Fuel economy varies widely among vehicles built to carry six to eight people. The spread runs from plug-in hybrids that top 70 MPGe to full-size V8 haulers stuck near 20 mpg, and the differences add up quickly across a year of school runs and road trips. Here are twelve three-row SUVs that show where the efficiency gains and penalties fall.
1. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Plug-In Pace Setter
Among plug-in three-row SUVs, only the Kia Sorento rates thriftier than the Outlander PHEV, according to iSeeCars hybrid rankings. Its combined figure of 73 MPGe is the second-highest efficiency number in the three-row class, and it comes from pairing a battery pack with a gasoline engine that fills in once the charge runs out.
For families with a garage outlet and a short daily commute, most weekday driving could run on electricity alone. The 73 MPGe figure assumes regular charging, though, so owners who rarely plug in should expect gasoline-hybrid economy instead, which is a much smaller advantage.
2. Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid: Big Luxury, Small Appetite
Mazda’s three-row flagship earns a combined 56 MPGe in plug-in form, and iSeeCars lists a 10 safety score for it as well. That pairing of efficiency and crash performance is unusual in a large, upscale SUV.
The figure sits well below the Outlander’s 73 MPGe, so the CX-90 PHEV trades some thrift for a more premium feel and stronger towing credentials. Buyers who want a plug-in without moving to a mainstream badge will find it among the few options in this size.
3. Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid: Hybrid Without the Plug
Toyota’s biggest family crossover is the best non-plug-in Toyota on the three-row hybrid list, returning 36 mpg combined. That is only a point or so behind the plug-in-free Kia and Hyundai hybrids, and it comes with no charging routine to manage.
Owners get a third row, real cargo room and economy in the mid-30s from ordinary fuel stops alone. The trade-off is price, since the hybrid commands a premium over the gasoline version, which takes years of mileage to earn back at current pump prices.
4. BMW X5: Luxury at the Top
The X5 holds the first position on the luxury three-row ranking, and the write-up cites an EPA rating of 25 mpg. In a segment filled with V8 and twin-turbo engines, a number that high is what puts a German six-cylinder at the front of the class.
A rating of 25 mpg would still look ordinary among mainstream crossovers, so the lead is relative. For buyers who insist on a luxury badge and a third row, though, the X5 shows that the lowest fuel bill in the category does not require giving up performance.
5. Toyota Highlander: The Mainstream Benchmark
Among non-hybrid three-row vehicles, the iSeeCars gas ranking lists the Highlander at 24 mpg combined. The result reflects a turbocharged four-cylinder that keeps displacement and weight modest compared with the V6 engines still common among rivals.
That number puts the Highlander ahead of most full-size competitors without any electrification. Households that cannot justify the hybrid’s price premium still get an economy figure that holds up well, though the third row is tighter than in larger rivals.
6. Chevrolet Tahoe: Diesel Heavyweight
A full-size body-on-frame SUV matching the Highlander at 24 mpg combined is the surprise in the iSeeCars ranking. The figure is tied to the Tahoe’s 3.0-liter diesel six, which delivers strong low-speed torque while sipping fuel on the highway.
The result is specific to the diesel engine, so Tahoes with the gasoline V8 should be expected to land lower. Owners who tow heavy trailers or cover long highway distances are the ones most likely to see the benefit, and the diesel option costs more up front.
7. Volvo XC90: Swedish Efficiency
Volvo’s seven-seater takes the second position on the luxury economy list, where it is credited with 24 mpg. The brand pairs a turbocharged four-cylinder with mild electrification, a layout that avoids the thirst typical of larger engines.
Compared with the BMW above it, the XC90 gives up only one mpg, and it brings a quieter cabin and a reputation for safety. Shoppers weighing the two will find the fuel-economy gap small enough to decide on comfort and equipment instead.
8. Cadillac Escalade: Full-Size Luxury, Smaller Penalty
Cadillac’s flagship ranks third among luxury three-row SUVs for gas mileage, at 23 mpg combined, according to iSeeCars luxury data. That is a respectable result for a vehicle of its length, weight and towing capacity, and it trails the BMW by just two mpg.
Escalade shoppers are rarely buying on economy, so the number works mostly as a reassurance. Anyone comparing the cost of ownership against smaller luxury crossovers should still budget for fuel use that stays noticeably higher in town driving.
9. Toyota Sequoia: Hybrid, Still Thirsty
Even with a hybrid powertrain, the Sequoia manages just 22 mpg combined, per the iSeeCars hybrid list. The truck-based full-size body and heavy frame absorb most of the gain a battery and electric motor would normally deliver.
The figure means the Sequoia’s hybrid system is aimed at torque and towing as much as at saving fuel. Buyers who need that capability get a modest efficiency lift, but those chasing lower fuel bills would do far better with the Grand Highlander.
10. Honda Pilot: Family Favorite, Middle of the Pack
The iSeeCars gas ranking puts the Pilot at 22 mpg combined, which places Honda’s three-row crossover in the lower half of the gasoline list. The V6 engine delivers smooth power for a loaded family vehicle but gives up efficiency against turbocharged fours.
The gap to the Highlander is two mpg, which works out to a modest annual fuel difference for typical driving. Buyers weighing the two will find ride, interior space and price matter more than the economy difference between them.
11. Subaru Ascent: All-Wheel Drive Tax
The 2026 Ascent’s turbocharged 2.4-liter engine is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined, which MPG Buddy estimates at about $3,050 a year in fuel. Subaru’s standard symmetrical all-wheel drive adds friction and weight that most rivals offer only as an extra.
The rating matches the Pilot and the Sequoia hybrid, so the Ascent is not an outlier among three-row SUVs. Owners in snowy regions get all-wheel drive on every trim, and the annual fuel figure is a useful gauge of ownership costs.
12. Dodge Durango: Bottom of the List
The Durango is the thirstiest vehicle on the iSeeCars top-10 gas list, at 20 mpg combined. That is the lowest figure among the dozen SUVs here and about a quarter of the Outlander’s 73 MPGe, though the two numbers measure different things.
Dodge’s three-row offers a V8 and strong towing ratings, so the number reflects performance as much as inefficiency. Shoppers prioritizing economy should look elsewhere, but those who want muscle in a family hauler will accept the fuel penalty.
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