A family SUV that is good on the school run and a family SUV that is good at hour six of a motorway slog are not always the same vehicle. The second one needs things the brochures bury: a third row an adult can actually sit in, charging ports where the children are, and a boot that still works with all the seats up. That is the filter we used to rebuild this list of ten, with 2026 prices and a note on the one model that is no longer on sale.
The ten, at 2026 prices
US starting prices as published in August 2026. Where a manufacturer quotes its figure including the destination charge, that is noted, because the two conventions differ by well over a thousand dollars and comparing them directly is how people end up surprised at the dealership.
| SUV | From (US, 2026) | Why it belongs on a road trip list |
|---|---|---|
| Kia Sorento | $32,190 | Cheapest way into three rows, hybrid and plug-in versions offered |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | $35,050 | Third row now standard on every trim |
| Ford Explorer | $38,465 | Wide trim spread, rear-drive based ride |
| Hyundai Palisade | $38,935 | Redesigned for 2026, longer wheelbase, hybrid option |
| Mazda CX-90 | $40,330 including destination | The CX-9’s replacement, and the driver’s choice here |
| Subaru Ascent | $42,245 including destination | Standard all-wheel drive and EyeSight driver assistance |
| Honda Pilot | $42,395 | Up to 113.7 cu ft of cargo, 5,000 lb towing on all-wheel drive |
| Chevrolet Traverse | $42,695 including destination | 97.6 cu ft with both rear rows folded |
| Toyota Highlander | $47,365 | All-wheel drive now standard, hybrid available |
| Mercedes-Benz GLS | About $90,250 for the GLS 450 | The comfort ceiling, at a price to match |
The three-row default: Palisade, Pilot, Traverse and Ascent
The Hyundai Palisade was fully redesigned for 2026 and grew where it counts: 2.5 inches longer overall on a wheelbase stretched by 2.7 inches, which turns into third-row legroom rather than styling. A hybrid version joined the range, with Hyundai targeting up to 34 mpg and more than 600 miles of driving range from around 329 horsepower. For a family that fills all three rows regularly, it is the one we would start with.
The Honda Pilot is the cargo answer. Honda quotes up to 113.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and it tows up to 5,000 lb properly equipped with all-wheel drive, dropping to 3,500 lb in two-wheel-drive form. That towing distinction catches people out when they add a small trailer for the summer.
The Chevrolet Traverse is the other big-boot choice, at 97.6 cubic feet with both rear rows down. Be careful comparing that figure with Honda’s, though: manufacturers measure cargo volume to different reference points, so cross-brand numbers are a rough guide rather than a ranking.
The Subaru Ascent is the one to look at if your road trips end on gravel. It runs a 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer engine producing 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft, with all-wheel drive and EyeSight driver assistance standard across the range.
Four people and a lot of luggage: Sorento, Santa Fe, Explorer
The Kia Sorento is the cheapest entry here at $32,190 and remains the sensible pick for a family that wants an occasional third row rather than a permanent one. Petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions all exist, which matters more on a long drive than any single specification.
The Hyundai Santa Fe has changed since older versions of this list were written, and the change is worth correcting explicitly: third-row seating is now standard on every trim, with seven seats on most and six on the top Calligraphy trim thanks to second-row captain’s chairs. It is still a third row best kept for children on longer journeys, but it exists.
The Ford Explorer spans the widest price range of anything here, from $38,465 to the high fifties depending on trim. That breadth is its argument: you can specify one as a plain family hauler or as something considerably faster, on the same body.
The two ends of the range: Highlander and GLS
The Toyota Highlander starts at $47,365 for 2026, higher than it used to, because Toyota dropped the LE trim and made all-wheel drive standard across the lineup. Worth knowing before you commit: Toyota has said the current petrol and hybrid Highlander gives way to an electric successor in late 2026, while the larger Grand Highlander continues with combustion power.
The Mercedes-Benz GLS sits in a different conversation entirely at roughly $90,250 for the GLS 450. What that buys on a road trip is ride quality and noise isolation of a kind nothing else here matches, which is a real benefit over 500 miles and an extravagant one over 50.
What happened to the Mazda CX-9
Older lists, including our own, put the Mazda CX-9 among the best-driving family SUVs. Mazda discontinued it in the US after the 2023 model year and replaced it with the CX-90, which arrived for 2024 with a longer platform and a choice of three powertrains instead of the CX-9’s single turbocharged four. If you find a CX-9 advertised today it is a used car, and the current equivalent is the CX-90 at $40,330 including destination.
What actually matters once you are three hours in
Price and cargo figures get all the attention, and then the trip exposes something else entirely. The four things we would check on a test drive, in this order:
- Third-row access with a child seat fitted in the second row. Some sliding mechanisms simply do not work with a seat installed, and you will discover this in a car park in the rain.
- Cargo space with all three rows up, not folded. That is the configuration you actually travel in when the car is full.
- Charging ports and their positions. Two USB sockets in the front are not a family provision.
- Fuel or charge range at motorway speed. A hybrid’s official economy figure is achieved in conditions that look nothing like a loaded car cruising at 70 mph, and there are practical ways to claw back some of the fuel you lose on a long run.
Does a bigger SUV always mean a better road trip?
No. Beyond a point you are paying for space you cannot park and fuel you do not need. Match the size to the number of people who travel in it most weeks, not to the largest trip you take each year.
Is a hybrid worth it for long-distance driving?
Hybrids save the most in stop-start traffic and the least at a steady motorway cruise. If your driving is mainly the latter, judge the hybrid on its total range and refuelling convenience rather than on the headline economy figure.
How much should I budget for tyres and servicing?
More than on a smaller car, because everything is heavier. Factor a set of tyres into the ownership cost of any three-row SUV rather than treating it as a surprise.
Do these prices apply outside the United States?
No. Model availability, trim names, taxation and compulsory motor insurance requirements all differ by country, and several of these SUVs are not sold in Europe at all.
Picked the car, now about the trip itself
The best family SUV in the world will still let you down if it leaves on worn tyres and a two-year-old coolant level.
Last updated: 6 August 2026. Prices are US manufacturer starting figures published for the 2026 model year and change frequently; where a figure includes the destination charge this is stated, and dealer pricing will differ. Cargo volumes are manufacturer figures measured to each brand’s own reference points and are not directly comparable between makes. Availability, trim structures, taxation and compulsory insurance requirements vary by country. Any work affecting brakes, steering, suspension or towing equipment should be carried out by a qualified professional before a long journey.