The Best Midsize 3-Row SUVs You Can Buy in 2026: Carry the Whole Carpool

Minivans are the most space-efficient vehicles for moving people and cargo, but their stigmatization has helped foster a market for three-row SUVs of all sizes. The midsize mainstream three-row SUVs on this list are the most viable vehicles for bringing it all along in something that doesn’t look like a motorized milk carton. MotorTrend has tested larger offerings (such as the Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition, or Toyota Sequoia) and smaller ones (such as Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mitsubishi Outlander), but these midsized ones occupy a sizing sweet spot.

Why does the average 1.9-child American family need a three-row SUV? The extra fold-flat row of seats doesn’t compromise cargo space much while allowing moms and dads to carry teammates and friends when necessary. Spaciousness is a key requirement for a top-ranked midsize three-row, but comfort, build quality, safety, and enough performance to efficiently move a family (or possibly tow a trailer) are other important factors. Based on our testing and experience with every vehicle in the class, these are the best midsize three-row SUVs, as scored by our proprietary Ultimate Car Rankings system.

The Palisade was our top choice last year, too, and the updates made for 2026 help keep it there. The headline change is the addition of a new four-cylinder hybrid powertrain offering that not only ups the horsepower and torque by 15 and 30 percent but also improves combined fuel economy by around 50 percent. The Palisade still earns a best-in-category ranking for technology and design innovation—hallmarks of an excellent user interface.

Read Our Experts’ Full Hyundai Palisade Review

A larger touchscreen, more standard tech, a freshened design, a quieter cabin, and improved steering feel head the list of revisions made to the Pilot for 2026. And these improvements helped lift the Pilot up from fifth to second place in our rankings. There’s a TrailSport off-road model with some legit hardware and software ruggedizing, but Honda is steadfastly sticking with its gas V-6 while most competitors have been moving to turbocharged four-cylinder engines. There is no hybrid version, either (yet).

Read Our Experts’ Full Honda Pilot Review

Much like the Chevrolet Traverse it’s mechanically related to, the GMC Acadia is largely carried over this year, with the notable exception of adding a Denali Ultimate model to the lineup, suitable for those who might also be shopping our best luxury three-row SUV rankings list (where the Acadia’s Buick Enclave sibling is listed). This year the Acadia moves ahead of its Chevrolet Traverse sibling, mostly due to its superior tech and design innovation.

Read Our Experts’ Full GMC Acadia Review

Kia’s Telluride is sitting the 2026 model year out, with the 2027 model launching soon. It will offer a choice of 2.5-liter turbo-four powertrains, with or without hybridization. This hugely popular SUV has garnered a rabid following in a short time (it’s only been on sale since 2020) and for good reason. It looks awesome inside and out, with pleasantly boxy styling and Kia’s excellent display tech combining to give the impression that this SUV costs far more than it actually does.

Read Our Experts’ Full Kia Telluride Review

The third-generation Chevrolet Traverse nails the three-row assignment, providing roomy quarters for first-, second-, and even third-row passengers. With tough styling evocative of the larger, full-size Tahoe, the Traverse looks good, too, and even offers a Z71 off-road variant. Its turbocharged four-cylinder engine keeps up with the times—and the traffic. It’s decently powerful, but we wish it delivered better fuel economy. Chevy makes up for that with easy-to-use interior tech and sharp digital displays.

Read Our Experts’ Full Chevrolet Traverse Review

As fans of 1990s television might say, “There can only be one Highlander!” Toyota begs to differ, now selling two Highlanders in the same segment. The Grand Highlander, as its name implies, is physically larger. But with little zest beyond its comfortable appointments, the Grand Highlander is almost like an SUV-shaped minivan. So why not just buy a lighter, roomier, more efficient minivan? The hybrid-only Toyota Sienna even offers all-wheel drive!

Read Our Experts’ Full Toyota Grand Highlander Review

The current sixth-generation Ford Explorer has been around since 2020, so for 2025 the three-row SUV received updates to the in-cabin tech, revised styling front and rear, and other improvements that freshened the already solid SUV somewhat. For 2026 an off-road-focused Tremor model is offered with both Explorer engine options. The Explorer is rear-drive-based instead of front-drive-based like most of its competitors, which helps this SUV drive with relative zest. It can also tow a decent amount.

Read Our Experts’ Full Ford Explorer Review

The Ascent combines the best attributes the Subaru brand has to offer—standard and effective all-wheel drive, solid safety, and crunchy granola vibes—with a third-row seat. The Ascent is getting a bit long in the tooth, which shows in the slightly old-fashioned screen interface. We also wish the third row were a touch roomier, but the entire cabin is thoughtfully laid out and highly functional. With a new 2027 model expected this summer, push for model closeout pricing if buying a 2026.

Read Our Experts’ Full Subaru Ascent Review

We’ll get this out of the way up front: Most of the Toyota Highlander’s flaws are solved by its larger sibling, the Grand Highlander. It has struck us as odd that Toyota continues to sell both these midsize three-row SUVs with basically the same name, but now we see the long-range plan: Starting in late 2026, a new Highlander will go fully electric, with styling significantly differentiated from the current models. But for now, if the kids bound for your third row are small and agile, the 2026 Highlander is certainly easier to park than the Grand Highlander.

Read Our Experts’ Full Toyota Highlander Review

Mazda’s CX-90 straddles the line between mainstream midsize three-row SUVs and one-grade-higher, full-blown luxury offerings. It’s a premium gray space, if you will, that the Mazda takes full advantage of with upmarket styling, a rear-drive-based chassis (AWD is standard, however), and a standard BMW-style inline-six engine. Stir in the CX-90’s classy interior, and the SUV’s somewhat expensive pricing relative to its peers begins to make sense.

Read Our Experts’ Full Mazda CX-90 Review

Big news for 2026 is the addition of the Hurricane 4 Turbo engine—a sawed-off version of the inline-six that’s been powering larger Stellantis products for some time. It’s more powerful and torquier than the aging Pentastar V-6 now relegated to the base models only. You can still option an L with a low-range transfer case, height-adjustable air suspension, and other goodies to make maximum use of the platform’s inherent off-road capability, a distinction rare in this segment.

Read Our Experts’ Full Jeep Grand Cherokee L Review

2026 brings the Nissan Pathfinder fresh fascia styling, new satin badging, and a revised dashboard with a larger screen and a new magnetic-mount Qi2 wireless phone charger that better retains and cools the phone while charging. The Pathfinder continues to nail access to all three rows of seats with long rear doors and clever fold-and-slide second-row seats. The Pathfinder otherwise feels half-baked, with mediocre fit and finish and downmarket materials throughout.

Read Our Experts’ Full Nissan Pathfinder Review

Volkswagen’s Atlas is one of those midsize SUVs you can buy with either two or three rows of seats. The Atlas—just “Atlas”—is the three-row, while the two-row version is named “Atlas Cross Sport” and is ranked separately among other midsize two-row SUVs. There are cupholders everywhere throughout the cabin, and the Atlas places functionality and roominess first and foremost. The Atlas is due for replacement for 2027, and we’ll see the new model soon. So look for deals on the 2026s.

Read Our Experts’ Full Volkswagen Atlas Review

The Dodge Durango is an outlier in the midsize three-row SUV segment, combining many of the more appealing elements of larger full-size SUVs, such as available rear-wheel drive, beefy looks, and strong towing capacity, with above-average sportiness and agility. Leaning into that vibe, every new 2026 Durango built from this point forward will get a Hemi V-8 engine. For those who value badass looks and burly performance over, say, interior flexibility or roominess, the Durango is unmatched by anything else in the class.

Read Our Experts’ Full Dodge Durango Review

1. 2026 Hyundai Palisade
2. 2026 Honda Pilot
3. 2026 GMC Acadia
4. 2025 Kia Telluride
5. 2026 Chevrolet Traverse
6. 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
7. 2026 Ford Explorer
8. 2026 Subaru Ascent
9. 2026 Toyota Highlander
10. 2026 Mazda CX-90
11. 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
12. 2026 Nissan Pathfinder
13. 2026 Volkswagen Atlas
14. 2026 Dodge Durango