The first question is how much use will
that third row actually get? The amount of space and the accessibility
will vary greatly from model to model so you need to prioritize the need
for seating. The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best examples of a third row
seat that only accommodates children or small frame adults. Where their
Highlander and especially the Sequoia are Toyota products that offer
accessible and roomy third row seats in their 7 passenger SUVs. The
Honda Pilot with its recent size increase now offers an accessible and
functional third row seat to accommodate passenger numbers six and seven
(and eight).American winners in
extra passenger comfort are the Ford Flex, the Chevy Suburbans (and
their ilk with GMC and the Yukon series, etc), and the Dodge Durango,
all of which are accommodating in the third row. From Europe the Rover
makes their seating usable in the Discovery series, where Volkswagen,
BMW and Volvo are all pretty tight conditions.
Another big consideration is how much
SUV type work do you expect to get from your rig. If you want to get off
the beaten path and take seven people the 4Runner and the Pathfinder are
decent off road choices. Of course the Land Cruiser and Rovers can go
there and back, but their gentrification has made that a secondary
capability.
The last group to consider for seven
passenger SUV seating is in the crossover segment. With great entries
like the Nissan Murano, the Mazda CX-9 and the Subaru Tribeca, you have
excellent choices for a car like ride and handling with all wheel drive
for extreme conditions. However, these are not a group know for ease of
access or roominess in the third row. The lower profiles and narrower
wheelbases keep the passenger compartment snugger, especially in the
third row.
It is a great market to find ways to
move seven people around in an SUV type vehicle. With a little
consideration and planned shopping you will find the vehicle that best
accommodates your passengers and you traveling needs.
