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Three-row SUVs come in all shapes, sizes, and prices in 2023. They’re hot commodities, too, pushing big sales for brands of all kinds. But the answer might surprise if you’re looking for the cheapest three-row SUV of 2023. 

What’s the cheapest three-row SUV of 2023?

A gray 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan drives down a road with grass and a tree in the background. The Tiguan is the cheapest three-row SUV of 2023.
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan | Volkswagen

The cheapest three-row SUV of 2023 is the Volkswagen Tiguan. 

According to U.S. News and World Report, the 2023 Tiguan starts at just $26,950, putting it ahead of options like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Ascent. 

This may come as a surprise to some. After all, European car brands tend to carry reputations for higher prices and more refined driving experiences. But look at the rest of Volkswagen’s lineup, and its ownership of the cheapest three-row SUV starts to make sense. Models like the Jetta and Taos are among the most affordable in their respective classes. 

So, it’s no shocker that the Tiguan offers the lowest price of any seven-passenger SUV (especially since the departure of the Dodge Journey a couple of years ago). 

U.S. News and World Report compiled a comprehensive list of the most affordable three-row SUVs of the year. Here’s the top-10 ranking. 

  1. Volkswagen Tiguan $26,950
  2.  Mitsubishi Outlander $27,895
  3. Kia Sorento $30,090
  4. Subaru Ascent $33,895
  5. Chevrolet Traverse $34,520
  6. Nissan Pathfinder $35,200
  7. Volkswagen Atlas $35,150
  8. Hyundai Palisade $35,550
  9. Kia Telluride $35,890
  10. Toyota Highlander $36,760

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan only gets an average overall rating despite the low cost

The 2023 Tiguan gets props for its low price, but its overall rating is only in the middle of the pack. 

U.S. News and World Report gives the 2023 Tiguan a 7.8 out of 10 for overall quality. That’s not bad by any means – but it’s far from the head of the pack. For example, the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade each carry a high ranking of 8.7 out of 10. 

U.S. News and World Report specifically points to the Tiguan’s excellent cabin space and features as upsides while knocking its underpowered engine. 

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan worth it?

The 2023 Volkswagen is worth considering as an affordable three-row SUV. 

For starters, it has clean, classic, timeless looks likely to age well over the years. The Tiguan looks sporty and refined, with enough Euro-styling elements to impress the neighbors. 

It’s also convenient for a vehicle of its size, offering both room for seven passengers and a maximum cargo capacity of 65.3 cubic feet. 

There are almost certainly worse three-row SUVs than the Volkswagen Tiguan that carry higher asking prices. 

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Staff Writer, Producer - SUVs

Scott Prewitt

Scott Prewitt joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2023 as a Staff Writer for the SUV section. During college, he began his career in journalism as Editor in Chief of The Creightonian. After graduating from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, News and Public Relations, Scott spent time in a local newsroom. He soon found his way to the world of automotive journalism and has been writing about cars since 2017.

A passion for all things automotive began at a young age. Playing Gran Turismo racing games in the early 2000s sparked an interest in cars and Scott began devouring Car and Driver stories when he was in the fourth grade. Since then, Scott’s enthusiasm for autos has grown to become the focal point of his career as a journalist.

By combining the skills that earned him the News Graduate of the Year 2016 and the Omaha Press Club Recognition & Academic Scholarship with a craving for knowledge of automotive industry, Scott covers a wide range of content from breaking news about the latest SUV models to designated off-road and overlanding rigs. His reporting is informed by personal experiences like road trips, intriguing automotive history, and time spent poring over various outlets and YouTube channels. Scott is drawn to car culture because, in his own words,  “these vehicles are a combination of purpose-built engineering and emotive, expressive design.”

The personal aspects of the autos world are of particular interest to Scott, and he is fascinated by the relationship between humans and cars. Years of writing for dealerships across the country and time in the corporate communications world lend to his expertise as a writer here at MotorBiscuit.