The Golden Age of Three-Row SUVs: Why Your Next Family Car Might Be the Best One Ever Made

Car and Driver doesn't hand out perfect scores. In a publication that's been reviewing cars since 1955, a 10/10 rating is reserved for vehicles that do everything right—no caveats, no asterisks, no "great for what it is" qualifications.

The Kia Telluride got a 10.

Let that sink in. A three-row family SUV from a Korean brand that was selling subcompact econoboxes 20 years ago just earned the same rating Car and Driver would give a perfectly sorted sports car.

And here's the thing: it's not even a clear segment winner.

The Competition Is Absurd

The Hyundai Palisade, the Telluride's corporate twin, scores 9.5/10. That's not a consolation prize—it's one of the highest ratings in the publication's history for any SUV.

The 2024 Honda Pilot finally sorted out its infotainment nightmare and drives better than any Pilot before it. The Toyota Grand Highlander hybrid delivers 36 mpg in a vehicle that seats eight. The Mazda CX-90 brings rear-wheel-drive dynamics to the segment.

We are living in the golden age of three-row SUVs, and it happened so gradually that nobody noticed.

How We Got Here

The minivan died so the SUV could live.

America's rejection of minivans—despite their objective superiority for family duty—forced automakers to make three-row SUVs actually good. If buyers insisted on an SUV silhouette, manufacturers had to deliver minivan-level space and comfort in that package.

The current generation of family SUVs represents two decades of refinement. Third rows that adults can actually sit in. Second-row captain's chairs that rival business-class airplane seats. Cargo space that swallows strollers, hockey bags, and Costco runs.

Korean brands rewrote expectations.

When Hyundai and Kia launched the Palisade and Telluride in 2020, they didn't just compete with the segment—they redefined it. Premium materials, thoughtful design, aggressive pricing, and a 10-year powertrain warranty.

The establishment was caught flat-footed. Honda and Toyota, long comfortable as default family-car choices, suddenly faced real competition. They had to respond.

What $50,000 Gets You Now

A well-equipped three-row SUV in 2024 typically offers:

• Seating for 7-8 with a third row that doesn't require yoga training to access
• 300+ horsepower and smooth, modern transmissions
• Advanced driver assists including adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic emergency braking
• Premium audio systems from brands like Harman Kardon or Bose
• Heated and ventilated seats in at least the first two rows
• Massive touchscreens with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

A decade ago, this spec sheet would have required a $75,000 luxury SUV. Today, it's standard equipment on a Telluride.

The Decision Paradox

Here's the problem with a segment this good: choosing is genuinely hard.

The Telluride drives slightly better than the Palisade. The Palisade has a more refined interior. The Highlander Hybrid gets the best fuel economy. The CX-90 is the most fun. The Pilot has the most flexible interior.

These aren't trade-offs between good and bad. They're trade-offs between good and slightly different good.

For families, this is a gift. Whatever your priorities—efficiency, driving dynamics, interior space, tech, value—there's a three-row SUV that excels at it.

The Luxury Problem

The golden age of mainstream three-row SUVs has created an awkward situation for luxury brands.

A loaded Kia Telluride SX Prestige, with every option, tops out around $54,000. A base BMW X7? $80,000. A base Mercedes GLS? $85,000.

The luxury SUVs are better—nicer materials, more power, more prestige. But are they $30,000 better? For most families, the answer is increasingly no.

Luxury three-row SUVs are becoming a pure status play. The functional gap has largely closed. What you're paying for is the badge and the bragging rights.

Recommendation: Just Pick One

If you're shopping for a three-row SUV in 2024, here's the honest advice: test drive the top five and buy whichever one feels right.

• Kia Telluride for the best all-around package
• Hyundai Palisade for the most luxurious interior
• Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid for efficiency and reliability
• Honda Pilot for interior flexibility and brand trust
• Mazda CX-90 for driving engagement

You cannot make a bad choice. Every vehicle on this list would have been segment-best five years ago. Today, they're all fighting for the crown.

For families who spent decades settling for "good enough," the message is clear: good enough is over. The three-row SUV you buy today will be the best family car ever made—until next year's models arrive and somehow get even better.