The 2020 Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring edition includes a plug in hybrid motor that allows 20 miles of all electric driving and 494 horsepower 📸Scotty Reiss
Go where you need to, in style.
A luxury car should look good and perform well for a long time; it should have cutting edge technology and the leather should retain its new car smell for more than a few years. And, it should be able to make the transition from the school social to the country club and look equally elegant in both places.
But what should you expect from a luxury 3 row SUV 7-passenger SUV? Pampering, of course. But top technology, such as driver assist safety features (blind spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist and pre-crash mitigation systems should be the starting point), a truly useable third row and all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive that means you can go where you want, when you want. And that is a true luxury.
These are our favorite 3-row 7-passenger luxury SUVs.
Acura MDX
Acura MDXWhy You’ll Love It
Acura, the luxury line from Honda, pairs the brand’s solid reputation for reliability and low cost of ownership (think: fewer expensive repairs as your car ages) with luxury and performance. Acura has just gone through a redesign which added some jewelry, including the diamond grille and jewel eye headlights, and running lights that remind us of a diamond tennis bracelet. But the brand’s reputation runs deeper than beauty: it has made a name for itself in the performance world with its exotic NSX sports car competing alongside Ferrari and Lamborghini. That DNA trickles down to the MDX, which is not just beautifully designed inside and out, but fun to drive, too. Â
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
Three words: ELS Premium Sound. Acura is the exclusive brand to feature a sound system created by Grammy-winner Elliot Scheiner, whose accolades include awards for his work with Beyoncé, Eric Clapton and the Foo Fighters. That means the kids will compete to plug in their music and dance in their seats. Luckily there are plenty of USB ports and Bluetooth so everyone can play iPhone Jukebox.
What It Costs: $44,000-$53,000
This is what we thought when we test drove the Acura MDX
A side view of the Audi Q7 3 luxury row suv. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Audi Q7
Why You’ll Love It
This amply sized, roomy and fun to drive 6 or 7 passenger SUV surprised us with the value for the price (though you can upgrade to a 6-cylinder 329 HP engine for $6,400). Audi’s touch pad infotainment system puts all the controls at your finger tips, the infotainment screen rises out of the dashboard when you start the car, and the digital cockpit displays all driver information vividly in front of you. But the kid-friendly details impressed us: the center row seats are roomy enough for three car seats across the center row bench (with room to spare) and upholstered seat-bight bolsters cover the LATCH anchors; pop them out to reveal the anchors or leave them in so things don’t get lost in the abyss between the seat and its back. This is brilliant.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
It starts with plenty of space, and gets better from there; center row seats are adjustable so the kids can get comfortable. And the third row means they can bring a friend along or join a pal’s carpool for amped up social time. What’s not to love?
What It Costs: $53,000-$65,000
We took the Audi Q7 for a spin and this is what we thought
Me with the BMW X7 in the California desert. Photo: Scotty Reiss
BMW X7
Why You’ll Love It
Finally…BMW has brought the world class uber-luxe of its 7 Series to the SUV category, with features like voice activated controls, electric seats in every row, an Alcantara suede ceiling liner and Swarovski crystal controls. The X7 has some novel features including something called “back up assistant” that will reverse along your exact path, great for narrow driveways and off road adventures, and a road sign reader that displays signs on the navigation screen. But you might forget all those features as you sink into the leather seats and enjoy either of the two engine options: the standard 335 horsepower or the larger and faster 465 horsepower engine.  Â
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
The pampering doesn’t stop with the front row; suede head cushions on the head rests, electronic seat controls and a USB-C port for every seat are just the start. They’ll also love the cargo space, which means no gear under foot, and the clamshell lift gate—the lower portion folds down while the upper portion lifts up— is great for tailgating or catching a sports event from the sidelines.Â
What it Costs : $73,000-129,000
Meet the most luxurious car from BMW, maybe ever
We took Cadillac XT6 through Virginia’s wine country where it handled the hills and narrow roads just fine. 📸Scotty Reiss
Cadillac XT6
Why You’ll Love It
This three row 6 or 7 passenger SUV showcases the new design direction of Cadillac: elegant, demure, in many ways, zen. We fell in love with the exterior look of this car, which is perfect for the buyer who wants the confidence of a luxury brand but not a flashy badge-forward look. The XT6 encompasses much of the best of its big sister Escalade—lots of leg room and head room—but this all new SUV handles more like a car; it’s easier to drive on narrow roads and park in a parking garage. We also found it easy climb in and out of and the third row seats are (all the seats, actually) are sublimely comfortable: leather panels are stitched together in the signature Cadillac chevron pattern that results in a nicely supported and very comfortable seat.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
Many of the things Cadillac has done so well in recent years— wifi, plenty of charge ports, lots of cupholders, ample passenger and leg room— is accented by a panoramic sun roof that keeps the cabin feeling open and airy, and smart cargo space. And, with a motion activated lift gate, kids can open and close it by themselves no matter how short they are.
What it Costs: $54,000-$68,000
Take a look at the all new Cadillac XT6
The Infiniti QX 60
Infinti QX60
Why You’ll Love It
If you love design, Infiniti needs to be at the top of your must-see list. Not only is the exterior elegant—the hood line reflects the sinewy roll of the flared fenders—but inside Infiniti works magic with leather upholstery, wood trim and metal accents and it’s gorgeous. The brand is also an innovator in driver assist technology; they were the first to introduce adaptive cruise control and lane departure assist adding up to its “Pro Assist” system that keep distractions from derailing your drive.
Why Your Family Will be Spoiled
The quilted leather and relaxing interior will spoil them. And if that doesn’t, add the theater system with wireless headphones and you won’t hear a peep from the peanut gallery until you turn off the car.
What It Costs: $44,000-$49,000
The Land Rover Discovery 3-row 7 passenger SUV. 📸Shannon Entin
Land Rover Discovery
Why You’ll Love It
Land Rover is the classic SUV brand that made us fall in love with SUVs before we knew how practical and capable they are. And in the Discovery you’ll find surprising affordability for a luxury car that includes luxe features like head up display, gorgeous leather seating and a really great infotainment system. We also love the gear selector: it rises from the center console when you start the car and then tucks out of the way when you turn the engine off. This makes opening your laptop or spreading out your calendar a breeze.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
The rear seats are made more comfortable by a double pane sun roof; a cooler in the console is perfect for keeping drinks and snacks cool for post-practice; HDMI ports allow for brining along a video game system; and with Land Rover’s Park Assist feature, which, while you’re at the controls, finds a spot and parks the car for you, they’ll be wowed.
What it Costs: $52,000-$65,000
Read our review of the Land Rover Discovery
The Lexus GX SUV carries an old school feel with modern amenities. 📸Scotty Reiss
Lexus GX
Why You’ll Love It
This is the mama bear of 7 passenger SUVs. A bit old-school, it has the boxy full-size SUV shape that we love in classic SUVs. But with the modern features and comforts we need, this is also a true off-road vehicle. So if you need ability climb mountains, traverse sand dunes or craw through creeks, this SUV is a contender. We also love that the rear gate opens out, not up, and that the rear glass opens for retrieving items from the cargo area without fully opening the gate.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
The higher ground clearance and ability to go anywhere will thrill any kid; that this SUV has running boards so short people can get in and out is great too. They will also love the Mark Levinson premium sound system; expect your kids to compete to play their favorite playlists.
What it Costs: $51,000-$68,000
What it was like to spend a week with my family in the Lexus GX 460
Profile view of the shiny Lexus RX 450hL Photo: Connie Peters
Lexus RX L
Why You’ll Love It
Lexus was the first to reduce the size of a SUV to the mid-sized RX, making it easy to drive, easy to park and yet, with higher ground clearance and lotos of luxuries, easier to get in and out of and easier to see the road. Then, they added a hybrid so it gets great fuel economy for an SUV. But the one shortcoming was the lack of a third row, which Lexus finally added last year. The RX L is a mere 4 inches longer but it accommodates two more passengers. Which is a life saver when you need to join a carpool or don’t want ask your in-laws to drive their own car to dinner. Oh, and that hybrid? Yes, it’s available and it gets an amazing 28 MPG in the city. THAT is a luxury!
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
Room for their friends, to start with. The third row is more of a convenience row but it means you can say yes to bringing a friend along. Then, premium sound, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and plenty of places to plug in — and everyone is happy.
What it Costs: $47,000-$60,000
We love the Lexus RX L. This is why
The Lincoln Aviator in Chroma Caviar Dark Gray that we test drove 📸Scotty Reiss
Lincoln Aviator
Why You’ll Love It
When you pull up in a Lincoln, you’ve arrived. And with the new Aviator, this has never been more true. Lincoln, Ford’s luxury brand, has been reinventing itself the last few years, and Aviator is the pinnacle of this redefined style and DNA. This innovative SUV has features like door chimes that were recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, 30-way front seats and an app that allows you to use your phone as a key—you can even share it (and revoke it!) with other drivers. The innovation in this car is astonishing; its delights will continue to unfold for drivers for a long time.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
The tricks this car performs will no doubt wow the kids: It bends down to greet you; it has a plug in option that allows it to run on electricity; young drivers can simply drive it with the phone app, and for everyone, the 28 speaker premium Revel sound system means front row seats for all.
What it Costs: $51,000-$89,000
This is the all new Lincoln AviatorÂ
The Mercedes-Benz GLE now has a third row. 📸Scotty Reiss
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Why You’ll Love It
“Hey Mercedes, will you turn up the heat?” Done. And that’s just the start. Voice activation in the Mercedes-Benz takes the art of the ask to the next level. Just ask, “Hey Mercedes, where is the closest Starbucks?” and you’ll be on your way to a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Add creature comforts—comfortable leather seats, a panoramic sun roof, push button everything— to the innovative live view screen overlayed with turn-by-turn navigation, and your inner geek will fall in love. Never mind that the touch screen spans the dashboard with rich, lifelike graphics and images. Then, when you need to tune out the tech and the kids, the Mercedes-Benz GLE has that too: The heated massaging seats are paired with custom settings for soft light, just the right music and even ambient fragrance to create the ultimate in-car spa experience.Â
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
There are plenty of places to plug in devices in the second row, and there’s an optional third row so there’s always room for extra passengers. With a bench seat or captains chairs in the center row, everyone has room to spread out. But unless you really want your kids to obsess over this car, don’t show them how the air suspension can be choreographed to their favorite songs. You’ll never stop staging that show.
What it Costs: $55,000-$70,000
See how the new Mercedes-Benz GLE 3 row suv is all that, too
The 2020 Volvo XC90 in Birch Metallic. 📸Scotty Reiss
Volvo XC90
Why You’ll Love It
Volvo has long been the standard for safety, but a few years ago when the brand re-emerged in the North American market with a new design focus, the critics and Volvo fans fell in love. The XC90 sported the brand’s top designs and technology. In the 2020 model buyers can find luscious blonde leather, new paint colors and for the first time, center row captains chairs that mean seating for 6 and lots of leg room for everyone. All of that added to the brand’s iconic and well-organized easy to use oversized infotainment screen (now standard on all models) makes us love this car even more.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled
Did we mention the center row captains chairs? This means easy in, easy out for everyone and tall, lanky kids can lounge comfortably in the back. And, kids of buyers who choose the T8 hybrid electric plug in version will vie to inherit it; with 400 horsepower it’s super fun to drive and yet, with all electric mode they can avoid having to buy gas.Â
What it Costs: $47,000-$104,000
Why the Volvo XC90 takes the pain out of after school pickup
Scotty Reiss
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