10 SUVs with Rear Air Conditioning

2019 Kia Sorento profile ・ Photo by Kia

Passenger comfort ranks high on the list of reasons why people buy SUVs. These are roomy vehicles that let everyone spread out while still providing plenty of space for cargo. One of the biggest challenges to having an SUV full of people is keeping the temperature comfortable whether you’re sitting in the front seats, the middle, or the third row.

It all comes down to climate control, which makes rear air conditioning an important feature. Allowing rear-seat passengers the ability to control the temperature makes sure one row isn’t freezing while another is sweating. Here are 10 SUVs with rear air conditioning to help keep everyone cool and comfortable.

2019 Subaru Ascent

The 2019 Subaru Ascent is an all-new three-row SUV with room for up to eight passengers. It comes standard with all-wheel drive and has 8.7 inches of ground clearance for your off-road adventures. It also has standard active torque vectoring and X-Mode with hill descent control for better handling in rough conditions.

Keeping passengers comfortable is key, with convenience features including 19 cupholders, dual USB ports in the second row, and three-zone automatic climate control. Starting price on the base Ascent is $31,995, with the top trim coming in at $44,695.

Photo by Subaru

2019 Dodge Durango

The 2019 Dodge Durango is a thre-row SUV with room for up to eight passengers, or only seven passengers if you opt for the second-row captain’s chairs rather than a bench seat. Five available trims start at $29,995, making it an affordable choice. Sitting at the top of the lineup is the powerful Durango SRT, which boasts a 475-hp 6.4-liter V8 engine.

This top trim of the Durango posts a 0-60 time of only 4.4 seconds, proving that just because you need a capable, full-size SUV doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun, too. Standard across the Durango lineup is three-zone automatic temperature control with rear-seat outlets and rear-seat controls to keep the whole crew comfortable.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2019 Mazda CX-9

The 2019 Mazda CX-9 is a luxurious choice with three rows of seating and room for up to seven passengers. The third row seats two, unlike larger SUVs that have room for three, while the middle row comes only with a 60/40 split-folding bench seat. Pricing starts at $32,280 for the base model, with a range of four trims and a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

This is a well-equipped vehicle even in the base trim, with standard features including a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, 7-inch infotainment screen, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Also standard across the CX-9 lineup is three-zone automatic climate control.

Photo by Brady Holt

2019 Buick Envision

The 2019 Buick Envision is a two-row SUV with seating for five passengers. As a luxury brand, it comes in with higher pricing that starts at $33,190 for the base model. There’s a wide range of standard features on that base trim, including a hands-free power liftgate, rear park assist, heated driver and front passenger seats, and 8-way power driver’s seat.

There’s also tri-zone automatic climate control with controls located on the back of the center console, but it’s not available on the base trim. It makes its first appearance on the Essence, which is priced from $36,995 with front-wheel drive, or $38,745 with all-wheel drive. It then remains a standard feature through the rest of the Envision lineup.

Photo by Buick

2019 GMC Yukon

The 2019 GMC Yukon is a full-size SUV with a choice of powerful engines, rear-wheel or four-wheel drive, and a range of three trims priced from $49,600. This puts it at a higher price than many other three-row SUVs, but the Yukon comes with exceptional passenger and cargo room, as well as capability that includes towing up to 8,500 pounds when properly equipped.

Standard features on this upscale SUV include an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, 9-speaker Bose audio system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and remote start. There also is a leather-wrapped steering wheel, black assist steps, heated power outside mirrors, and tri-zone automatic climate control to maintain an optimum temperature throughout the cabin.

Photo by GMC

2019 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is a three-row SUV with seating for up to eight passengers. It offers front-wheel or all-wheel drive in five trims starting at $30,925. The luxurious High Country trim sits at the top of the lineup with a starting price of $54,395, and standard features including heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, wireless charging, and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Standard on every trim, including the base model, is tri-zone automatic climate control. This lets passengers in the rear of the car control the temperature independently of the front seat temperature settings. There also are sensors located throughout the vehicle to monitor the temperature and better maintain the chosen settings.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Honda Passport

The 2019 Honda Passport is an all-new SUV with two rows of seating and room for up to five passengers. It’s offered with a choice of either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and in a range of four trims with pricing starting at $31,990 for the base Sport. Sitting at the top of the range is the Elite, with a price of $43,690 and standard all-wheel drive.

Honda Sensing is standard across the lineup, with features including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, and collision mitigation braking. There’s also a tilt and telescopic steering column, power liftgate lock, rear-seat heater ducts, and tri-zone automatic climate control with humidity control and air filtration.

Photo by Honda

2019 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder is a three-row SUV with seating for seven passengers. It is available with either front-wheel or four-wheel drive in a range of four trims. The base Pathfinder S starts at $31,430, while the top Platinum with four-wheel drive comes in at $44,460. Standard features include cruise control, 10 cupholders, four USB ports, and rear door alert to remind you to check the back seat so nothing is left behind.

Heated and ventilated front seats are standard on top trims, along with heated outboard seats for the second row. Standard on even the base model of the Pathfinder is tri-zone automatic climate control, so you don’t have to spend more to get this feature.

Photo by Nissan

2019 Kia Sorento

The 2019 Kia Sorento is a three-row SUV with room for seven passengers. It’s available in a range of six trims priced from $26,290 to $46,490. This makes the Sorento one of the more affordable choices on our list; however, rear air conditioning isn’t standard. It’s not until you reach the mid-range LX V6 that third-row air conditioning with controls becomes an optional feature.

It’s standard once you reach the EX V6 at a price of $35,590, so you must spend nearly $10,000 extra for your Sorento to guarantee this feature. Other standard features on the EX V6 include leather seats with a 10-way power driver’s seat and heated front seats, so it’s a well-equipped trim.

Photo by Kia

2019 Ford Expedition

The 2019 Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV with room for eight passengers and a huge amount of cargo space. There’s up to 20.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 63.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 104.6 cubic feet behind the first row. If that’s not enough, the Expedition also can tow up to 9,300 pounds when properly equipped.

The range of three trims starts with the base XLT at a price of $52,130, and tops out with the Platinum at $73,365. This is an expensive proposition, but that pricing offers a combination of capability and passenger comfort in every trim. This includes standard rear climate control across the lineup.

Photo by Ford