SUVs and Minivans With the Best Third-Row Seats

These models offer comfort and access for seven passengers or more

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated October 21, 2024

interior of 2024 Kia EV9 showing three rows of seating with grey fabric

Large three-row vehicles offer the flexibility to transport the whole family—and then some. But just because an SUV or a minivan has a third row doesn’t necessarily mean those extra seats are comfortable or practical. Our testing shows that many third rows are hard to access and too snug for most adult passengers.

In this article

Best Third-Row Seats: Minivans Midsized SUVs Large SUVs

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.