Best of 2024: Best 3-Row Mid-Size SUVs (2024)

What’s the best 2024 three-row mid-size SUV? Did the Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer, or Hyundai Palisade make our list? Find out as we look at each SUV.

Ranking the Best 3-Row Mid-Size SUVs of 2024

First, we reviewed them. Now, we rank them! This is the fun part. It’s the part where we get to find out which SUV sits on top of the mountain (maybe figuratively with AWD and some of the powertrains available). After reviewing these SUVs individually and determining their scores based on the powertrain, interior, technology, and overall value, we can now give you a by-the-numbers ranking to help in your next car search. A lot of them start around $37,000, but some of the SUVs here can get into the six-figure range if you’re willing to pay for more luxury, increased ability, and extra features. Each of these 10 automakers had a different take on what customers want and what to really focus on. Take a look at the snippets below to find out where each SUV excelled.

10. 2024 Volkswagen Atlas

Our list starts off with the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. There’s one powertrain option, which is the 269-horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque-making four-cylinder. It mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine drives the car forward with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). There’s nothing exceptional under the hood of the ‘24 Atlas, but it doesn’t feel underpowered either. With FWD, the Atlas can get 20 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

The ride is comfortable and body roll is minimal. Volkswagen offers second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. While infotainment can lag, the cabin is outfitted with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, leather upholstery, an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a 12-inch infotainment screen, and navigation. The top-tiered SEL Premium R-Line has a price tag of $53,805. For that, buyers get a 12-speaker sound system, a surround-view camera, and special diamond stitching in the leather upholstery.

The base 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is fairly well-equipped when it comes to driver assists, too. It’s got forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Additional safety and convenience features that get added throughout the four trims include parking sensors, an automated parking system and a heads-up display. The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas a five-star crash test rating. The Atlas also scored well with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). As you can see, overall, the Atlas is a decent SUV. It just lacks some of the qualities that would really set it apart as an exceptional SUV.

9. 2024 Buick Enclave

Next up, the 2024 Buick Enclave and its DOHC 3.6-liter V6 that makes 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. It’s a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the FWD vehicle. AWD is available for an extra $2,000. The 2024 Enclave can get 18 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with a FWD set up. Although the fuel economy drops with AWD, it only drops by 1 mpg. A capacity of 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped will allow for the towing of some recreational fun, too.

There are some decent space-saving features inside the 2024 Buick Enclave. Even though the passenger-side second-row captain’s chair is the only one that moves forward, the third-row bench folds in a 60/40 configuration. The folding is powered on the Premium trim, too. If all seats are folded, owners can fit a good amount of things into the 97.4 cu-ft of cargo space. Beyond being spacious and having standard heated leather seats, the Enclave has modern tech like a Wi-Fi hotspot, a wireless charging pad, and wireless Apple and Android mirroring. The eight-inch infotainment touchscreen isn’t terribly impressive, but it gets the job done. The Premium trim has upgrades like ventilated and massaging front seats, heated second-row seats, a power-folding third row bench, and a 10-speaker Bose stereo system.

There aren’t an overwhelming number of driver assistance features considering the somewhat high $45,295 base MSRP. Buick does give every 2024 Enclave forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert. You’ll need to go higher up the trim ladder to get a head-up display, surround-view camera, rear pedestrian detection system, automatic emergency braking, and even adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA rated the 2024 model with five stars in overall crash testing. The 2024 Enclave is mostly hurt by the powertrain score and the value score when looking at the list of features compared to the trim pricing.

8. 2024 Ford Explorer

If you want a variety of trims to choose from, the 2024 Ford Explorer may be for you. Most of them get a 300-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. There’s also a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that’s good for 400 horsepower. The 10-speed automatic gearbox helps make 310 lb-ft of torque or 415 lb-ft of torque, depending on the engine. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard and gets 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. AWD is also an option, but drops mpg by a mile or two. This powertrain and drivetrain can handle up to 5,600 lbs. when hauling or towing.

The interior of the 2024 Ford Explorer isn’t the most luxurious on the list, especially if you’re in the cramped third row of the base trim. There is a lot of hard plastic throughout the cabin at that level. However, things steadily improve as buyers get into the ST, King Ranch, and Platinum territory. From faux suede and leather to driver’s seat memory settings, power-folding second and third-row seats, and ventilated front seats, Ford brought forth a long list of amenities. You can count on every 2024 Ford Explorer having a power liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, and satellite radio. The most premium features include a 10.1-inch infotainment screen, a 12.3-inch gauge cluster, a wireless smartphone charger, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

Forward collision mitigation, rear parking sensors, a rear cross-traffic warning, a blind-spot warning, and a lane-departure warning are all included in every 2024 Explorer. Additionally, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and evasive steering assist are available for a fee. This Explorer got five stars from the NHTSA in crash testing, and it received a “Good” rating (the highest available) on crashworthiness from the IIHS. The 2024 Explorer was also given a superior rating (again, the highest available) on front crash prevention involving pedestrians. Safe, loaded with tech, plenty of power, and a whole list of trims to choose from, the 2024 Ford Explorer is adept in several areas, but the three-row mid-sized SUVs coming up on the list have even more outstanding features.

7. 2024 Honda Pilot

Although there are six trim levels of the 2024 Honda Pilot, all of them use the same 3.5-liter V6 that makes 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque with the help of a 10-speed automatic transmission. It’s not the most powerful SUV on this list, but it delivers very smooth driving thanks mostly to the transmission. The standard FWD setup gets 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. With AWD, those numbers drop to 18 mpg and 23 mpg respectively. Despite the lower-horsepower engine, the 2024 Pilot can still tow up to 5,000 lbs.

The Pilot may be a bit of a letdown under the hood, but in the cabin, it shines. The seats are cushioned and supportive. There are two different styles of bench seats available, one with a stowable middle seat. Captain’s chairs are available for the second row, too. Tri-zone automatic climate control gives every passenger the ability to select their preferred temperature. A simplified dash is easy to use but still looks very new. It’s not just the layout of the cabin that works, but it’s also the functions of it. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard. So are the seven speakers in the audio system. Leather-trimmed upholstery, a sound-deadening windshield, driver’s seat memory settings, heated front seats, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system are added to the 2024 with each step up the trim ladder. The one negative? A smaller seven-inch touchscreen. Even the larger available nine-inch screen isn’t as large as some of the others you’ll see on this list.

The Pilot scores well when it comes to safety, too. The NHTSA hasn’t rated the 2024 model yet, but if you click on the IIHS analysis of the 2024 Honda Pilot, you’ll see a long string of green icons, indicating top scores across nearly every category. The Pilot isn’t just safe. It’s also convenient to drive. Honda stacked the Pilot with a bunch of driver assists that help keep drivers aware of their surroundings. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, a lane departure warning, automated emergency braking, and pedestrian detection are standard across the lineup. A blind-spot warning and a rear cross-traffic alert are also standard on most trims.

6. 2024 Subaru Ascent

There’s one engine for the six 2024 Subaru Ascent trims. The turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder boxer engine delivers 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This is the first SUV on our list so far that has standard AWD. Since AWD is standard, there’s no downgrade on mpg, but the wheels do make a difference. 18-inch wheels do get 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, but 20-inch wheels shifts those numbers to 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Subaru makes it easier for its drivers to go off-roading with the 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Of course, you can tow some recreational equipment for extra fun during a day out of dodge, but base models cap off at towing 2,000 lbs. The top-tiered Premium trim can handle up to 5,000 lbs.

The starting price of $35,740 for the base trim gets drivers seating for seven, 19 cup holders, tri-zone automatic climate control, wireless smartphone mirroring, and an 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen. A heated steering wheel, heated first and second-row seats, black or tan perforated or genuine Java-colored leather, and a dual-panel panoramic moonroof are all included at higher trim levels, too. Those are all great features to have, but they don’t make up for the lack of space in the third row. That third row is still usable, but it’s tighter than the likes of the 2024 Ford Explorer and the 2024 Honda Pilot. There’s also less maximum cargo room in the Ascent than in several other competitors. However, the technology that is included really makes this cabin stand out. The 2024 Ascent can be outfitted with a six or 14-speaker stereo system, an interior PA system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and app-based vehicle control. To get all of those features, buyers will end up closer to the $49,790 mark than the $35,740 mark.

Subaru models are known for their great visibility and off-roading capability, but the 2024 Ascent also has some nice driver assists. Brake assist and a rear-view camera are standard. Heated side mirrors, windshield wipers that de-ice with the touch of a button, blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert, evasive steering assistance, reverse automatic braking, a driver attention warning, and surround view monitoring are all available at higher levels, too. As you can see, it’s not that the 2024 Subaru Ascent is a bad vehicle, but other vehicles on this list have better warranties, better powertrains, or the same features available at a lower price.

5. 2024 Dodge Durango

With six trim levels, the 2024 Dodge Durango comes with almost as many engine options. The Durango starts off with a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Next is 5.7-liter V8 that puts out 360 horses and 390 lb-ft of torque. If that’s not enough power, move on up to the 6.4-liter V8 with 475 ponies and 470 lb-ft of torque. Finally, for $97,590, there better be some power behind the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. There is! A supercharged 6.2-liter V8 puts out 710 horsepower and 645 lb-ft of torque. Every engine mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission. RWD is standard on the starting trims while AWD is standard on SRT 392 and Hellcat trims. AWD is optional on some of those lower trims, too. All of this combines for an 8,700 lb tow rating when properly equipped. For maximum fuel efficiency, the AWD or RWD Durango with a 3.6-liter V6 gets 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The 710-horsepower V8 drops to 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

The interior of the Durango isn’t bad. At the top level, you get a lot of what you pay for. The SRT Hellcat has Nappa leather upholstery, a sunroof, ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats. The Subaru Ascent may have 19 cup holders, but the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat has a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. It should be noted that the base SXT trim doesn’t have a third row. The GT or higher are required for that. Every 2024 Durango gets an acoustic laminated windshield, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Dodge boasts about the 50+ seating configurations in the Durango, like rows with a 60/40 split, a fold-flat second-row bench, and a 50/50 split third-row seat. The maximum amount of cargo space ends up measuring 85 cu-ft with all seats down.

Of all the categories we looked at when ranking the 2024 Dodge Durango, the lowest number was because of technology, or the lack of technology, especially when it comes to the driver assists. Blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert, a forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assistance are all found in all Durangos, but the list doesn’t really go on from there. Front and rear parking sensors are added. Now, this SUV did receive a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and a few “Good” marks from the IIHS, but it’s not the tech-filled SUV that competitors are offering. That may not matter much because people buying the Durango are probably choosing it for the seriously impressive towing figures and the powerful engine options.

4. 2024 Kia Telluride

The 2024 Kia Telluride has the most trim options on our entire list, but under the hood of each of them is a 3.8-liter V6 with 262 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission delivers 291 horsepower to FWD and AWD models. The towing capacity is 5,000 lbs for most 2024 Kia Tellurides, but the X-Pro package on the top two trims increases that number to 5,500 lbs. The Telluride handles well, too. That’s the great part about this powertrain and drivetrain. It works together with a good suspension to minimize body roll. Though it’s not sporty, it sometimes feels like it with great feedback, decent enough power, and excellent stopping ability. The Telluride is rated as getting 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. Besides AWD, the SX X-Line trim is ready for some fun road trips with a .4-inch suspension lift, 20-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and an updated traction control system.

The 2024 Kia Telluride also gets some good marks on the cabin and the tech that’s in it. First, there’s an easy-to-use 12.3-inch infotainment system. Navigation and integration for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard. Additional features, like a wireless device charger, ventilated front seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, power-adjustable front seats, a sound-absorbing front windshield, and a 10-speaker audio system are all added at other trim levels. The Telluride starts with faux leather upholstery but quickly adds premium leather early in the trim lineup.

Kia put several driver assists into the 2024 Telluride. For example, adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, a driver attention warning, a blind-spot warning, a lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist are all included at nearly every trim level. It doesn’t end there, though. Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, a rear-view monitor, automatic high beams, and a parking assist warning when reversing. The higher trims have a surround-view monitor, a 10-inch Head-Up display, and evasive steering assist, too. Since our initial review of the 2024 Telluride, the NHTSA gave it an overall five-star safety rating. Meanwhile, the IIHS has ratings that apply to any 2020 to 2024 Kia Telluride models. They chose the Telluride as a top safety pick.

3. 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

Although it doesn’t have as many options as the Telluride, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander does have three different powertrains. First, there’s a standard turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-4 that boasts 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers wanting a hybrid are in luck here, too. There are Hybrid variants with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s good for 245 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torques. The hybrid mates to an electronic CVT, or eCVT. There are also Hybrid MAX options. They come with dual electric motors and a six-speed automatic transmission that help deliver 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The EPA has the gas-powered 2024 Grand Highlander as delivering a combined 24 mpg. The Hybrid trims get 36 mpg combined, and those Hybrid MAX models get 27 mpg combined. The base gasoline engine and the Hybrid MAX can both handle 5,000 lbs when towing while the regular 2024 Grand Highlander Hybrids are capable of hauling 3,500 lbs.

Let’s talk about the functionality of the Grand Highlander cabin before we talk about the materials, features, and positioning. There’s 41.7 inches for front passengers, 39.5 inches for second-row passengers, and 33.5 inches for those in the rear seats. The Grand Highlander has 20.6 cu. ft. of space for cargo. However, the second-row seats fold in a 60/40 split and the third-row seats also fold down, expanding that area to 97.5 cu. ft. The front seats are made more comfortable with power adjustments, including lumbar support on the driver’s side. Leather-trimmed seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and driver’s seat memory functions are only available in the top-level Limited trim, though. In terms of tech, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is up to date. It’s got a 12.3-inch touchscreen, seven USB ports, a six-speaker stereo system, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The 12.3-inch digital gauge display, 11-speaker JBL audio system, and ambient interior lighting are reserved for the Limited.

Like Toyota did with the cabin technology, it implemented a lot of driver aids in the 2024 Grand Highlander. Every 2024 model has blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert, a backup camera, and everything that comes with Toyota Safety Sense: pedestrian detection, a lane-departure warning, steering assist, road sign detection, and automatic high beams. A panoramic 360-degree view is only available on the Limited trim. The NHTSA hasn’t given the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander a rating yet, but the IIHS has given it mostly “good” grades with a couple of “acceptable” marks on the difficulty of latching seatbelts and the glare on the LED headlights. There’s really a lot to like about the Grand Highlander all the way around.

2. 2024 Hyundai Palisade

We’re getting close now. The 2024 Hyundai Palisade and its six trims land a spot on our list. Regardless of the trim, it will come with a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 that’s rated for 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Pairing with an eight-speed automatic that works with standard FWD or optional AWD, the output tackles up to 5,000 lbs. of towing. Like many of the other entries in this ranking, every 2024 Palisade has trailer sway control. EPA estimates put the Palisade at getting 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway with FWD. Adding AWD maintains the 19 mpg in the city, but drops the highway figure to 24 mpg. It’s a simple engine, but it works nicely. There’s enough power, certainly, for day-to-day driving. The ride is smooth. The operation is easy. There’s not too much to complain about.

Cabin quality is impressive, no matter what you’re looking at. There are obviously three rows with seating for up to eight passengers, though the XRT and any trims higher than that automatically come with second-row captain’s chairs so that drops the number of available seats to seven. First-row passengers get 44.1 inches of legroom, the second row has 42.4 of legroom, and there’s 31.4 of legroom in the third row. Cargo space measures 18 cu-ft with all seats in place. It maxes out at 86.4 cu-ft when both rows are folded down. Along with acoustic-laminated glass and dual-zone automatic climate control, every 2024 Palisade gets heated front seats, Bluetooth, a WiFi hotspot, voice recognition, Android and Apple phone integration, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. On the Limited and above is a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a power-folding third row.

Also standard on the 2024 Hyundai Palisade are a blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, front collision avoidance, pedestrian (and car and cyclist) detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, a driver attention warning, a rear occupant alert, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Yep, that’s all standard starting with the base SE trim that sells for $37,735. A parking distance warning, a Head-Up Display, and a surround-view camera are all standard on higher trims. There are two recalls for the Palisade that Hyundai is addressing, but the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall crash test rating. Meanwhile, it also earned the designation of “2023 Top Safety Pick” from the IIHS. Between performance, features, driver assists, and pricing, the 2024 Hyundai Palisade is hard to beat. In fact, the Palisade was our top choice for the Best Three-Row Mid-Sized SUVs of 2023, but there’s a new number one this year.

1. 2024 Mazda CX-90

OK, here we are. The 2024 Mazda CX-90 is a brand-new full-size SUV. Nothing like starting off at the top, huh? It starts off at $40,970 with a turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six that makes 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. A Turbo S model uses that same engine but ends up putting out 340 horsepower and 369 torques using 91-octane fuel. The Turbo S will get 319 horsepower with regular gas. Then there’s the CX-90 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEVs). It uses a 2.5-liter inline-four and a battery-powered electric to make 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque on premium gas. Every 2024 Mazda CX-90 uses an eight-speed automatic transmission for FWD or the rear-based AWD system. The new SUV gets an EPA-rated 24 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with the entry-level trim. The PHEVs are good for 24 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The PHEV is also capable of hauling up to 3,500 lbs. The inline-six options can pull up to 5,000 lbs.

A brand-new Mazda means a brand-new cabin design. From the Nappa leather upholstery to the fabric dashboard complete with unique stitching, the top-of-the-line Turbo S Premium Plus packs a lot in for $61,325. Tri-zone automatic climate control, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple and Android smartphone integration, and an eight-speaker stereo system are standard at even the base level. A sunroof, heated front seats, extra USB ports, a wireless charging pad, wireless Apple and Android connectivity, a driver’s seat with memory settings, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system are all added at various points. Like the amenities, space is also abundant with 39.4 inches of legroom up front, 39.4 inches of legroom in the second row, and 30.4 inches in the back. Now, those aren’t the largest numbers on this list, but those numbers are respectable and accommodating.

Mazda uses the i-Activesense suite of safety features on the 2024 CX-90. That includes blind spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, a lane departure warning, and driver attention alert. Those driver assists can be found in every 2024 Mazda CX-90. Front and rear parking sensors, a rear seat alert, a 360-degree overhead view, and driver monitoring are also included at the higher trim levels. The NHTSA hasn’t tested the CX-90 yet, but the IIHS chose it as a Top Safety Pick. The only thing that IIHS marked as “average” were the headlights, due to some glare when using the low beams. For its first outing, the 2024 Mazda CX-90 impresses. It’s got a PHEV option, better fuel efficiency than most competitors, and a lot of tech to not only increase comfort but also aid the driver.

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