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Best 3-Row SUVs Under $40,000
April 17, 2014
If you have a big family, you're going to need a vehicle that can accommodate them all -- adults, kids, and pets -- and all the accessories that come with them, from sports equipment to toys to coolers.
For this reason, many times families will turn to three-row SUVs as their family vehicle of choice. If you're in the market for one these, you'll be happy to know Cars.com recently came out with their picks for the best three-row SUVs for under $40,000.
They took a look at seven vehicles that all cost less than $40,000 and had at least 19 MPG combined. The big winner was the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, which had a combined score of 800.5 and high marks in categories such as interior quality, acceleration, braking, and mileage. Second place was awarded to the 2014 Dodge Durango, which scored the highest in tech/entertainment.
Additionally, researchers also looked at which car had the best overall mileage. Again top honors go to the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, with second place going to the 2014 Toyota Highlander.
If you're considering any of these vehicles, I recommend you use TrueCar No Haggle and CarsDirect to get the best deal possible on any of these vehicles.
Best Overall 3-Row SUV
| Rank | Vehicle | Score | Price As Tested | Seating Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe | 800.5 | $39,540 | 6 |
| 2 | 2014 Dodge Durango | 781.5 | $39,930 | 6 |
| 3 | 2014 Toyota Highlander | 744 | $38,947 | 8 |
| 4 | 2014 Nissan Pathfinder AWD | 726 | $39,515 | 7 |
| 5 | 2014 Mazda CX-9 | 652 | $38,515 | 7 |
| 6 | 2014 Honda Pilot AWD | 648.5 | $39,600 | 8 |
| 7 | 2014 Chevrolet Traverse | 625 | $38,810 | 7 |
Best Mileage
| Vehicle | Trip Computer MPG | EPA City/Hwy/Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe | 22.5 | 18/25/21 |
| 2014 Toyota Highlander | 22.3 | 19/25/21 |
| 2014 Dodge Durango | 21.7 | 18/25/20 |
| 2014 Nissan Pathfinder AWD | 21.7 | 19/25/21 |
| 2014 Honda Pilot AWD | 19.4 | 17/24/20 |
| 2014 Chevrolet Traverse | 19.1 | 17/2/19 |
| 2014 Mazda CX-9 | 19.1 | 17/24/19 |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
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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