A Luxury 8 Passenger SUV Will Suit the Whole Bougie Crew. Which is Right For You?
There are more reasons than pure luxury to invest in a luxury 8 passenger SUV.
If you have four kids everyone thinks you need a minivan. And as great as a minivan is, it’s not right for everything: Towing a boat; climbing snowy roads to the ski house; a girls weekend away. Those are the moments we hedge against when we buy a luxury 8 passenger SUV because, as much as you love being a mom, it doesn’t define you.
And then, there’s this: a luxury car can be much more than just luxury. Generally they are designed to last longer, in terms of miles on the engine, wear and tear on the interior and future-forward innovation. They should go longer and further for the price.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Why Choose an Luxury 8 Passenger SUV? Space Is a Luxury Too
When it comes to large luxury SUVs for families, about half on the market only seat six or seven since the 3rd row is a two-seat bench rather than a 3-seater. That means if you choose center row captains chairs for the convenience of a center console or the feeling of an open cabin, seating is limited.
However, luxury 8 passenger SUVs with a 3-seat bench offer more flexibility: go for a center bench for 8 seats, or with center row captains chairs and 3 seats in the 3rd row, 7 seats. We like this because 3rd row passengers can sit in the center and stretch their legs into the passthrough and when you need it, you have real space for seven.
Here are the choices in luxury 8 passenger SUVs and what we like about each of them.
Related: Need A Bigger Car? These Are Our Favorite 8-Passenger SUVs
The Big Daddy Of Luxury SUVS: Cadillac Escalade
Why You’ll Love It: Cadillac has been on a design journey lately with the Escalade and thanks to the updates, it still feels fresh and new. From the moment you start it up and hear that amazing exhaust note—especially in the powerful 682 HP V edition—you know you’re about to have a special experience in this 8-passenger SUV. And then you realize that you’re surrounded by all the luxurious features on which Cadillac has built its stellar reputation. Supple, fragrant leather; automatic running boards that extend to assist you into the car; a panoramic sunroof that showers passengers with natural light; a wireless rear seat entertainment system. But the real distinctions are the panoramic display screen that spans the entire dash and even has a screen for the front seat passenger and “Hey Google” voice-activated assistance, and hands-free Super Cruise that’ll allow you to relax and let go of the wheel on most highways.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled: A multitude of space for your family and all their preferred gear is perfectly complemented by solid safety features like forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, and surround view cameras. The refined luxuries – leather interior with heated and vented massaging front seats and third-row seats that can be folded from the front seat – will make your time on the road in this 7- to 8-passenger vehicle a lot more pleasurable. Keep in mind that the Cadillac does not have slide and tilt center seats for 3rd row access, so buyers who get a center row bench and have kids in car seats, take note of how you’ll access the 3rd row. 3rd row seats can be raised or lowered via touch screen controls from the front seat.
What It Costs: Base prices start at $91,100; the top of the line V model is priced at $168,000.
The Newly Re-Branded Jeep Grand Wagoneer
Why You’ll Love It: Just last year, Jeep brought the Grand Wagoneer fully into the Jeep family and for 2026 gave it a new look, a new hybrid power option and a simplified lineup with lower pricing. To go with that, this ultimate 8-passenger family truckster sits on a 226.7″ wheelbase (just a skinch shorter than the Escalade), is powered by a 6-cylinder engine and pumps out 540 horsepower. There’s a great sound system, charging ports galore, plentiful storage cubbies and in upper trims a refrigerated cooler box in the front console and massaging front seats. Automatic ride height adjustment, power running boards, and power-folding seats allow for easy entry to the third row.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled: It’s the screens. There are eight of them throughout the cabin: from the digital rearview mirror to the passenger side that controls the two seat-back entertainment screens in the second row, both of which have games and Amazon Fire capabilities. Then, if you have the captain’s chairs with a center console, there is another seat/comfort screen on that for the second-row passengers to control their own comfort levels. Best of all, we’ve heard families say their rear seat screens have taken a beating and survived beautifully without even a scratch—a nice thing to hear.
We also love the slide and tilt center row seats that make 3rd row access easier, and they can be operated from the front touch screen, a nice touch.
What it Costs: Jeep restructured pricing for 2026 and brought the price of the Grand Wagoneer down a bit; it begins at $63,240 and tops out at $100,085.
Read: The Best 7 Seater SUVs for Back to School Carpools
The Ever Roomy and Beautiful Lincoln Navigator
Why You’ll Love It: The Lincoln Navigator was redesigned for 2025 and oh, my, we are smitten. From the dash-spanning panoramic multimedia screen to the interiors that look and feel more like a 5-star resort to the digital fragrance and rejuvenate mode—sound, visuals, fragrance and massage collaborate to change your mood—this one has it all. It’s worth noting that only the entry model has 8-passenger capacity, but no matter how you look at it, everyone will feel pampered.
The redesign adds new features including a new exterior, new wheels, new lighting and very flexible seating so you can accommodate everyone and everything. Inside you’ll find yourself ensconced in leather and surrounded by wood and other unique materials once you shut the doors. Then get ready to be swept away in a plethora of features: auto hold, seat massage, Blue Cruise hands-free driving and a host of cameras and high-tech safety features.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled: If you all can agree on the same music, the out-of-this-world Revel sound system will please the entire crowd. You can bring all the kids – there are four sets of child passenger car seat anchors and 6 tethers. Bring all the toys, too – this big guy can tow up to 8,300 pounds. The heated and ventilated seats for the 2nd-row passengers provide a taste of the good life the front-row people enjoy. And if you really want to show your non-youthful passengers some love, you can opt for the massaging captain chairs in the second row. Best of all, for bench seat buyers, the center row seats slide and tilt for easy 3rd row access.
What It Costs: The Lincoln Navigator Premiere base model starts at $91,995, and the top of the top-of-the-line Black Label L begins at $119,525. The L series on the Reserve and Black Label trims extend the vehicle length by 12″, providing your family with a additional and substantial amount of cargo space behind the third row.
Read: Buy This Not That: Best Luxury SUVs—and the Worst—For Families Who Need 7 Seats
The Infiniti QX80 Does The Dirty Work High Style
Why You’ll Love It: Infiniti, the luxury arm of Nissan, has been hard at work overhauling its models and the QX80 was the first to get a makeover. The result is a truly modern design with LED lighting, piano key headlights and tail lights and inside, a truly posh interior with an expansive screen, 360 cameras with under-body vision and Klipsch premium sound. The Infiniti’s hands-free driving system will whisk you along the highway effortlessly, but let you take control when you want to.
The QX80 has ample rear cargo space and 4WD capability so it can climb those tough ski resort roads or amble over sand dunes and still, allow you to make an elegant entrace.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled: Every single seat in this car is plush; go for the executive package if rear seat passengers really need to be spoiled with climate controls, entertainment and heated, massaging seats—yes, in the center row. Even the 3rd row has the option of heated seats. And, center row seats are slide-and-tilt for easy 3rd row access.
What It Costs: A true luxury, this one starts at $83,850 and the Autograph edition comes in at $112,150. The two lower trims can be upgraded to 4WD for $3,000 but the top Sport and Autograph editions have 4WD standard.
The Mazda CX-90 Offers Lots of Choices
Why You’ll Love It: Mazda’s newest SUV is now its flagship, and it comes in a 6, 7, or 8-passenger configuration, each outfitted with lovely leather upholstery, fresh modern finishes, and more legroom and cargo space than ever. Mazda has worked hard to make sure everyone will be comfortable, and while we aren’t sure that the 8-passenger model is really ideal for 8 passengers on the regular, having all those seats when you need them is a true gift.
And you can pick your power: Gas, hybrid, or a plug-in hybrid electric, each with more power than the CX-9 it replaces.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled: Leather seating, a beautifully designed space ,USB ports and cup holders at every seat. Theater-style seating so no one gets car sick. Slide and tilt center row seats that allow easy 3rd-row access. And a top-notch sound system so everyone can sing along and no one can tell that anyone is singing off-key.
What It Costs: The base model starts at about $38,800, and the top of the top-of-the-line model comes in at just under $653,940 for an 8-passenger model. Note that not all configurations – seating for 8 and/or PHEV – are available on all trims.
Land Rover Defender 130
Why You’ll Love It: After lighting the world on fire with the return of the Land Rover Defender, the company extended the wheel base to add a 3rd row in the Defender 130—so named to indicate the length of this SUV and its added seating capacity. Now, no one is left out of the adventure thanks to the Defender’s completely capable off-road drive system and nearly indestructible interior. The luxury here is the destination as much as the journey, so while the Defender 130 will take you places no other SUV can, its lovely finishes inside and out will leave you feeling pampered, too.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled: Choose between a center row bench and captains chairs for a total of 7 seats and a more open-cabin feel. Everyone will love the basics—USB ports, cup holders and air vents. The large windows and comfortable suspension on the road will leave everyone feeling good on the ride. The best part, though may be the accessories that Land Rover offers; go for the ladder and roof rack and let your littles do the scampering and getting of stuff from the roof box. They’ll love it.
What It Costs: The Land Rover Defender 130 starts at $73,000 for the base model; the top of the line Defender 130 V8 starts at $123,900. There are 3 engine options and captains chairs are $890.
Honorable Mention: Cadillac Escalade IQ
Why You’ll Love It: We’re adding the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ because while it’s a 7-seater, it does have a 3-seat 3rd row bench. Cadillac decided not to offer a center row bench in this one, but in either its standard IQ or larger IQL edition, it’s a roomy, posh and fun car. Buyers will love the advanced technology in both the front cabin and the center row, and then all the things that Cadillac is known for, from acres of space to spread out to a posh feel in every seat.
Why Your Family Will Be Spoiled: This is one of the most fun and novel cars on the road, from “hey Google” voice assistance to Super Cruise hands-free highway driving to the wide panoramic sunroof that floods the cabin with light. The Escalade IQ’s running boards make getting in and out easy and in the upper trims, center seats are powered slide and tilt for easy 3rd row access.
What It Costs: The Cadillac Escalade IQ starts at $130,300 for the Luxury model; move up to the top model, Premium Sport, and the price goes up to $151,100.
If you’re among the curious who’ve always wondered why people chose these luxury 8 passenger SUVs, now you know. And it’s not all that complicated, after all.
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