When you’ve acquired a rising household, you’d be foolish to not think about a automobile that gives a 3rd row of seating.
Fortunately there are many three-row choices on the market so long as you want SUVs. Earlier than you sort within the feedback, we’re effectively conscious individuals movers just like the Kia Carnival, amongst others exist.
Gross sales information nonetheless exhibits persons are nonetheless gravitating towards SUVs over individuals movers.
100s of recent automobile offers can be found by CarExpert proper now. Get the specialists in your aspect and rating an ideal deal. Browse now.
-
SsangYong Rexton -
Isuzu MU-X -
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace -
Mahindra XUV700
On this op-ed we’re focusing solely on seven-seat SUVs beneath the worth cap of $60,000 earlier than on-road prices.
The explanation we’ve chosen the $60k worth cap is as a result of the common new automobile worth in 2023 was round this quantity.
Beneath the CarExpert editorial workforce have shared the seven-seat SUV beneath $60,000 they’d purchase.
William Stopford: Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
When you really need most house for each passengers and baggage, you may’t go previous a Kia Carnival… however that’s technically an eight-seater, and in my expertise attempting to persuade individuals to purchase a minivan is like attempting to persuade them to surrender espresso.
That leaves us with SUVs, and never all three-row SUVs are created equal.
Take your X-Trails, CR-Vs and Outlanders, for instance. They nominally have a 3rd row of seating, however solely the smallest of kids will match again there. Higher than nothing, however not nice.
Even some bigger SUVs don’t provide a 3rd row that’s actually hospitable, whereas usability is additional impacted by the shortage of child-seat anchor factors again there.
So, with out reservation, my alternative is the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Not solely does it have anchor factors for baby seats within the third row, you may truly match grown adults within the rearmost seats. I ought to know, I took the chance to be ferried round within the farthest row on the launch of the automobile in South Korea, and few SUVs can match it when it comes to consolation.
It additionally has a easy, responsive and environment friendly hybrid powertrain, in addition to loads of commonplace know-how. The styling is polarising, however that boxy form interprets to most practicality. I don’t even thoughts the funky fabric seats of the bottom mannequin.
It is a automobile I may see myself proudly owning, and I don’t even have children but.
One other advice is the SsangYong Rexton, when you want one thing with off-road means. There are few automobiles extra slept on than the Rexton, which is totally loaded with equipment and sharply priced.
Eager about shopping for a Hyundai Santa Fe? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
MORE: Every little thing Hyundai Santa Fe
Jack Fast: Kia Sorento
The entry-level Kia Sorento S provides a substantial quantity for a surprisingly inexpensive asking worth.
This variant is priced from $50,680 earlier than on-roads with the petrol V6 and front-wheel drive, or $53,680 earlier than on-roads with the turbo-diesel and all-wheel drive. Each powertrains are nice in several methods and you may’t actually go unsuitable, although my private favorite is the diesel.
One in every of my favorite issues concerning the Sorento is how stress-free and straightforward the motive force expertise is, particularly with the smaller 17-inch wheels fitted to the bottom mannequin. The entrance seats are additionally like armchairs, that means you may eat up the kilometres on the freeway.
One thing to notice is the Sorento provides correct ISOFIX and top-tether anchor factors within the third row, in contrast to another seven-seaters, which is a serious tick for these wanting to suit baby seats. Solely factor is there’s not correct airbag protection again there.
Another choice when you’re eager on carrying as many individuals as attainable is the Kia Carnival, although it’s technically an eight-seater fairly than a seven-seater. The entry-level S variant with the petrol V6 additionally simply undercuts the equal Sorento S when it comes to asking worth.
Eager about shopping for a Kia Sorento? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
MORE: Every little thing Kia Sorento
James Wong: Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
After spending every week within the most cost-effective new-gen Hyundai Santa Fe (evaluation coming quickly), I used to be genuinely impressed with how a lot the Korean model has managed to squeeze into an entry-level variant for $55,000 plus on-road prices.
The hybrid drivetrain is fairly environment friendly relative to the previous V6, significantly on the town, and the brand new boxy physique means there’s a heap more room for as much as seven individuals in comparison with the previous one.
Even higher, even the bottom grade is stuffed with the entire infotainment and help tech you’d ever want, and is sort of aligned with even the flagship Calligraphy.
There’s loads of goodness from the bottom grade, and I like the tartan fabric trim – identical to my Golf GTI that I by no means speak about…
Eager about shopping for a Hyundai Santa Fe? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
MORE: Every little thing Hyundai Santa Fe
Max Davies: Nissan X-Path
It’s all the time been laborious to look previous the X-Path within the SUV equation, and it appears Australians would agree.
It’s Nissan’s best-selling native mannequin to date this 12 months (by some margin), and it out-does lots of the different seven-seaters on this listing – besides the Outlander specifically.
However within the context of worth and luxury, I’d say the X-Path has the Outlander beat. It’s cheaper throughout the vary and stays beneath $60,000 even on the high, however its inside feels extra up-to-date and is put collectively in fairly a convincing bundle.
There are seven-seat variations of the ST, ST-L, and N-Trek, which all provide all-wheel drive as commonplace in that configuration. All can be found for lower than $50,000 too, besides the N-Trek, which is simply $890 over that threshold earlier than on-roads.
The X-Path is constructed from a stable components, and also you’d be making a good selection when you purchased one as a less expensive seven-seater. The one method it may get any higher is that if Nissan brings out seven-seat e-Energy choices…
Eager about shopping for a Nissan X-Path? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
MORE: Every little thing Nissan X-Path
Jordan Mulach: Kia Sorento
Sadly, I’m a greater man than a cheat, so what I assumed was going to be fairly a cheeky thought of speccing a Ford Everest Ambiente 4×4 with seven seats is available in simply over funds. Darn.
It’s a powerful discipline of contenders when you’re out there for a seven-seater at this worth level, and although it’s an all-SUV present at the least there’s some variance between unibody and ladder-frame choices.
If I used to be the off-roading sort who loved tenting, it’s very laborious to go previous an MU-X, because it’s actually the closest competitor to the Everest, not solely in gross sales but in addition means.
Nevertheless, I like staying in resorts and never sacrificing consolation, which is why the Kia Sorento is my choose. At this worth level you’re restricted to no greater than the Sport if you need the two.2-litre turbo-diesel, which is by all accounts the engine of alternative – particularly because the petrol V6 doesn’t get all-wheel drive.
It’s a good-looking factor, spacious and environment friendly. That’s loads of field ticking.
Alternatively, if there was any leftover inventory of the last-gen Santa Fe I’d have an interest, as the brand new mannequin hasn’t but grown on me. Time may change although, and its spectacular hybrid system is a singular feather in its cap amongst rivals at this worth.
Eager about shopping for a Kia Sorento? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
MORE: Every little thing Kia Sorento
Josh Nevett: Chery Tiggo 8 Professional Max
When you can look previous the foolish title, the Tiggo 8 Professional Max provides wonderful worth for a sub-$50k seven-seat SUV – it’s a well-rounded bundle with few weaknesses.
I reviewed the flagship Final and was totally impressed by the luxurious inside and easy, purposeful powertrain. In some ways Chery’s greatest providing feels far costlier than it’s.
And it’s not such as you lose out on necessary issues like practicality or aftersales assist, both. The Tiggo 8 has three usable rows of seating and a seven-year guarantee, what’s to not love?
For one, the energetic driver assists nonetheless want work, as is the case with many new automobiles. Chery is already honing its ADAS for the Australian market, so I’m hopeful that enhancements aren’t far-off. The gasoline consumption additionally left me upset.
Nevertheless, on steadiness, the Chery is my winner primarily based on bang-for-buck.
When you’re after extra of a identified amount, the outgoing Skoda Kodiaq Sportline might be had for a cut price proper now ($51,990 drive-away), and it has a refreshingly flat studying curve in comparison with screen-heavy, button-free SUVs just like the Chery.
Eager about shopping for a Chery Tiggo 8 Professional Max? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
