The Hyundai Palisade is one of the best three-row SUVs you can buy.
Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America
Familes come in all shapes and sizes. Some need more room than others. The best three-row SUVs fit all your family's comfort and convenience needs from seats for everyone to modern connectivity features and excellent fuel economy.
Despite all the rationale you use to choose your next SUV, sometimes you get in one and just like it more than others. Even with all their years of industry knowledge, AutomotiveMap's writers feel the same way. Often it comes down to feelings about one over the rest.
Sue Mead: There's no doubt that the 2020 Toyota Highlander is well-rounded. For the 2020 model year it has been thoroughly updated. Sue's favorite features are the bigger, more thoughtful and useful interior; available 12.3-inch touchscreen; and Toyota Safety Sense suite of safety and driver assistance technology. The fact that the hybrid version is available in front- and all-wheel drive is a plus. The gasoline-powered model can tow 5,000 pounds and the hybrid can tow 3,500.
​2020 Ford Expedition
Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Harvey Briggs: The answer here is more. More power. More room. More towing capacity. More of just about everything a family could want in an SUV. What pushes the 2020 Ford Expedition over the top for me over 23 other really good options is third-row legroom.
2020 Kia Telluride
Photo courtesy of Kia Motors
Jesus Garcia: The new SUV on the block offers space, luxury, and unique styling, at a reasonable price. Available with all-wheel drive, the 2020 Kia Telluride is capable of doing more than just dropping kids off at school.
Nicole Wakelin: The 2020 Telluride is comfortable and stylish with family-friendly features. It's priced better than competitors too.
2020 Hyundai Palisade
Photo courtesy of Hyundai Motor America
Perry Stern, AutoNXT: The 2020 Hyundai Palisade boasts standout styling, a roomy and comfortable interior, seating for up to 8 passengers and excellent on- and off-road drivability.
Chad Kirchner: The Hyundai has a premium interior with state-of-the-art safety and tech features, while being significantly cheaper than the competition and doing it significantly better.
2020 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Photo courtesy of Land Rover
Eileen Falkenberg-Hull: While the Land Rover Range Rover Sport's seating can best be described as 5+2, the model serves as an ideal three-row SUV because of its off-road prowess, finely appointed interior, and enough infotainment options to keep your family occupied during a road trip. It's also stylish and is available with a number of powerful engine options.
The new package gives the three-row SUV a more assertive look.
Photo courtesy of Kia Motors
Kia Telluride buyers will soon have one more option box they can check when ordering their three-row SUV. The company announced a new Nightfall Edition package that equips the model with black features, including wheels.
The 2021 Kia Telluride Nightfall Edition package is available on Telluride EX AWD (with Premium Package), SX AWD, and SX Prestige models covered in Snow White Pearl, Everlasting Silver, Gravity Gray, Ebony Black, Sangria, Black Copper, Dark Moss, or the new Wolf Gray paint job. Wolf Gray is only available to models equipped with the Nightfall Edition package.
The package only includes exterior elements. Its product list features a newly designed radiator grille with a black finish and 20-inch black-finished wheels with black lug nuts and center caps, which are Nightfall Edition exclusives. It also has gloss black roof rails, greenhouse trim, lower door side molding, skid plates, front bumper side air-duct garnish, and badging. The SUV's LED headlights and fog lights feature a black inner bezel (not available on EX) and body-colored door handles (already standard on EX).
"The Telluride Nightfall Edition offers a new choice to our customers who prefer a more assertive and premium look to their family hauler or weekend adventurer," said Sean Yoon, President & CEO, Kia Motors America, Kia Motors North America. "Our biggest and boldest offering's already lofty appeal elevates with the addition of this special package."
The 2021 Telluride Nightfall Edition will arrive in showrooms beginning in the second half of the year. Pricing has not yet been announced.
The debut of the 2021 Ford Bronco family of SUVs is perhaps the most anticipated vehicle launch in the last decade. Maybe longer. Now, the wait is over.
The 2021 Ford Bronco will come in three variants. There's the two- and four-door Bronco and the four-door Bronco Sport. The Bronco models feature body lines and attributes most similar to the original Broncos while the Bronco Sport is a lifestyle-focused off-road capable model.
Ford's design team has given the Bronco, more so than the Bronco Sport, a look that balances heritage and modernity equally. While there's always enthusiasts who will be disappointed, it's hard to find too much fault with the translation.
Two- and Four-Door 2021 Ford Bronco
The two- and four-door Bronco 4x4 comes standard with a turbocharged 2.3-liter engine that achieves 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a standard seven-speed automatic transmission (six traditional gears and one crawler gear). A 10-speed automatic is available.
The models can have their doors and roof removed.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Buyers can upgrade to a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 that gets 310 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
The two-door has a 100.4-inch wheelbase and the four-door comes in at 116.1 inches. Under the body are Dana 44-inch AdvanTEX axles and locking differentials at the front and back. Length varies slightly by trim level, as does height.
Part-time selectable engagement 4x4 capability comes standard. Advanced 4x4 with automatic, on-demand 4H engagement is available. Technology allows for electronic shift-on-the-fly capability.
Ford has equipped the models with up to seven G.O.A.T. Modes, via the Terrain Management System. The drive modes allow drivers to have confidence in the capability of their vehicle and take advantage of some technology while they're at it. The modes are Normal, Sport, Slippery, Sand, Baja, Mud/Ruts, and Rock Crawl.
The Bronco and Bronco Sport come with G.O.A.T. Modes.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Two-door Broncos come standard with a three-section roof system that's removable. A four-section removable roof is available. Roof panels are able to be removed by one person and stored in the vehicle.
A cloth top is standard on four-door models. A removable hardtop is available.
The two-door has a base ground clearance of 8.4 inches and up to 11.6 inches of clearance. The four-door has one-tenth inch less ground clearance.
It rides on wheels ranging from 16- to 18-inches, depending on trim level. Tires ranging from 30 to 35 inches are standard issue, supplied by Bridgestone, General Tire, BF Goodrich, and Goodyear.
The 2021 Ford Bronco can be optioned up to look bug-out ready.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
All models have a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Trail sights on the front fenders allow for up to 150 pounds of tie-down capacity.
Buyers will have access to over 200 factory-backed accessories at launch when the vehicles arrive in dealership in the spring.
The interior of the Bronco is available with rinse-out and drainage solutions. It's home to a classic dashboard that features up to a 12-inch, SYNC 4-run infotainment touch screen. More than 1,000 trail maps are available through the screen's trail guides system. Content can be created and shared with friends via on-screen functionality.
The 2021 Ford Bronco starts at $29,995 and comes in Base, Big Bed, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Wildtrak, Badlands, and First Edition trim levels.
The interior of the Bronco holds true to its heritage, with refined, modern touches.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
2021 Ford Bronco Sport
Built alongside the Ford Escape, the 2021 Bronco Sport is very different than the hot-selling SUV. It has a completely different look inside and out, and a different wheelbase. Though still rugged, the Bronco Sport isn't as capable as its two- and four-door family members. However, its thoughtful innovations are smart ways to win over adventurers.
Ford will sell the Bronco Sport in Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, Badlands, and First Edition trim levels. Reservations are open now and the vehicles will arrive at dealerships later this year.
Ford will make over 100 accessories available for the Bronco Sport when it arrives at dealerships nationwide later this year.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The Bronco Sport comes standard with a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that gets 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. An upgraded 2.0-liter EcoBoost is available that yields 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Like the Bronco, the Bronco Sport has a Terrain Management System with up to seven available G.O.A.T. Modes. In its top Badlands grade, the model features four steel bash plates, frame-mounted tow hooks, and up to 23.6 inches of water fording capability. The small SUV is no slouch.
The Bronco Sport is capable of some serious off-roading.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The five-seater has best-in-class first- and second-row headroom. Folding down the rear seats allows enough room for two standing 27.5-inch wheel mountain bikes to be stowed on an interior Yakima bike accessory rack. A slide-out working table is available as well as a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps.
A flip-glass rear window, low-load cargo floor, and roof rack are designed to make life on the trail easier. Bronco Sport will launch with over 100 available accessories.
Large mountain bikes fit in the cargo area of the model.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Ford is giving every Bronco Sport an 8.0-inch infotainment touch screen display that features the SYNC 3 operating system and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
The Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assist and safety technology is standard across the lineup.
The interior of the Bronco Sport is more refined than the Bronco's.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The models can have their doors and roof removed.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The Bronco and Bronco Sport come with G.O.A.T. Modes.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The 2021 Ford Bronco can be optioned up to look bug-out ready.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The interior of the Bronco holds true to its heritage, with refined, modern touches.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Ford will make over 100 accessories available for the Bronco Sport when it arrives at dealerships nationwide later this year.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The Bronco Sport is capable of some serious off-roading.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
Large mountain bikes fit in the cargo area of the model.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company
The interior of the Bronco Sport is more refined than the Bronco's.Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company