10 Best Six Passenger Vehicles

2018 GMC Acadia Denali ・ Photo by GMC

If you’re in the market for a vehicle that can seat six (and not a person more or a person less), then you’re in luck because the expert editors at Autobytel have come up with a list of the ten best six passenger vehicles. Most of the vehicles on our list are SUVs (unfortunately it seems as though the days of full-size cars with two bench seats capable of carrying six people are long gone), but they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and capabilities, so we should have you covered no matter what you need. Keep reading to discover our favorites and learn some of the benefits a six-passenger vehicle has over the alternatives.

2018 Nissan Titan Crew Cab

Like many of its full-size crew cab competitors, the Nissan Titan can seat six (with three people in the front bench and another three on the rear bench), but we chose it over the other models because it’s a good truck that often goes overlooked in the pickup segment. There are both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive models available, along with the Pro-4X model which offers an electronic locking rear differential, all-terrain off-road tires, and radiator and transfer case skid plates. You can also seat six in the Titan King Cab, but it isn’t nearly as roomy as the Crew Cab (which is already tight enough when fully loaded).

Photo by Nissan

2018 Lexus GX 460

When ordered in Premium or Luxury trim levels, the mid-size Lexus GX 460 SUV is available with two captain’s chairs in place of the second row’s standard bench seat. The third row is quite tight, so the GX is best if at least two of your six passengers are on the smaller side. All versions of the GX feature a V8 engine, and thanks in large part to its body on frame design and standard full-time four-wheel drive system, the GX is extremely capable off-road.

Photo by Lexus

2018 Ford Explorer

.All but the base trim level versions of the mid-size Ford Explorer are available with second-row bucket seats in place of the usual bench, providing seating for six passengers. Also available to improve second-row comfort are a second-row console, heated second-row seats, a dual-headrest DVD entertainment system, and in case of the worst, inflatable outboard rear safety belts. There’s plenty of cargo room even when the third row is in use, and the third row itself is roomy enough for smaller passengers. Front-wheel drive is standard, and Ford’s Intelligent 4WD system is optional (or standard on models equipped with the 365-horsepower turbocharged EcoBoost engine).

Photo by Ford

2018 GMC Acadia

Six-passenger seating is standard on higher trim level versions of the mid-size GMC Acadia SUV (base models come with seating for seven). Other available options for second-row passengers are heated rear seats, rear climate controls and vents, a dual-screen rear seat entertainment system, and a 120V outlet. Third-row seating is fairly usable and should be fine for smaller passengers, but taller passengers will be cramped. Both front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions of the Acadia are available, and while a four-cylinder engine is available, we’d go for the V6 — its extra power is welcome and it doesn’t use that much more fuel.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Lincoln MKT

The next entry on our list of the ten best six passenger vehicles is the Lincoln MKT, a full-size SUV that comes standard as a seven-passenger vehicle unless you opt for a pair of bucket seats in the second row (an option limited to the top of the line Reserve trim level). If you do choose for the bucket seats in the second row, you can also add a refrigerated console that will hold up to seven 12 oz cans and is a perfect companion for the available dual-headrest DVD entertainment system. The MKT’s exterior styling might be a turn off for some, but with age, we’ve grown to like it.

Photo by Lincoln

2018 Dodge Durango

The mid-size Dodge Durango is available with second-row fold and tumble captain chairs that bring the total seating down to six on SXT Plus or higher trim levels (a seven-passenger layout is standard). Higher-end models are available with a rear DVD entertainment center with dual screens and blu-ray compatibility, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and a blind spot monitoring system. All models of the Durango are available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive unless you opt for the SRT model which is only available in all-wheel drive form and comes with a 475-horsepower Hemi V8 that can get the Durango up to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds or tow up to 8,700 pounds.

Photo by Dodge

2018 Ford Flex

The Ford Flex is a front-wheel or all-wheel drive mid-size SUV that makes the most of its boxy design with three rows of seats and plenty of room for cargo. If you opt for an SEL or Limited model you can get the Flex with seating for six thanks to a pair of reclining bucket seats in the second row (with available seat heaters) instead of the standard three-person bench. To brighten up the interior, there’s the open Multipanel Vista Roof, which includes a power moonroof in the front, two skylights above the second row and a single large skylight for the third row, as well as power sunshades. The Ford Flex has been around for a while, but it’s still one of our favorites.

Photo by Ford Media

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a mid-size SUV that’s available with seating for six when equipped with the second-row captain’s chairs found in the Limited Ultimate model. As its name would suggest, the Limited Ultimate trim level includes just about every option you could want: leather seating surfaces, heated and ventilated first and second row seats, a panoramic sunroof, and an Infinity premium audio system. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive versions are available if you need the extra traction, and there’s very little penalty at the fuel pump.

Photo by Hyundai

2018 Tesla Model X

The all-electric mid-size Tesla Model X SUV is available in a six-passenger configuration, but it doesn’t come cheap. The six-passenger option adds another $6,000 to it's $80,000 starting price. It comes with all-wheel drive, a range of 237 miles and quick acceleration. If you need an electric six-passenger SUV, the Model X is what you’re looking for (not that there are many other options).

Photo by Tesla

2018 Acura MDX Advance

The mid-size Acura MDX’s Advance package replaces the standard model’s second-row three-person bench seat with a pair of captain’s chairs and a center console. It lowers the seating capacity from a slightly over-crowded seven to a more luxurious six, though space in the third row is tight. On the topic of luxury, the Advance package also includes a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, second-row sunshades and a rear entertainment system that can work as one ultra-wide screen or as two smaller individual screens. The Acura MDX is also one of the better handling three-row SUVs, whether you decide to go with the front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive or even the hybrid all-wheel drive version.

Photo by Acura