10 Best 8 Passenger SUVs

2018 Chevrolet Traverse front driving ・ Photo by General Motors

There are lots of three-row SUVs to choose from, but not all of them offer seating for eight passengers. If you have a large family or want to be able to take your friends and their kids along for the ride, then finding an eight-passenger SUV makes sense. Although the choices are more limited than with smaller SUVs, there are still good options. Whether you want a taste of luxury or something that’s more affordable, there’s an eight-passenger SUV that will work for you. Here are the 10 best that you can buy.

2018 Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander has room for eight passengers with pricing ranging from $31,030 for the base LE up to $46,660 for the Limited Platinum. There are six different trim levels, with a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive and two engines. Power comes from either a 2.7-liter four-cylinder with 185 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque or a 3.5-liter V6 with 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. There’s 13.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 42.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 83.7 cubic feet behind the first row. A hybrid version of the Highlander is also available with four different trim levels and prices ranging from $36,670 to $48,280.

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2018 Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot comes in five trim levels ranging in price from $30,900 to $47,470, though the priciest trim doesn’t offer seating for eight. That makes the next-highest Touring your top trim choice with a starting price of $41,970. The only engine available on the Pilot is a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired to either a six-speed or nine-speed automatic transmission. There’s a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive and plenty of room for cargo. The Pilot has up to 15.5 cubic feet for cargo behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 83.9 cubic feet behind the first row.

Photo by Honda

2018 Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser is available in only one trim with a starting price of $84,315. It has a 5.7-liter V8 engine with 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque with full-time four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This large SUV has 16.1 cubic feet behind the third row, 43.0 cubic feet behind the second row, and 81.7 cubic feet behind the first row. It can also tow up to 8,100 pounds. Standard features include four-zone automatic climate control, leather seats that are heated and cooled for the driver and front passenger, a heated 40/20/40 split-folding second row that reclines and slides for easy third-row access, and a 50/50 split-folding third row. There’s also a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2018 Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition comes in three trims with either a standard or long wheelbase for more cargo and passenger room. The standard-wheelbase Expedition XLT starts at $51,790 while the ultra-luxurious, long-wheelbase Expedition Platinum Max starts at $75,720. There’s a choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive across the lineup. A 3.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine provides 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, except in Platinum trims. These see a boost to 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. Standard-wheelbase models have 20.9 cubic feet for cargo behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 104.6 cubic feet behind the first row. The numbers increase to 36.0, 73.3, and 121.5, respectively, in long-wheelbase models.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2018 Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator has room for eight passengers in four luxurious trims. The base Premiere is priced from $72,055 while the Black Label comes in at $93,705. Power for every Navigator comes from a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Both standard-length and long-wheelbase versions are available. The standard wheelbase has 19.3 cubic feet for cargo behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103.3 cubic feet behind the first row. The long wheelbase offers 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and 120.2 cubic feet behind the first row.

Photo by Lincoln

2018 Chevrolet Traverse

The Chevrolet Traverse offers seating for eight passengers, but only on select trims. Your choices are the base L at $30,295, the LS at $33,595, or the LT Cloth at $36,095. The highest trims of the Traverse offer seating only for seven. All three eight-passenger versions are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This affordable eight-passenger option still offers a roomy interior with space for cargo. There’s 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 58.1 cubic feet behind the second row, and 98.2 cubic feet behind the first row. It can also tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the trailering package.

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2018 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe is available in three trim levels with a choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive across the lineup. The base LS with rear-wheel drive has a starting price of $48,795 while the top Premier with four-wheel drive comes in at $66,495. Power comes from either a 5.3-liter V8 engine with 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque paired to a six-speed automatic transmission or a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. There’s 15.3 cubic feet for cargo behind the third row, 51.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and 94.7 cubic feet behind the first row.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada seats eight passengers in all four trim levels, so there’s a wide range of pricing and features. There’s also a choice of either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive across the lineup. Pricing starts at $40,060 for the SV with rear-wheel drive and climbs up to $65,090 for the Platinum Reserve with all-wheel drive. Power comes from a 5.6-liter V8 engine with 390 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The Armada is ready to carry people or plenty of cargo. There’s 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet behind the first row.

Photo by Nissan

2018 GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon is offered in three trim levels with a choice rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and seating for eight passengers in every trim. There’s also an option for a front bench seat that bumps seating up to nine. Pricing starts at $50,395 for the base SLE and climbs to $70,495 for the Denali with all-wheel drive. There’s 15.3 cubic feet for cargo behind the third row, 51.7 cubic feet behind the second row, and 94.7 cubic feet behind the third row. There’s also a long-wheelbase Yukon XL that increases maximum cargo capacity to 121.7 cubic feet. The standard towing capacity is 6,500 pounds, but the Yukon can tow up to 8,500 pounds when equipped with the available trailering package.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The standard-length Cadillac Escalade offers seating only for seven passengers, but the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV has an optional second-row bench seat that increases seating up to eight in all four trim levels. The base Escalade ESV has a starting price of $77,695 with the Platinum sitting at the top of the range with a starting price of $96,795. Power comes from a 6.2-liter V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. There’s a total of 120.9 cubic feet of cargo room and the Escalade ESV can tow up to 8,100 pounds in rear-wheel drive models or 7,900 pounds in four-wheel drive models.

Photo by General Motors