Looking for a Toyota 3 Row SUV?
If you’re in the market for a Toyota for your family, you’re making a solid choice. Toyota is well-known for its reliability, advanced safety features, and commitment to green technology. These vehicles are also relatively affordable and boast outstanding resale value, making them an excellent investment for families.
However, when choosing a Toyota, it’s important to ensure that the vehicle has enough space for your entire crew. A third-row SUV can be a game-changer, allowing you to transport up to eight passengers in one trip. To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of five Toyota SUVs with third-row seating. This guide will help you explore some of Toyota’s most spacious options and review their additional features, so you can find the perfect SUV for your family’s needs.
Toyota Highlander: A Top Choice for Families
The Toyota Highlander is a standout option when it comes to choosing a **Toyota 3 row SUV**. While this list isn’t ranked, the Highlander is undeniably a strong contender among Toyota vehicles with third-row seating.
Spacious and Flexible Seating
Lower trim levels like the L and LE feature bench seats in both the second and third rows, allowing the Highlander to accommodate up to eight passengers. This setup is ideal for large families. For those seeking a more luxurious experience, higher trim levels offer second-row captain’s chairs. Although this reduces seating capacity, it provides extra legroom, which is often appreciated by adults and older kids.
Ample Storage and Comfort Features
The storage area behind the third row is spacious enough to fit four carry-on suitcases. If more storage is needed, the 60/40 split third-row seat can be folded down, offering ample space for a long road trip. The Highlander also keeps everyone entertained with an available Blu-ray entertainment system and five USB charging ports.
Comfort in All Weather Conditions
To ensure comfort in any weather, the Highlander offers available heated front and second-row seats, perfect for chilly or rainy days. Additionally, the available panoramic moonroof allows you to enjoy fresh air and scenic views when the weather is nice.
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Land Cruiser: A Timeless Toyota 3 Row SUV
Iconic Off-Roading Legacy
The Land Cruiser has been one of Toyota’s most iconic off-roading vehicles for over 60 years. Although the manufacturer discontinued it after releasing the final model in 2021, the Heritage Edition remains a great choice for families seeking a reliable Toyota 3 row SUV.
Spacious and Versatile Interior
The 2021 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition offers an available third-row seat that accommodates up to eight passengers. When you fold down the 50/50 split third-row and second-row seats, you can access up to 81.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
Luxurious Comfort and Entertainment Features
Beyond its spacious interior, the Land Cruiser is equipped with luxury features that ensure a comfortable ride for the whole family. Hungry travelers can store drinks and snacks in the built-in cooler box in the center console. The vehicle also boasts a 14-speaker audio system and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with two 11.6-inch displays.
Power and Off-Roading Capabilities
While these features add a touch of luxury, the Land Cruiser’s 5.7-liter V-8 engine and eight-speed automatic transmission provide the power needed for serious off-roading adventures.
Toyota Sequoia: A Spacious Toyota 3 Row SUV for Large Families
The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV that has become a favorite among large families. Its third-row seating can accommodate up to eight passengers and, in the 2023 model, features power-folding capabilities, making it easier for everyone to enter and exit the vehicle.
Maximize Comfort with Optional Seating Configurations
If you prioritize comfort and don’t mind sacrificing an extra seat, consider opting for the second-row captain’s chairs. This setup not only provides more legroom but also includes a center console with ample storage space.
Comfort Features for All Passengers
The Sequoia ensures that all occupants stay comfortable with heated and ventilated front seats and three-zone climate control. The driver and front passenger can set their own preferred temperatures, while the rear passengers have their own zone with controls conveniently located on the back of the center console. Additional features that enhance comfort include a rear-seat Blu-ray Disc entertainment system and a 120V AC power outlet, making every journey enjoyable for the entire family.
Toyota 4Runner: A Rugged Toyota 3 Row SUV
If you’re looking for a Toyota 3 row SUV built with off-roading in mind, the Toyota 4Runner is a top contender. This rugged vehicle is perfect for adventurous families who enjoy conquering rough terrains on the weekends. Even if your driving is mostly city-based, the 4Runner’s roomy interior makes it a great choice for daily use. Select models offer an upgrade to seven-passenger seating, allowing you to comfortably transport your entire crew. The second-row seats slide at the touch of a button, making onboarding a breeze. If you don’t need the third-row seats, you can easily fold down the 50/50 split setup to expand the vehicle’s storage space.
Family-Friendly Features of the Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner comes equipped with several features that make it an ideal family vehicle. It offers an available 15-speaker audio system and the Entune App Suite, which includes popular built-in apps for entertainment and convenience. If you need to create more storage space, simply fold down the rear rows. Additionally, the 4Runner includes a power-sliding rear window, a feature particularly popular with the furriest members of your family.
Toyota Sienna: A Versatile Option Beyond SUVs
While our list has focused on SUVs, the Toyota Sienna deserves a spot for families considering a spacious and versatile vehicle.
Hands-Free Convenience and Smart Design
The Toyota Sienna offers hands-free power sliding side doors and a liftgate, allowing you to access the vehicle with a simple kicking motion. Its third-row seating comfortably fits up to eight passengers and can fold flat into a dedicated compartment, providing additional storage space when needed. Although the second-row seats aren’t removable, they can slide to enhance legroom or maximize cargo capacity.
Luxury Features and Modern Appeal
The Sienna’s modern design, with muscular body sides and a flat hood, gives it the look of an SUV. This minivan also offers luxurious features like an optional 16.4-inch entertainment display, an onboard vacuum cleaner, and three-zone automatic climate control with a rear control panel. For added convenience, there’s even a speaker system for the driver to communicate with passengers throughout the spacious interior.
A Minivan That Feels Like a Toyota 3 Row SUV
With its SUV-like appearance and a host of premium features, the Toyota Sienna bridges the gap between minivan and SUV, making it a great choice for families in need of a Toyota 3 row SUV.
Toyota’s Bold Move Toward Electrification with a 3 Row SUV
Toyota is making a significant investment of $1.3 billion into its Kentucky factory, aimed at advancing its “future electrification efforts.” This hefty investment includes the production of a yet-to-be-named Toyota 3 row SUV, which will be fully electric and tailored for the US market. This move might come as a surprise to many, given that Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has been notably resistant to the broader industry shift towards electric vehicles (EVs).
A New Chapter for Toyota’s US Operations
The substantial funds will be allocated to establish an EV assembly line at Toyota’s Kentucky plant, alongside battery pack assembly, with EV batteries supplied from their North Carolina facility. Toyota has announced a total of $17 billion in investments across its US operations to support this transition to electric vehicles.
Controversy Surrounding Toyota’s EV Stance
This news may not be warmly received by environmentalists, who have long criticized Toyota for its anti-EV lobbying efforts globally. The company has been opposed to the US’s stringent measures to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, advocating for hybrid vehicles over full battery-electric options. Toyota even supported the Trump administration’s legal challenge against California’s tough emissions regulations and lobbied against a proposed $4,500 tax credit bonus for union-made EVs.
From Hybrid Pioneer to EV Latecomer
Despite its pioneering role in the hybrid vehicle market with the Prius, which laid the groundwork for future EV success stories like Tesla, Toyota has since lagged behind its competitors in the pure EV space. Currently, Toyota offers only two fully battery-electric vehicles in the US: the Toyota bz4X and the Lexus RZ 450e.
The Future of Toyota’s 3 Row SUV
The anticipated three-row SUV could potentially be modeled on the electric Land Cruiser concept that Toyota unveiled at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. This seven-seater concept featured a bold, angular design with a long hood, a sweeping windshield, and a rounded rear end with a visor-style taillight. It also sported a wider stance and a shorter height compared to the traditional gas-powered 2024 Land Cruiser, hinting at a fresh direction for Toyota’s future SUVs.
Toyota Announces New Three-Row Battery-Electric SUV Investments
$1.4 Billion Investment in Indiana Plant
On Thursday, Toyota unveiled plans to build a new three-row battery-electric SUV at its Princeton, Indiana facility, backed by a significant $1.4 billion investment. This announcement is part of Toyota’s broader strategy to expand its lineup of electric vehicles (EVs).
Additional $1.3 Billion Investment in Kentucky
This new initiative complements a recent $1.3 billion investment in Toyota’s Kentucky plant, where a separate three-row battery-electric SUV is set to be produced starting in 2025.
Two Distinct Toyota 3 Row EVs
Toyota is set to offer two different three-row electric SUVs. Earlier reports suggested that one of these EVs might be a fully electric Toyota Highlander EV, potentially accompanied by a Lexus TZ model. A recent Automotive News report indicates that the Indiana-produced SUV, due in 2026, might be the Highlander EV, while the Kentucky plant’s 2025 model could be the Toyota bZ5X.
EV Nomenclature and Future Models
There has been speculation that Toyota may reconsider its bZ naming convention for EVs. This raises questions about which SUV—Highlander EV or bZ5X—might be positioned as more premium and how they will coexist. Toyota has also revealed plans to develop its 2026 EVs on three distinct platforms: software, electronic, and body and chassis. This innovation could mean that the Kentucky-produced EV will integrate these advancements, while the Indiana SUV may share components with traditional gasoline models.
Potential Production Shifts
The Land Cruiser Se concept, showcased at the Tokyo Auto Show in October 2023, could potentially influence production decisions, with a larger version possibly being produced in Kentucky and a smaller Highlander EV following in Indiana.
Broader EV Strategy and New Developments
Toyota has announced plans to launch 10 new EV models by 2026, including luxury, compact, and commercial vehicles, primarily targeting the U.S. and China markets. This move aims to help Toyota achieve a 1.5-million-EV target by 2026.
Additionally, Toyota will expand its $13.9 billion battery facility in North Carolina to include a new battery pack assembly, starting in 2025. The Indiana plant’s new EV initiative will create 340 new, sustainable jobs in the U.S.
Current Production and Workforce
The Indiana plant currently employs 7,500 workers and manufactures several models, including the Toyota Sienna hybrid minivan, Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander SUVs (both hybrid and non-hybrid), and the Lexus TX in standard, hybrid, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid variants.
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