10 SUVs That Will Fit 3 Car Seats

2018 Ford Expedition Family Scene ・ Photo by Ford

SUVs are known for having plenty of room for cargo or people, with the ability to quickly switch between the two. But if you've ever installed a car seat in an SUV, you are well aware of the sheer physical effort involved. Two car seats are taxing enough, but when three are needed, the SUV you choose can make a huge difference. 

Not all SUVs are created equal, so when it comes to car seats with various configurations, we had to dig deep. Here are our choices for 10 of the best SUVs that can actually fit three child's car seats.

2018 Ford Expedition

The 2018 Ford Expedition is a three-row SUV with seating for up to eight passengers. A total of six car seats will fit in the Expedition making it a great choice for large families or those who often end up with carpool duty. All three seats in the second-row feature both lower anchors and tethers.

The third-row has lower anchors and tethers in both outboard seating positions, but the center seat in the third row has a tether only. Access to the third row is made easier with available second-row tip-and-slide seats that let passengers climb in back without having to remove empty second-row car seats. Pricing on the 2018 Ford Expedition starts at $51,790.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2018 Toyota Highlander

The 2018 Toyota Highlander has room for up to eight passengers with four car seats. Whether you choose the seven or eight-passenger version of the Highlander, both second-row outboard seats feature lower anchors and tethers. In models with the second-row bench seat, both middle seats have only tethers. If you opt for second-row captain’s chairs, then there’s only room for three car seats.

The second-row slides forward for easier access to the third-row and all car seat anchors are easy to access. You won’t have to dig around trying to find them stuck down in the seats, so installing car seats is quick and simple. Pricing on the 2018 Toyota Highlander starts at $31,030.

Photo by Toyota

2018 GMC Acadia

The 2018 GMC Acadia has seating for either six or seven passengers with room for up to five car seats. The second-row outboard seats have both lower anchors and tethers while both rear seats have only tethers. In vehicles with seating for seven, the second-row middle seat is also equipped with a car seat tether.

Access to the third row is easier thanks to SmartSlide seating that lets you slide the second row forward with one hand. The feature even works with an empty second-row car seat still installed so you don’t have to worry about removing it every time someone needs to hop in back. Pricing for the 2018 GMC Acadia starts at $29,995.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Ford Explorer

There’s room for up to seven passengers in the 2018 Ford Explorer and it can accommodate up to four car seats. The outboard seats in the second row and the passenger-side seat in the third row both feature lower anchors and tethers for securing car seats.

The middle seat in the second row has only a tether, however it can borrow the anchors from either outboard seat. This doesn’t increase the number of anchored car seats you can install, but it does give you the flexibility to install car seats with anchors in either both second-row outboard seats or one of the outboard seats and the middle seat. Pricing on the 2018 Ford Explorer starts at $32,140.

Photo by Ford

2018 Mazda CX-9

The 2018 Mazda CX-9 has three rows of seating with room for seven and can accommodate up to four car seats in various configurations. The second-row outboard seats have both lower anchors and tethers. The second-row middle seat and third row passenger-side seat have tethers only.

Although the second-row center seat doesn’t have lower anchors, you can use the lower anchors from the adjacent seats. That still means only two seats in the second-row can use the anchors, but you have your choice of either the two outboard seats or the center seat and one outboard seat. Second-row seats also slide forward to access the third-row without removing second-row car seats. Pricing on the 2018 Mazda CX-9 starts at $32,130.

Photo by Mazda

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe is available with seating for either six or seven passengers. If you need room for three car seats, then your only option is the seven-passenger version of the Santa Fe. The second row has lower anchors and tethers in the outboard seats and only a tether in the middle seat. If you opt for the captain’s chairs, then you lose that middle seat and have room for only two car seats. Car seats cannot be installed in the third row.

The Santa Fe is a great value for families on a budget. Pricing for the base model with room for seven passengers starts at an affordable $30,850.

Photo by Hyundai

2018 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2018 Chevrolet Traverse is all-new this year with seating for either seven or eight passengers with up to six car seats. There are lower anchor and tethers in the second-row outboard seats and all remaining second and third-row seats have tethers. In addition, the Traverse has a rear-seat reminder to keep the driver from forgetting check the rear seats.

This safety feature is activated when the rear doors are opened within ten minutes of starting the car or anytime they’re opened when the vehicle is running. The reminder sounds a series of five chimes and displays a message in the instrument cluster when the vehicle is turned off. Pricing on the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse starts at $29,930.

Photo by Chevrolet

2018 Kia Sorento

The 2018 Kia Sorento has room for up to seven passengers with the flexibility of an optional third row. Even without the third row, there’s still room for five passengers with three car seats. Adding the third row gives you room for more adults, but it doesn’t increase your car seat capacity as the third row has no lower anchors or tethers.

The second-row has lower anchors and tethers in both outboard seats while the middle seat has only a tether. The anchors are well-placed so they’re easy to find and not buried in the seat cushions. The 2018 Kia Sorento comes in with a budget-friendly starting price of only $25,900.

Photo by Kia

2018 Dodge Durango

The 2018 Dodge Durango is a mid-size SUV with room for between five and seven passengers and an optional third row. Models without the third row can fit three car seats. Add the third row to your Durango and you get room for two additional car seats. There’s also the option for second-row captain’s chairs, which are more comfortable than the bench seat. The drawback is they reduce your overall car seat capacity by one, forcing more frequent use of the third row.

The second-row outboard seats in every configuration have both lower anchors and tethers. The second-row middle seat and both seats in the third-row features only tethers. Pricing on the 2018 Dodge Durango starts at $29,995.

Photo by Dodge

2018 Honda Pilot

The 2018 Honda Pilot has room for up to eight passengers with a standard third row. The second row is available as a bench seat with room for three or as captain’s chairs with room for only two. All six rear seating positions can accommodate car seats.

The three seats in the second row and the passenger-side seat in the third row have both lower anchors and tethers, so even if you opt for captain’s chairs, there are still three seats with lower anchors and tethers for car seats. The third-row middle seat and the outboard seat on the driver’s side have only tethers. Pricing for the 2018 Honda Pilot starts at $30,900.

Photo by Honda