For U.S. vehicles; figures from SUVLook's 2026 vehicle profiles, which cite manufacturer pages and were last updated September 23, 2026. This is a spec-sheet comparison, not a road test.

A 7 seater SUV is only useful if people can actually sit in the third row and still leave room for bags. The six models below are the three-row 2026 SUVs SUVLook profiles with a published seating count and third-row figures, plus one full-size model, the Ford Expedition, that seats up to eight. Where a manufacturer figure is missing from the profile, this guide leaves it blank rather than guessing.

2026 7 seater SUV comparison table

Every figure below comes from the linked SUVLook profile for that model, which lists the manufacturer source. "Properly equipped" is the manufacturer's condition on the towing figure; see the towing section for the exact conditions.

Model (2026) Seats Third-row legroom Cargo behind third row Max towing (conditions apply) Profile
Toyota Grand Highlander Up to 8 33.5 in 20.6 cu ft 5,000 lb (gas and Hybrid MAX) Profile
Honda Pilot 7 or 8 32.5 in 18.6 cu ft (standard) 5,000 lb AWD; 3,500 lb 2WD Profile
Chevrolet Traverse 7 or 8 32.3 in 22.9 cu ft 5,000 lb (properly equipped) Profile
Hyundai Palisade 7 or 8 32.1 in 19.1 cu ft 5,000 lb gas; 4,000 lb hybrid (with brakes) Profile
Ford Explorer 6 or 7 31.8 in 16.3 cu ft 5,000 lb (properly equipped) Profile
Mazda CX-90 7 or 8 30.4 in 14.9-15.9 cu ft 5,000 lb (inline-six, properly equipped) Profile
Ford Expedition Up to 8 Not in profile Not in profile 9,600 lb standard; 9,000 lb MAX (4x4, properly equipped) Profile

Seat counts such as "7 or 8" mean the number depends on the second-row layout and trim, not that every vehicle can be configured both ways. Always read the window sticker for the exact vehicle.

7 seats or 8: bench versus captain's chairs

The difference between a 7 seater SUV and an 8 seater SUV is almost always the second row. A bench seats three and brings the total to eight. Two captain's chairs seat two, so the total drops to seven, but passengers can usually reach the third row between them.

Several of these SUVs offer both. The profiles list the Traverse LT with an eight-seat bench and the Z71 as a seven-seat configuration. The Pilot offers an available removable center seat in the second row. The Grand Highlander and Expedition list a bench or captain's chairs. The Palisade profile notes that seven- and eight-passenger layouts use different second rows.

Choose captain's chairs if two or three kids ride in the back most days, or if adults need third-row access without folding a seat. Choose the bench if you regularly carry eight people, even occasionally. For model-by-model seating layouts, see SUVLook's guide to SUVs with captain seats.

Model-by-model notes

Toyota Grand Highlander. It has the most published third-row legroom here at 33.5 inches, 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row and up to eight seats with a bench or captain's chairs. It comes as gas, Hybrid or Hybrid MAX, starting at $42,260 before destination. Towing is 5,000 pounds for the gas and Hybrid MAX versions and 3,500 pounds for the regular Hybrid, according to the profile.

Honda Pilot. The Pilot uses a 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with a 10-speed automatic, starts at $42,395 and lists 32.5 inches of third-row legroom. Honda publishes 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row as a standard figure and up to 113.7 cubic feet maximum using Honda's own maximum method. See the Pilot profile and Honda's specifications.

Chevrolet Traverse. It has the largest published space behind the third row of the group at 22.9 cubic feet and 98.0 cubic feet maximum. Third-row legroom is 32.3 inches. It uses a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and starts at $40,800. Details are on the Traverse profile.

Hyundai Palisade. The Palisade offers a 287-horsepower gas V6 and a 329-horsepower hybrid, starting at $39,435. Third-row legroom is 32.1 inches with 19.1 cubic feet behind the row. The hybrid tows less than the gas model. Gas fuel economy is 19/25/21 mpg (city/highway/combined) front-wheel drive and 18/24/20 mpg AWD. See the Palisade profile.

Ford Explorer. The Explorer is the only model here listed as "6 or 7" seats, so check that the vehicle you want is the seven-seat layout. It lists 31.8 inches of third-row legroom and 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row. Fuel economy for the ST-Line is 20/29/24 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 20/27/23 mpg with four-wheel drive. See the Explorer profile.

Mazda CX-90. It starts at $39,300 with a 280-horsepower 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six and standard AWD. Mazda lists about 25 mpg combined as an estimate for the inline-six. It has the least third-row legroom of this group, 30.4 inches, and cargo space behind the row depends on configuration. A plug-in hybrid is also available; the profile advises evaluating its electric range and gasoline-only mpg separately. See the CX-90 profile.

Ford Expedition. This is the full-size option. The profile lists a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 making 400 horsepower (440 horsepower on selected trims), standard and MAX lengths of 209.9 and 221.7 inches, and seating up to eight. SUVLook's profile does not include Expedition third-row legroom or cargo behind the third row, so this guide does not rank it on those. Fuel economy is 16/24 mpg city/highway for the Active 4x2 and 15/22 mpg for many 4x4 trims. See the Expedition profile and Ford's technical specifications.

Third-row legroom ranking

Third-row legroom is the number that decides whether adults can use the back row. Ranked from the published figures:

  1. Toyota Grand Highlander: 33.5 in
  2. Honda Pilot: 32.5 in
  3. Chevrolet Traverse: 32.3 in
  4. Hyundai Palisade: 32.1 in
  5. Ford Explorer: 31.8 in
  6. Mazda CX-90: 30.4 in

The spread from first to last is 3.1 inches, so the difference is meaningful at the ends and small in the middle. The Traverse, Pilot and Palisade are within 0.4 inches of each other. Legroom does not capture seat height, foot room under the second row, or headroom, so sit in the third row yourself before you decide. The Expedition is omitted because its profile does not list the figure.

Cargo space with all rows in use

A 7 seater SUV used with all seats occupied has only the space behind the third row. This is where models separate more than they do on legroom:

Model (2026) Behind third row Maximum cargo
Chevrolet Traverse 22.9 cu ft 98.0 cu ft
Toyota Grand Highlander 20.6 cu ft 97.5 cu ft
Hyundai Palisade 19.1 cu ft 86.7 cu ft
Honda Pilot 18.6 cu ft (standard) Up to 113.7 cu ft (Honda maximum method)
Ford Explorer 16.3 cu ft 85.8 cu ft (Active/ST-Line)
Mazda CX-90 14.9-15.9 cu ft 74.2-75.2 cu ft
Ford Expedition Not in profile 108.5 cu ft standard; 123.1 cu ft MAX

The Pilot's maximum uses Honda's own measurement method, so do not compare it directly with the other maximums. The Expedition numbers are for the standard and MAX bodies respectively. For a stroller, luggage or a cooler, the behind-third-row figure matters most. Cubic feet do not show whether a rigid item fits through the opening, so measure what you carry. Sources are the same manufacturer pages listed under the first table.

Towing: what the numbers depend on

Most of these SUVs list 5,000 pounds, but each manufacturer attaches conditions:

  • Traverse, Explorer and CX-90: 5,000 pounds when properly equipped (the CX-90 figure is for the inline-six).
  • Pilot: 5,000 pounds with AWD and 3,500 pounds with 2WD, per Honda.
  • Palisade: 5,000 pounds for the gas model and 4,000 pounds for the hybrid, both with brakes.
  • Grand Highlander: 5,000 pounds for gas and Hybrid MAX, 3,500 pounds for the regular Hybrid.
  • Expedition: 9,600 pounds for a standard-wheelbase 4x4 and 9,000 pounds for MAX, properly equipped.

Confirm the rating for the exact vehicle in the owner's manual and on the door-jamb label before buying a trailer. For more models, see SUVLook's towing capacity chart.

8 seater and 9 seater SUVs

If you are searching for an 8 seater SUV, the SUVLook profiles list eight seats for the Toyota Grand Highlander ("up to 8"), Ford Expedition ("up to 8"), and "7 or 8" for the Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, Hyundai Palisade and Mazda CX-90. In each case the eighth seat comes from a second-row bench or center seat that not every trim has.

A 9 seater SUV is a different matter. None of the SUVs SUVLook profiles lists nine seats for 2026, and this guide did not find an official nine-seat figure in the sources it uses, so it names no model. If you need nine seats, check the official seating pages of full-size models and the window sticker of the specific vehicle instead of relying on third-party lists.

Close matchups

Two of the closest pairs have full SUVLook comparison pages: the Honda Pilot vs Toyota Grand Highlander and the Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer. For a broader shortlist, SUVLook's best 3-row SUVs for 2026 goes further on family use.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best 7 seater SUV for 2026?

On published figures, the Toyota Grand Highlander has the most third-row legroom (33.5 inches) and the Chevrolet Traverse has the most space behind the third row (22.9 cubic feet). The best fit depends on whether you prioritize passengers or luggage, and on price and powertrain.

Which 7 seater SUV has the most third-row legroom?

Among the SUVs listed here, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander at 33.5 inches, per its profile.

Is there a 9 seater SUV in 2026?

None of the SUVs SUVLook profiles seats nine. Check full-size models' official seating pages and the window sticker before assuming a nine-seat layout exists.

How many people does an 8 seater SUV carry?

Eight, when it has a second-row bench or center seat. With captain's chairs, the same model usually seats seven.

Can a 7 seater SUV tow a trailer?

Most listed models are rated for up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, with lower ratings for certain powertrains and 2WD versions. Confirm with the owner's manual and door-jamb label.

Sources