10 SUVs with the Most Cargo Space Behind the Third Row

2018 Lincoln Navigator rear three quarter ・ Photo by Lincoln

If you’re carrying a lot of passengers, it’s good to know about the SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row. That’s because these vehicles let you haul the most gear possible when you’ve driving around with the most people possible.

Just keep in mind that many three-row SUVs don’t have that much space leftover when all seats are filled. For half of the vehicles on our list, this means less cargo capacity than a compact hatchback when all seating spaces are taken. Yet our top five SUVs have extended wheelbases for more than double the cargo capacity of their “regular” counterparts. (And just as an FYI, we’re only considering true body-on-frame SUVs. Some crossover-style entries do offer additional space behind their third rows.)

2019 Nissan Armada

Going in reverse order, the 2019 Nissan Armada opens our list of SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row. The Armada has 16.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity back there, which is enough to keep the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade out of today’s gallery.

To help the Armada haul that cargo and up to eight people, Nissan provides a standard 390-hp V8. Another important benefit comes from the Armada’s newly standard safety content. All 2019 models now are equipped with adaptive cruise control, automatic forward emergency braking, forward-collision warning, a rearview camera, and Nissan’s Rear Door Alert system. The last feature can remind you to check the back seats before leaving the Armada parked somewhere.

Photo by Ron Sessions

2019 Infiniti QX80

The premium SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row start with the 2019 Infiniti QX80. In fact, the QX80 rides on the same platform as the Nissan Armada. The two SUVs share the same standard safety features, as well. The QX80 then is distinguished by a very slight advantage in cargo space when all seat backs are in their locked and upright positions. To be exact, the QX80 offers 16.6 cubic feet of rear storage in that configuration; it’s an extra 1.2 cubic inches over what you get in the Armada.

But the difference in luxury is a lot more noticeable. As an example, heated front seats and Nappa-leather upholstery are standard, while premium semi-aniline leather and fully climate-controlled front seats are options.

Photo by Infiniti

2019 Toyota Sequoia

For a noticeable step up in storage capacity, the 2019 Toyota Sequoia joins our list of SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row. The Sequoia’s 18.9 cubic feet is nearly 14 percent more than in the Infiniti QX80. Toyota additionally serves up almost 22 percent more third-row legroom in its SUV.

And even though the Sequoia is from a mainstream brand, it does carry a few upscale highlights of its own. Leading the way is a standard power window in the rear liftgate, providing another way to access the rear cargo hold. Also standard is safety technology like automatic forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Photo by Toyota

2019 Ford Expedition

Ford is an especially good place to shop for the SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row. The Blue Oval itself has two vehicles that qualify, and Ford’s Lincoln luxury brand also has a pair.

First up is the regular-wheelbase 2019 Ford Expedition, with 19.3 cubic feet of storage in the way-back area. Like the Infiniti QX80, the Expedition also lets you access that space through the liftgate window, albeit with a manual flip-up system. For automatic access, Ford supplies an optional handsfree liftgate that Infiniti can’t match. The Expedition builds on that advantage with connectivity features that the Infiniti also can’t match: Only the Ford is available with a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.

Photo by Ford

2019 Lincoln Navigator

Although it shares the same platform as the Ford Explorer, the 2019 Lincoln Navigator is a more powerful and luxurious alternative. Oh, and it still makes the cut as one of the SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row. The Navigator also showcases a standard handsfree liftgate to help you leverage its 19.3 cubic feet of rear storage.

Begin under the hood, where Lincoln places a standard 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. This unit delivers a whopping 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque that can really get you moving. Going to the cabin, Lincoln’s lavish SUV can be ordered with equipment such as 30-way power-adjustable leather front seats with heat, ventilation, and the brand’s Active Motion built-in massage function.

Photo by Lincoln

2019 Lincoln Navigator L

If you’re serious about the SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row, you need an extended-wheelbase model. The 2019 Lincoln Navigator L offers all the premium content of the regular-wheelbase Navigator, from its “Perfect Position” front seats to its real-wood cabin trim to its 20-speaker Revel sound system. Lincoln also delivers technologies like mobile Wi-Fi, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and compatibility with Amazon’s Alexa for both of its Navigators.

But that “L” for the bigger version brings an extra 22 inches in length. This doesn’t affect legroom, but the Navigator L can fit 34.3 cubic feet of stuff in its rear cargo hold. It’s a 78 percent increase over the cargo capacity in Lincoln’s regular-size three-row SUV.

Photo by Lincoln

2019 Ford Expedition Max

The 2019 Ford Expedition Max, like the Lincoln Navigator L, represents an extended-wheelbase version of its brand’s full-size entry. Of course, since these corporate cousins rely on the same platform, the Max also ties the L in the rankings for the SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row. They each have a rear cargo capacity of 34.3 cubic feet with all seats occupied.

You may be wondering about these vehicles’ efficiency, too. Well, despite their much larger footprints, the only difference in standard fuel-economy ratings between the different-sized SUVs is a 1 mpg drop in highway and combined driving. For the Ford Expedition Max, that means going from 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/20 mpg combined to an EPA line of 17/23/19.

Photo by Ford

2019 Chevrolet Suburban

The leaders among the SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row all come from General Motors. They’re all supported by the same underlying platform, and the most mainstream choice is the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban.

You can think of the Suburban as the long-wheelbase model of the Chevy Tahoe. The Suburban is approximately 20 inches longer than the Tahoe, which translates into 39.3 cubic feet of way-back storage - 24 more than in the shorter Chevy SUV. The Suburban also can satisfy your need for speed despite offering so much space. With the new 2019 RST Performance Edition, the standard engine upgrades to a 6.2-liter V8. You can enjoy 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque with that monster motor.

Photo by Chevrolet

2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV

GM’s SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row also include the 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV - the supersized sibling of the regular-wheelbase Escalade. The ESV SUV puts up the same third-row cargo numbers as the Chevy Suburban, but it also raises the bar for luxury equipment.

The Escalade ESV’s opulent cabin can be outfitted with exotic wood accents, a hand-finished leather-wrapped steering wheel, and multiple massage programs for the climate-controlled front seats. Beneath the hood, a 420-hp V8 is standard and enables even the biggest Escalade to blast from 0-60 in fewer than six seconds. Nor is there any shortage of sophisticated technology. The Escalade ESV is available with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, standard mobile Wi-Fi, and both forward and reverse automatic emergency braking.

Photo by General Motors

2019 GMC Yukon XL

In terms of premium positioning, the 2019 GMC Yukon XL hits the sweet spot between the Chevrolet Suburban and the Cadillac Escalade ESV. The Yukon XL has more luxury appeal than the former, but it attracts a different sort of clientele from the latter. The Yukon XL Denali is a case in point. It wears a distinctive satin-chrome grille and accents that can include power-retractable assist steps, signature LED lights, and massive 22-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.

For our purposes, the Yukon XL gets a longer wheelbase and more third-row cargo room than the Yukon, along with the same measures as the Suburban and Escalade ESV. Like GM’s other SUVs with the most cargo space behind the third row, the Yukon XL also gains nearly 10 inches of third-row legroom.

Photo by General Motors