Three-row SUVs run from compact crossovers to luxury models, and Edmunds’ scores show that a higher price does not guarantee a better vehicle. This ordering draws on its ratings for several classes, so prices and model years vary from entry to entry. Here are twelve of them, arranged from the lowest score to the highest.
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1. Subaru Ascent: Functional but Flavorless
Edmunds’ lowest-rated mainstream three-row is the 2027 Subaru Ascent, which scores 5.7 out of 10 from $40,795 and is described as functional but flavorless, per its three-row SUV ratings.
A price above $40,000 makes the weak score harder to excuse, since far cheaper entries here score higher; the Santa Fe starts at $35,050 and earns 7.5. Shoppers loyal to the brand should treat the Ascent as a deliberate trade, not a value pick.
2. Infiniti QX60: Luxury Letdown
The 2027 Infiniti QX60 ties for the lowest score at 5.7 out of 10, with Edmunds citing a lackluster driving experience and disappointing comfort in its luxury SUV rankings.
Comfort is the quality a luxury badge normally promises, so the complaint cuts deeper here than for a mainstream model. Shoppers considering it should drive it against the Acura MDX, which scores 6.8 from $51,800 in the same Edmunds luxury ranking.
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee L: Room to Spare
The 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee L scores 6.1 out of 10 at Edmunds, from $41,520, with the site pointing to generous room for passengers, in its three-row SUV list.
Passenger space is the headline strength, which suits families filling all three rows. At 6.1 it trails the Santa Fe, Telluride and Palisade by well over a point, so the roominess comes with weaker overall marks than the leading picks. Edmunds lists the 2027 model from $41,520, so the pricing is only slightly above the Ascent’s $40,795.
4. Mitsubishi Outlander: One Big Drawback
Edmunds scores the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander 6.3 out of 10, starting at $29,995, and says slow acceleration is its only major drawback, per its compact three-row guide.
A single flagged flaw and the lowest starting price among the entries listing one, at under $30,000, make it a budget-conscious option. Buyers should expect leisurely acceleration and weigh it against the Sorento, which costs $32,390 and scores 7.7. Edmunds files the Outlander under compact three-row SUVs, a smaller class than the midsize Telluride and Palisade.
5. Honda Pilot: Lagging in the Back
The 2026 Honda Pilot scores 6.4 out of 10 at Edmunds, which says it lags behind class leaders in third-row room and cargo space, in its three-row SUV rankings.
Those are precisely the areas a three-row buyer checks first, so the criticism lands on the vehicle’s core purpose. Families who need a usable back row should measure the Pilot’s third row against higher-scoring rivals such as the Telluride before committing.
6. Acura MDX: The Pragmatic Pick
The 2026 Acura MDX scores 6.8 out of 10 at Edmunds from $51,800, with the site calling it a pragmatic choice, per its luxury SUV ranking.
Pragmatic is restrained praise, and the score stays below the mainstream Santa Fe and Telluride at 7.5 despite a price about $16,750 above the Santa Fe’s. Buyers paying for the badge should recognize that the premium does not buy a higher Edmunds rating. Edmunds files the MDX under luxury SUVs, a class where the QX60 and Lexus models also appear in this ranking.
7. Lexus TX: Family-Friendly Luxury
The 2026 Lexus TX scores 7.2 out of 10 at Edmunds from $56,940, and the site calls it impressively family-friendly, per its luxury three-row ratings.
It is the first luxury entry here to clear 7, and the family focus makes the case for the price directly. At $56,940 it asks about $5,100 more than the MDX for 0.4 points of Edmunds score. It also scores higher than the MDX, which suggests Edmunds sees the Lexus as the stronger family luxury option.
8. Lexus GX: Small Third Row
The 2026 Lexus GX scores 7.3 out of 10 at Edmunds from $66,785, though the site flags a small third-row seating area and limited cargo room, in its luxury SUV page.
The highest price here comes with the most conspicuous packaging caveat, so the GX suits buyers who value it for reasons other than seating. Anyone planning regular seven-passenger trips would do better with the cheaper, higher-scoring models that follow.
9. Hyundai Santa Fe: Occasional Third Row
Edmunds scores the Hyundai Santa Fe 7.5 out of 10, with the 2026 model from $35,050 and a third-row seat meant for occasional use, in its compact three-row SUV picks.
That score tops both Lexus models on this list at a starting price about $21,890 below the TX’s. The caveat is the occasional-use third row, which suits families that rarely carry more than five, and Edmunds says it gets its recommendation for family-oriented shoppers.
10. Kia Telluride: Redesign Recommended
Edmunds scores the redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride 7.5 out of 10 and calls it a great choice for a midsize three-row SUV, per its Telluride review page.
The redesign matters because it resets the model, so impressions from earlier years do not carry over automatically. The tie with the Santa Fe makes the larger midsize package the main difference between them; the row lists no Telluride price, so current pricing needs checking.
11. Kia Sorento: Small but Versatile
The 2026 Kia Sorento scores 7.7 out of 10 at Edmunds from $32,390, which calls it an enticing option for a small SUV with above-average versatility, in its compact three-row SUV ranking.
A 7.7 at under $33,000 is the best price-to-score combination in this gallery, undercutting the Santa Fe by $2,660 and beating it by two tenths. As a compact-class entry, families filling every seat should confirm the fit in person.
12. Hyundai Palisade: Top Recommendation
The 2027 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid tops Edmunds’ midsize three-row list at 8.3 out of 10, from $44,560, with the site calling it one of its top recommendations for sure, per its midsize three-row SUV ratings.
The score is 0.6 above the next entry and 2.6 above the Ascent, the widest separation in the ranking. The Palisade costs about $3,765 more than the Ascent to start, which buys a far higher Edmunds rating.
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