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These Are the Cheapest 2021 3-Row SUVs You’ll Actually Want to Own

Whether you’ve got a big family or want the extra seats for friends, three-row SUVs are becoming more common. Thanks to the overall popularity of SUVs and crossovers, you don’t even have to spend big money on a large one to get the third row. While there are plenty of affordable options available in the …

Whether you’ve got a big family or want the extra seats for friends, three-row SUVs are becoming more common. Thanks to the overall popularity of SUVs and crossovers, you don’t even have to spend big money on a large one to get the third row. While there are plenty of affordable options available in the market, there are a few you most likely won’t want to own. To save you the hassle, we’ve sorted through the cheapest three-tow SUVs available and found the best options for the money.

The Honda Pilot is a large SUV with great standard features

A photo of the Honda Pilot SUV outdoors.
Honda Pilot SUV | Honda

Starting our list of recommendations is the 2021 Honda Pilot. According to Honda, the Pilot is a midsize SUV with a starting price of $32,250. Luckily, the Pilot comes equipped with the third row of seats as standard, meaning you won’t have to opt for higher trim levels to get it. As standard, you also get Honda Sensing, which includes safety features such as Lane Keeping Assist System, Collision Mitigation Braking System, and Road Departure Mitigation System, to name a few.

Under the hood of the Honda Pilot lives a 3.5-liter V6 producing 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission available is a nine-speed automatic. In terms of fuel economy, the Pilot consumes 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

If you want the range-topping Pilot, the Elite trim starts at $48,420 and includes luxury features such as heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic roof.

The redesigned Kia Sorento offers practicality and hybrid power

Kia Sorento driving down highway
Kia Sorento | Kia

Out of this batch of SUVs, the 2021 Kia Sorento is by far the newest. At the time of writing, the 2021 Kia Sorento hasn’t arrived at dealerships just yet, so you may have to wait a bit. However, given all of the features, Kia has announced so far, the 2021 Sorento is definitely worth waiting for.

Like the Pilot, the Sorento offers its third row of seats as standard. On top of that, the Sorento includes standard safety equipment such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Lane Departure Warning. Additionally, the Sorento comes standard with Rear Occupant Alert, which alerts the driver if there is movement in the second or third row of the SUV after the doors have been locked.

Aside from the safety-oriented features, the Sorento also packs a decent punch under the hood. An available 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine bumps the power output up to 281 hp and 311 lb-ft. Kia also announced that there would also be a Sorento Hybrid if you want the most fuel-efficient version possible. Although official pricing has yet to be released, the 2020 model starts at $26,990, so expect a price bump of up to $28,000.

The Volkswagen Tiguan is small, affordable and well equipped

A photo of a Volkswagen Tiguan at an auto show.
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV | Photo by Manfred Schmid via Getty Images

Last but not least, we have Volkswagen’s best-selling SUV in the U.S., the Tiguan. With a starting price of $25,245, the Tiguan is both the smallest and cheapest SUV on our list. Despite having the lowest starting price, the Tiguan also includes third-row seating as standard. Like all of the other contenders on this list, the Volkswagen comes standard with safety features such as Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning, and Autonomous Emergency Braking

In terms of performance, the Tiguan comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 184-hp. The only transmission available is an eight-speed automatic. The Tiguan also offers great fuel economy, consuming 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

All of these SUVs mentioned are great contenders with plenty of standard options. Powerful engines, standard safety tech, and third-row seating as standard are major pluses. While there are other contenders for less money, these are some of the best you can get for the money.

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