Choosing the right family SUV is easier if you consider how your family will use it. A family with two young children may care more about whether they can easily get into the car seats and how much stuff they can put in the back, than about being able to pull something. A family with teenagers will need a third row that works well. People who drive long distances each week may care more about how far their car goes on a tank of gas than how big the engine is.
If you plan to use all three rows, a three-row SUV also needs to work well. A large area for cargo when the third row is folded down doesn’t tell you how much stuff you can put in the back when all three rows are being used.
The Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Toyota Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer are all good choices. Each has advantages over the others, but none of them are equal in terms of interior size, fuel efficiency, flexibility in seating arrangements and performance.
Hyundai Palisade
If you’re looking for an SUV that’s easy to recommend and puts passenger comfort first, the Hyundai Palisade is a good place to start. It is one of the best family SUVs to consider when rear-seat comfort is a priority.
The Palisade currently has a very big inside, seats for three rows and useful space for cargo. The gas version uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine, and the Palisade Hybrid uses a four-cylinder hybrid engine.
If you’re going to drive your family around a city for a long time, the hybrid version might make sense. Hyundai says the front-wheel drive Palisade Hybrid gets 34 miles per gallon combined. The all-wheel drive version gets 29 miles per gallon combined.
Those are EPA estimates, so the actual gas mileage you get may depend on things like the weather, how busy the roads are, how hot or cold it is outside, and how you drive.
According to Hyundai’s specifications, the Palisade Hybrid has 159.6 cubic feet of space for passengers and 19.1 cubic feet of space for cargo behind the third row. With both the second and third rows folded down, there are 86.7 cubic feet of space for cargo.
The 19.1 cubic feet is an important number to consider. This will give you enough space for your everyday items such as groceries and carry-on baggage when using all three rows of seating. If you are going to be carrying strollers, several suitcases or anything larger, it would be a good idea to look at the cargo area prior to purchasing.
Also, the Palisade gives people in the second row 41.4 inches of room for their legs. People in the third row get 32.1 inches.
So, the Palisade’s third row is more useful than the small back seats usually found in smaller three-row SUVs. That makes the Palisade one of the best family SUVs for families that regularly use all three rows.
Kia Telluride
Families like the Kia Telluride because it has a lot of interior space and good space for people and cargo. The Telluride is also one of the best family SUVs when cargo space behind the third row is important.
According to Kia’s specifications, the Telluride currently offers 22.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity with its third-row seats in place; 48.7 cubic feet with its second-row seats folded flat and 89.3 cubic feet with both the second- and third-row seats folded.
The cargo capacities for each of these three seating configurations make the Telluride an excellent choice if you have a lot of luggage but do not want to fold down the third-row seats.
Also, the Telluride has 32.1 inches of room for legs in the third row. This is enough room for children and many teenagers to sit comfortably in the third row.
However, adults should try sitting in the third row before buying.
The gasoline-powered Telluride (front-wheel drive) is rated at 20 mpg (in city) and 26 mpg (on highway). The all-wheel-drive version of the Telluride has a rating of 18 mpg (city) and 24 mpg (highway).
The newest Telluride also has a hybrid engine. So, if you’re looking at new models, you’ll have two other choices: a gas SUV or a hybrid.
In general, the Telluride is a good choice for families who want a lot of interior space, family-friendly features and room for cargo more than they want to save money on gas.
Toyota Grand Highlander
If you often carry people and luggage at the same time, the Toyota Grand Highlander is one of the best family SUVs to look at.
Toyota makes the Grand Highlander with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a 2.5-liter hybrid engine. There’s also a Hybrid MAX model with a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine.
How much gas you use depends on which model you choose.
Toyota says the front-wheel drive Grand Highlander Hybrid gets 36 miles per gallon in the city, 32 miles per gallon on the highway and 34 miles per gallon combined.
Toyota says the all-wheel drive Hybrid gets 36 miles per gallon in the city, 32 miles per gallon on the highway and 34 miles per gallon combined on Toyota’s website.
Compared to the regular turbocharged model, the Grand Highlander Hybrid uses less gas. Front-wheel drive versions can get up to 21 miles per gallon in the city, 28 miles per gallon on the highway and 24 miles per gallon combined depending on the model.
The biggest reason to buy a Grand Highlander is its size. Families will have more space inside than with the regular Highlander, especially if they use the third row.
That extra space will help on long trips. Families will be able to use all three rows and still have some space for luggage behind the third row.
If you want one of the best family SUVs for carrying people, luggage and things for a road trip, you should take a closer look at the Grand Highlander.
Honda Pilot
If you want a normal three-row SUV without buying a full-size SUV, the Honda Pilot is a reasonable choice for families. It is another option among the best family SUVs for buyers who want a conventional three-row layout.
The inside of the Pilot is easy to use, and its seating arrangement allows families to choose how to carry different numbers of people and different amounts of cargo.
Also, if you plan to use the third row often, you may want to check out the Pilot.
Families should not only check the legroom, but also find out how easy it is for children to get into the third row when car seats are installed in the second row.
A 3.5-liter V6 engine powers the Pilot, and you can add all-wheel drive.
Gas mileage isn’t the main reason to choose a Pilot. Instead, the Pilot is a good choice if you want a simple three-row SUV with a normal engine, useful space for passengers and a familiar design.
Nissan Pathfinder
Another reasonable choice for families who need three rows of seats and the ability to tow is the Nissan Pathfinder. It is one of the best family SUVs to consider if towing is part of your regular driving needs.
The Pathfinder uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the model, it can tow up to 6,000 pounds when set up correctly.
So, the Pathfinder is different from many family SUVs that mostly focus on carrying people. If you often tow small trailers, boats or utility trailers, you should consider the Pathfinder.
Before you buy a Pathfinder, you should find out how much space there is for cargo behind the third row. It’s not as big as some of its competitors.
Edmunds also says the Pathfinder has less space for cargo behind the third row than both the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot.
So, the Pathfinder is a better choice for families who care more about towing and a powerful V6 engine than about having the most space for luggage with all three rows in use.
Ford Explorer
Ford also makes a three-row SUV called the Explorer. It has many different engine and feature options for you to choose from.
If you want an SUV that can carry your family and also pull something, an Explorer might be a good choice for your family. The Explorer gives buyers another option among the best family SUVs when towing and equipment choices are both important.
As of now, Ford lists four-wheel drive Explorers that get 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway on some models.
Higher performance models use more gas, so the specific model will affect how you compare the costs of owning it.
Ford also offers its own driver assistance features for installation in Explorers, including BlueCruise depending on the model and features you choose.
Before you buy, check the specific features list for the Explorer models you’re looking at instead of assuming all Explorers have the same technology.
Driver assistance features and safety related features may be different on different models.
Which family SUV has more cargo space?
Cargo capacity becomes much more important when all three rows are filled with passengers. This is one of the areas to compare when choosing between the best family SUVs.
Both Kia Telluride (manufacturer’s specifications) and Hyundai Palisade Hybrid (manufacturer’s specifications) have cargo capacity measurements at 22.3 cu ft (Kia) vs. 19.1 cu ft (Hyundai) when measuring the area behind the third-row seating.
Because both manufacturers specify their own methods of measuring and reporting cargo capacities, it is not possible to compare these two models directly in terms of cargo capacity.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is also worth looking into if cargo space is a big concern because its larger body gives you more space inside for passengers and luggage than smaller three-row SUVs made by Toyota.
When comparing SUVs, don’t just look at the maximum numbers for cargo space when all the back seats are folded down.
Open up the back hatch and see how much space you have with each seat set up the way you normally would use it.
A stroller is a great way to test this. Two or three suitcases, along with a few bags of groceries, are also great ways to test this.
Which SUV gets better gas mileage?
How well an SUV uses gas depends on whether you choose a gas-powered model or a hybrid model. Fuel economy is another factor to compare among the best family SUVs.
Toyota estimates the Grand Highlander Hybrid gets 34 miles per gallon combined in the models listed by Toyota.
Hyundai estimates the Palisade Hybrid gets 34 miles per gallon combined with front-wheel drive and 29 miles per gallon combined with all-wheel drive.
These estimates are very different from those for the gas versions of these larger SUVs.
A hybrid car can be helpful if it spends a lot of time in city traffic where its engine can save energy when it slows down.
However, things like how much the car costs, what model you choose, how much insurance costs and how much gas costs where you live should be included in your calculations of how much it will cost to own.
Don’t choose a hybrid car just because its EPA rating is higher than that of a gas-powered equivalent.
Find out how much more a hybrid car costs than a gas car and compare that difference in price against how many miles you drive each year.
Which family SUV is best for a big family?
If you have three or more children, you need to think about more than just how many seats there are. Families comparing the best family SUVs should also check how the seating works with their actual car seats.
Where you put car seats can have a big effect on how easy it is to use the second-row and third-row seats.
Before you buy, put in the actual car seats you plan to use and see if children can easily get to the third-row seats without constantly moving seats around.
The arrangement of the second-row seats will also affect how easy they are to use.
Captain’s chairs can make it easier to get to the third-row seats; however, captain’s chairs will reduce the number of people who can sit in the second row.
For families who frequently use all three rows, the Grand Highlander, Palisade and Telluride are good choices to include at the top of your list of cars to test drive because they have a lot of space inside for passengers.
Which family SUV is best for road trips?
Problems with how a car performs that might not be obvious during short test drives will become obvious during long road trips.
See how comfortable the second-row and third-row seats are, how well the air conditioning works for people in the back, how many storage spaces there are, how many cup holders there are, how many places you can plug in chargers, and how loud it is at highway speeds.
Space for luggage will also become more important during long road trips.
Families may need luggage for every person while still having enough room for a third row of seats.
Because it has a good amount of space for passengers and space for luggage, the Grand Highlander is a good choice for road trips.
The Palisade and Telluride also have comfortable three-row interiors and enough storage spaces.
If you’re worried about stopping for gas during road trips, consider hybrid versions instead of assuming the largest possible SUV is the best choice for road trips.
Safety must be checked separately
You can’t check safety just by looking at how many airbags there are or whether or not a car has driver assistance features listed in brochures.
Look up the current NHTSA crash test ratings and IIHS ratings for the exact models and model years you’re looking at. Safety is an important part of comparing the best family SUVs.
Safety ratings can change after a car is redesigned, and equipment can be different on different models.
For example, Edmunds’ current three-row safety rating gives the Kia Telluride a high score, while iSeeCars uses NHTSA and IIHS ratings along with reliability and family-friendly qualities in its family SUV ratings system.
Driver assistance features also have their limits.
Blind-spot warning systems, automatic emergency braking systems and lane assistance systems are meant to help drivers, not replace careful driving behind the wheel.
What factors must be considered before buying a family SUV?
Take more than a short test drive. A proper test drive is especially important when comparing the best family SUVs because seating and cargo space can feel different in person.
Put in child seats. Check how much space there is in the second row and see if you can still get to the third-row seats.
Use all three rows. Sit in the third row yourself.
Check how much legroom and headroom there is and how easy it is to get in and out of the third-row seats.
Measure the cargo area with the third row up. This measurement is important when all members of the family are traveling together.
Try opening the back hatch. Make sure the opening is big enough for a stroller, bags or other typical cargo you carry often.
Try using the climate controls in the back. A large cabin will take longer to cool or heat up, especially when the car is full of people and luggage.
Check out the exact model you’re looking at. Don’t assume the base model has the same safety, comfort, technology and equipment features as higher priced models.
Check out how much gas it uses. Compare the EPA ratings for city, highway and combined driving instead of just relying on general statements from manufacturers about how efficient it is.
Check out the latest safety ratings. Use NHTSA and IIHS instead of just believing what ads say about safety.
Which SUV is the best family SUV?
No single SUV is better than all other SUVs in every way.
The Hyundai Palisade is a good choice if comfort in the back seats and nice features inside the cabin are important to you. It remains one of the best family SUVs for buyers who place passenger comfort high on their list.
The Kia Telluride has practical space for luggage behind the third row and a design inside that is friendly to families.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is great if space for passengers and space for luggage are most important to you, and its hybrid version uses much less gas than the gas version.
The Honda Pilot is a practical choice for families who want a normal three-row SUV, and the Nissan Pathfinder is a good choice if you need to be able to tow something.
The Ford Explorer is another three-row option for buyers with optional all-wheel drive and many different equipment choices available for customization.
In the end, choosing the best family SUV means looking at what you and your family need and want compared to what each SUV offers.
