Three-row SUVs are huge, but when you consider that they offer seating for up to seven or even sometimes 8 passengers, it’s reasonable to think that in order for them to do so, they sacrifice a lot of trunk space in the process.
Even though that might be the case for most SUVs out there, there are a few of them that indeed do offer a large trunk space. The most spacious three-row SUV out there is the Chevy Suburban because even with all three seating rows in place, the Suburban offers a staggering 23 cubic feet of trunk space.
The new Jeep Grand Wagoneer is also a huge three-row family lux SUV, but the Wagoneer “only” offers 17 cubic feet of trunk space with all the seats up. The Volkswagen Atlas is a significantly smaller SUV than these two, but the Atlas still manages to offer 14 cubic feet of trunk space with all the seats up.
The new Cadillac Escalade is also fairly roomy at the back because it offers 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space with all the seats in place. However, all four of these are significantly more spacious if you only tend to use the third row of seating occasionally so be sure to read the rest of the article to find out.
Chevrolet Suburban – 23/41 cubic feet of trunk space
The Chevrolet Suburban is a large full-size family benchmark because it offers the most space out of all full-size SUVs out there and it offers decent safety and reliability ratings. With an astonishing 41 cubic feet of trunk space with the third row of seats down, the Suburban is the most spacious SUV out there as far as regular trunk space is concerned.
However, 23 cubic feet of trunk space with all three rows in place is still huge because the Lincoln Aviator offers the same amount of maximum trunk space with both rows of seating in use. This only shows that Chevy knows how to make a practical and family-oriented SUV.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer – 17.2/38.6 cubic feet of space
The Jeep Grand Wagoneer is absolutely huge and it represents the uppermost echelon of what Jeep can do at the moment. This is apparent the moment you step inside the interior of the new Wagoneer, it’s kind of hard to believe that the Grand Wagoneer shares the same brand name as the good old Jeep Compass.
However, 17.2 cubic feet of trunk space with all three rows of seats in use might not sound extraordinary, but the Lexus NX 450h offers 17.7 cubic feet without the third row of seats. It’s just the fact that the Suburban is on another level. However, if you fold down the third row you get 38.6 cubic feet which is not all that far from the Suburban.
Volkswagen Atlas – 14.0/29.9 cubic feet of trunk space
The Volkswagen Atlas might not be a full-size SUV, but rather a mid-sized one, yet VW has still managed to offer quite a lot of interior space for a mid-size SUV. The space on offer behind the second-row totals at 29.9 cubic feet which is rather impressive for a mid-size SUV because some full-size SUVs like the Nissan Armada offer less than that.
Furthermore, 14 cubic feet of trunk space with all three rows in place is not bad at all because some cars like the new Ford Bronco Sport or the Buick Envision offer around 14 cubic feet of trunk space anyway. With that in mind, it’s safe to say that the Atlas is a rather spacious SUV both for your passengers and for your luggage.
Cadillac Escalade – 13.2/30.9 cubic feet of trunk space
The new Cadillac Escalade has made a lot of noise recently because of its interior and exterior design. From the outside, the Escalade looks regal and imposing, but from the inside, the Escalade seems extremely calm and collected. If you pair that with 13.2 cubic feet of trunk space with all three rows in place, you are still looking at more total trunk space than in the Subaru Crosstrek.
However, 30.9 cubic feet without the third row of seats is way more compelling both for service and family use. All in all, the Escalade is a lovely thing to travel in no matter where you are sitting, and if you like technology, the Escalade is sure to impress you.
FAQ Section
Are full-size SUVs too big for everyday use?
It depends on where you live and how you use your car. If you reside within crowded city streets, it’s better to compromise on size if you plan on parking the car on the street. Large cities are not kind for large cars because they are way more likely to be involved in an accident.
However, if you are not all that bogged down with traffic and space, a full-size SUV might actually be the best type of car to buy. This is because it combines huge amounts of space, off-road ability, technology, comfort, and status.
Do all three-row SUVs come with three rows of seats as standard?
As mentioned previously, only mid-size and full-size SUVs are available with a third row of seating. Most of them come with two rows of seats as standard, but the largest of them all offered as three seaters as standard. It depends on what type of SUV you are interested in as luxury SUVs are primarily available as two-row SUVs.
Having the ability to use the third row of seating is not enough for most to opt for a third row, so there are many three-row capable SUVs on the market, but the owners decided not to pay extra for the third row.
Is a minivan a better family car than a full-size SUV?
To be exact, most families are better of with a minivan because a minivan is a family purpose-built car, while an SUV is not. That does not mean that a full-size SUV is not a bad family car per-se, but these two can hardly be compared when it comes to family-friendly features.
Another thing to keep in mind is if you are buying a family car only for family hauling. If that is the case, a minivan is hands down superior. However, if this is going to be your only car, an SUV might tick a few boxes extra such as off-road ability and increased visibility.