-Passenger Vehicles:
- 10. 2024 Lincoln Navigator | MT Score: 8.3
- 9. 2025 Kia Carnival | MT Score: 8.5
- 8. 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer | MT Score: 8.4
- 7. 2024 Chevrolet Suburban | MT Score: 8.4
- 6. 2024 Subaru Ascent | MT Score: 8.5
- 5. 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | MT Score: 8.6
- 4. 2024 Kia Telluride | MT Score: 8.7
- 3. 2024 Toyota Sienna | MT Score: 8.9
- 2. 2024 Hyundai Palisade | MT Score: 9.0
- 1. 2024 Honda Odyssey | MT Score: 9.1
An SW20 MR2 guy turned begrudging ND2 Miata guy, Will drives that ND2 in AutoX, drift, and occasional HPDEs. He likes vehicles that are good at what they're meant to do, preferably without atomizing the bank in the process. Will’s been writing professionally about cars since 2013, with eye-opening new experiences every year.
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