The current market has some great options for consumers seeking a 7 passenger SUV. All the major manufacturers are offering seven seater SUVs in some form. We’ll explore some of the differences between the options that you have in the marketplace.
The first question is how much use will that third row actually get? The amount of space and the accessibility will vary greatly from model to model so you need to prioritize the need for seating. The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best examples of a third row seat that only accommodates children or small frame adults. Where their Highlander and especially the Sequoia are Toyota products that offer accessible and roomy third row seats in their 7 passenger SUVs. The Honda Pilot with its recent size increase now offers an accessible and functional third row seat to accommodate passenger numbers six and seven (and eight).
American winners in extra passenger comfort are the Ford Flex, the Chevy Suburbans (and their ilk with GMC and the Yukon series, etc), and the Dodge Durango, all of which are accommodating in the third row. From Europe the Rover makes their seating usable in the Discovery series, where Volkswagen, BMW and Volvo are all pretty tight conditions.
Another big consideration is how much SUV type work do you expect to get from your rig. If you want to get off the beaten path and take seven people the 4Runner and the Pathfinder are decent off road choices. Of course the Land Cruiser and Rovers can go there and back, but their gentrification has made that a secondary capability.
The last group to consider for seven passenger SUV seating is in the crossover segment. With great entries like the Nissan Murano, the Mazda CX-9 and the Subaru Tribeca, you have excellent choices for a car like ride and handling with all wheel drive for extreme conditions. However, these are not a group know for ease of access or roominess in the third row. The lower profiles and narrower wheelbases keep the passenger compartment snugger, especially in the third row.
It is a great market to find ways to move seven people around in an SUV type vehicle. With a little consideration and planned shopping you will find the vehicle that best accommodates your passengers and you traveling needs.