Best Third-Row Seating SUVs
April 18, 2013
Are you in the market for an SUV that has a roomy (and actually usable) third-row seating?
Consumer Reports recently took a look at third-row seating in a variety of SUVs compared to minivans - and there were some interesting results.
For example, testers found the Nissan Quest had 15 inches more shoulder room than the third row of seating in a Mazda CX-9. And when it came to SUVs, the Honda Pilot had the best shoulder room of all - 58 inches - which is almost as good as shoulder room found in minivans.
Looking to add one of these vehicles to your garage? As always, I recommend using the free RydeShopper to find the best deals out there.
Midsized SUVs
| Vehicle | Shoulder Room (in.) | Fore Aft (in.) |
|---|---|---|
| Acura MDX | 50.0 | 24.0 |
| BMW X5 | 45.0 | 20.0 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 55.0 | 24.0 |
| Dodge Durango | 49.0 | 26.5 |
| Ford Explorer | 48.5 | 27.0 |
| Ford Flex | 50.0 | 28.0 |
| Honda Pilot | 58.0 | 26.0 |
| Infiniti JX | 55.0 | 27.0 |
| Mazda CX-9 | 45.5 | 24.5 |
Minivans
| Vehicle | Shoulder Room (in.) | Fore Aft (in.) |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysler Town & Country | 59.0 | 27.0 |
| Honda Odyssey | 59.5 | 29.0 |
| Nissan Quest | 61.0 | 26.0 |
| Toyota Sienna | 59.5 | 29.0 |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, CarsDirect, and NADAGuides are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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