10 Cheapest Three-Row SUVs for 2023
Minivans aren't for everyone.
Photos by Multiple Manufacturers
Large vehicles often require large payments, but big families don't necessarily have to stretch their budgets to buy a new ride. They simply need to look at the affordable options out there. This list of the 10 cheapest three-row crossover SUVs is a good place to start.
Toyota
2023 Toyota Highlander
$38,000
You might have heard about the so-called Toyota tax, a supposed premium the market charges in light of Toyota's reputation for reliability and strong resale value. Yet here's the Highlander, a midsize Toyota SUV, for a budget-friendly price — albeit the most expensive entry on this list.
The eight-seat base model uses a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 265 horsepower, achieves 21/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined, and offers 16 cubic-feet of storage behind the third row, 48 behind the second, and 84 behind the first.
Kia
2023 Kia Telluride
$37,000
Under the hood of this eight-seater is a 3.8-liter V6 that delivers 291 horsepower — and up to 20/26/23 mpg. The Telluride has 21 cu-ft of cargo space that expands to 46 with the third row folded and 87 when you put down the second row. The crossover also packs five USB-C ports, so multiple people can charge their phones at once. Other desirable features include adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring to make the task of driving a little less stressful.
Hyundai
2023 Hyundai Palisade
$37,000
The Palisade is mechanically identical to the Telluride, using the same 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 to deliver up to 19/27/22 mpg. Due to differences in cabin design, there are just 18 cu-ft of storage behind the third row (versus the Kia's 21 cu-ft), but that expands to 46 and 86 cu-ft when you fold the third and second rows, respectively.
Nissan
2023 Nissan Pathfinder
$37,000
Years ago, the Pathfinder renounced its rugged roots and became a family-friendly SUV, with three rows of seating and a relatively approachable price. Little has changed since. The front-drive S model makes 284 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V6, delivers 20/27/23 mpg, and features 17, 45, and 81 cu-ft of space behind the third, second, and first rows of seating.
Volkswagen
2023 Volkswagen Atlas
$36,000
The entry-level Atlas employs a 235-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and returns 21/25/23 mpg on the EPA's city/highway/combined fuel-economy cycles. It seats seven and has a generous amount of cargo capacity, with 21 cu-ft behind the third row, 56 behind the second, and a whopping 97 behind the first.
Chevrolet
2023 Chevrolet Traverse
$36,000
The Traverse's 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 makes it the most powerful vehicle on this list — and the least efficient, with an 18/27/21-mpg rating. The eight-seat base model can also hold a lot of stuff, with 23 and 58 cu-ft of cargo space behind the third and second rows. Fold all the seats behind the front row and the back becomes an impressive 98-cu-ft cavity, fit for trips to Home Depot.
Subaru
2023 Subaru Ascent
$35,000
The Ascent is the only model here with standard all-wheel drive. It returns 20/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined, and its turbocharged four-cylinder puts out 260 horsepower. With all eight seats up, you'll have 18 cu-ft of storage space in back. That stretches to 44 cu-ft with the third row stowed, and 76 cu-ft when you fold the back rows. And riders should have plenty of landing places for their drinks and phones, with 19 cupholders scattered throughout the cabin.
Kia
2023 Kia Sorento
$32,000
Power ratings and cargo capacity drop considerably once you get to the low $30,000s, as shown by this smaller midsize Korean crossover, which makes 191 horsepower from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and has 13, 45, and 76 cu-ft of space behind the third, second, and first rows. At least that powertrain helps the seven-seater achieve 24/29/26 mpg city/highway/combined — respectable for a three-row ute.
Mitsubishi
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander
$30,000
The Outlander shows up its Nissan Rogue platform-mate by providing a third row of seats. The Mitsubishi's 2.5-liter four-cylinder puts out 181 horsepower, and in front-wheel-drive guise, it returns 24/31/27 mpg. With all seven seats up, there's a limited amount of cargo space at 11 cu-ft, but you can make room for up to 31 and 64 cu-ft of stuff by putting down the second and third rows, respectively.
Volkswagen
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
$28,000
Powering the compact seven-seat Tiguan is a 184-hp turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Expect to see 24/31/27 mpg city/highway/combined from this German crossover, and pack light. The Tiguan features 12, 33, and 65 cu-ft of cargo space behind the third, second, and first rows of seats.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Sami Haj-AssaadSami Haj-Assaad is an award-winning automotive journalist who has contributed to several automotive, electric vehicle, luxury lifestyle, and technology publications. His work isn't just limited to the written word, as he's also hosted YouTube videos and podcasts. Having grown up in the '90s, he has a strong sense of attachment to that era's style, though he also loves to geek out about the modern, futuristic tech and powertrains rolling out today.
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