The best 3-row SUVs with captain's seats that command comfort

A boat’s captain’s chair is always made to be extra comfortable, and while the second-row captain’s seats in these SUVs might not always hold ship commanders, their occupants certainly won’t be hurting for comfort. From luxury full-size to standard midsize SUVs and crossovers, there are many options for many budgets when it comes to getting standalone second row seating, so here’s our guide.

12. 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class | MT Score 7.5

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class gets the full luxury treatment, and this three-row full-size SUV dazzles with its range of available drivetrains, composed and confident driving, and an interior whose quality and design can go toe-to-toe with nearly any other high-end SUV on the market.

The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class starts out as a seven-passenger SUV, but it offers second row captain's chairs as a no-cost option for every single model. This means it's easy at ordering time to specify a six-passenger version of the Mercedes-Benz, with the right-side seat offering a power tilt-and-fold capability to ease the climb into the rear row.

12. 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Impressively luxurious interior
2. Unexpectedly agile handling
3. Rapid AMG model

Cons

1. Lackluster fuel economy expected
2. Less third-row space than rivals
3. Occasional clumsy gear shifts likely to continue

Specs

• Price: $88,150

• Engine:  6-Cyl Turbo 3.0 Liter
• Horsepower: 375 @ 5,500
• Torque: 369 @ 1,600
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 19/24/21
• Rear Headroom: 40.2 in
• Rear Legroom: 41.9 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 17.4/84.7 cu-ft

11. 2024 Acura MDX | MT Score 7.7

All-new, and with a renewed focus on driver engagement, the 2024 Acura MDX impresses with the sheer amount of high-tech equipment that can be had with the three-row SUV. It's also larger and more comfortable inside than the model it replaces.

Acura has taken an interesting approach to providing the MDX with captain's seats in the second row. All versions of the SUV come with a “multi-functional" seating design that delivers a removable center seat for a true captain's chair experience. Dropping capacity from seven-passenger to six-passenger by popping out the center section also allows for easier access to the SUV's rear row.

11. 2024 Acura MDX | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Attractive sheetmetal
2. Generously equipped
3. Well-constructed

Cons

1. Forgettable driving experience
2. Could use more luxury
3. Infotainment could be more intuitive

Specs

• Price: $52,250
• Engine: V6 3.5 Liter
• Horsepower: 290 @ 6,200
• Torque: 267 @ 4,700
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 19/26/22 (FWD)
• Rear Headroom: 38.1 in
• Rear Legroom: 38.5 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 18.1/95.0 cu-ft

10. 2024 Cadillac Escalade | MT Score 7.8

The 2024 Cadillac Escalade is another recent redesign intended to woo well-heeled SUV shoppers. Cadillac has gone all-in on infotainment in this latest edition, installing a massive, curved OLED display that dominates the dashboard, and its powerful standard V-8 is complimented with a respectable level of semi-autonomous driving capability via GM’s available Super Cruise driver assistance feature.

As with the Lincoln Navigator, the Cadillac Escalade makes second row captain's seats the default choice for each of its trim levels, regardless of whether the vehicle is ordered in standard or long-wheelbase form. These seats also come with a power release that makes them simple to fold flat when it's time to load cargo.

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10. 2024 Cadillac Escalade | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Enormous and opulent
2. Tons of digital real estate
3. The Escalade V's supercharged V-8

Cons

1. A stiffer ride than rivals
2. The Escalade V drinks fuel
3. Some visible GM parts sharing

Specs

• Price: $83,890
• Engine: V8 6.2 Liter EcoTec3
• Horsepower: 420 @ 5,600
• Torque: 460 @ 4,100
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 14/19/16 (RWD)
• Rear Headroom: 44.5 in
• Rear Legroom: 41.7 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 41.5/142.8 cu-ft

9. 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe | MT Score 8.1

The 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe rides on the same platform as the Chevrolet Suburban, which means it benefits from nearly the same goodies that came with that SUV’s full refresh last year (keep reading to see where the Suburban ranks).

Inside, the Tahoe is a match for the Suburban's setup, with the caveat that there's less room at the rear of the vehicle. This means you can move from the eight-passenger base model to a seven-passenger configuration with captain's chairs by choosing either the High Country or Premier trims, or swapping them in as optional equipment starting at the available Tahoe LT trim level.

9. 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Powerful engines
2. Good transmission tuning
3. Spacious interior

Cons

1. Base suspension's rough ride
2. Odd button placement
3. Dreadfully inefficient gas engines

Specs

• Price: $58,195
• Engine: V8 5.3 Liter EcoTec3
• Horsepower: 355 @ 5,600
• Torque: 383 @ 4,100
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 15/20/17 (RWD)
• Rear Headroom: 38.9 in
• Rear Legroom: 42.0 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 25.5/122.9 cu-ft

8. 2024 Volvo XC90 | MT Score 8.3

The 2024 Volvo XC90 is the brand’s flagship three-row SUV, and an outstanding choice for buyers who are seeking a style-first luxury vehicle. As a bonus, it combines Volvo's solid reputation for providing cutting edge automotive safety features with an interior that is every bit as classy as its exterior sheet metal suggests.

Every single version of the 2024 Volvo XC90 is available with the choice of second row captain's seats, with one exception: the T8 eAWD R-Design, which sticks to seven-passenger configuration that uses a middle split bench seat. This applies even to electrified versions of the XC90.

8. 2024 Volvo XC90 | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Elegant exterior design
2. Comfortable and well-appointed cabin
3. Strong safety ratings

Cons

1. Third row is small and hard to access
2. Ride quality suffers on larger wheels
3. Sweet wool interior is only on the top trim

Specs

• Price: $57,895
• Engine: 4-Cyl Turbo 2.0 Liter
• Horsepower: 247 @ 5,500
• Torque: 258 @ 1,500
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 22/27/24
• Rear Headroom: 38.5 in
• Rear Legroom: 37.0 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 15.8/85.7 cu-ft

7. 2024 Lincoln Navigator | MT Score 8.3

The 2024 Lincoln Navigator is a commanding presence among full-size luxury three-row SUVs. A recent refresh has strengthened its position near the top of its segment, thanks to a gorgeous interior design, imposing exterior styling and a mighty turbocharged V-6 engine.

The Navigator prioritizes captain's seats in the second row, making them standard equipment with every seven-passenger version of the sport-utility vehicle. Separating the two leather-appointed chairs is an available wide console that offers both storage and controls for each seat's optional massage, heating and ventilation features.

7. 2024 Lincoln Navigator | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Swagger inside and out
2. Smooth, capable powertrain
3. Surprisingly controlled drive

Cons

1. Ride quality could be better
2. BlueCruise can be too sensitive
3. Less cargo space than Escalade

Specs

• Price: $85,260
• Engine: V6 Turbo 3.5 Liter
• Horsepower: 440 @ 5,500
• Torque: 510 @ 3,000
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 16/22/18
• Rear Headroom: 40.0 in
• Rear Legroom: 41.1 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 20.9/103.4 cu-ft

6. 2024 Ford Expedition | MT Score 8.3

Ford's largest three-row SUV, the 2024 Ford Expedition, comes standard with a turbocharged V-6 engine that delivers strong torque for towing and acceleration, along with a comfortable, easy-to-drive character. It also features a spacious interior that is generous for both riders and their gear.

If you're looking for second row captain's seats, the Ford Expedition makes them available starting at the Limited trim level, where they are optional to replace the middle bench (dropping the Expedition from eight-passenger to seven-passenger capacity). The King Ranch and Platinum trim levels make the captain's seats standard equipment. It's also worth noting that the Ford's captain's chairs offer a power folding feature that makes them easy to tip forward and slide when climbing into the rear of the SUV.

6. 2024 Ford Expedition | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Decently quick
2. Smooth, undramatic ride quality
3. Several models to choose from

Cons

1. Cargo space trails rivals
2. Poor fuel economy
3. Gets expensive quickly

Specs

• Price: $57,625
• Engine: V6 Turbo 3.5 Liter EcoBoost®
• Horsepower: 380 @ 5,000
• Torque: 470 @ 2,250
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 17/23/19 (RWD)
• Rear Headroom: 40.0 in
• Rear Legroom: 42.6 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 20.9/104.6 cu-ft

5. 2024 Honda Pilot | MT Score 8.4

If you're looking for power, you'll enjoy the 280 horses available from the 2024 Honda Pilot's 3.5-liter V-6. It's also one of the more spacious entries in the three-row SUV segment, which helps it deliver adult-friendly levels of comfort for those sitting in the vehicle's very last row.

If you opt for either the Touring, Elite, or the Black Edition trim levels, it's also that much easier to access the third row of seating thanks to the inclusion of captain's seats in the second row. Total passenger capacity drops from eight to seven in these configurations (with the Touring offering the option of either captain's seats or a second-row bench), but like the Kia Telluride, the high-spec Pilot Elite and Pilot Black Edition models provide heating and ventilation in the middle row to make up for it.

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5. 2024 Honda Pilot | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Screen feels puny in big cabin
2. No hybrid on offer
3. Trail Torque Logic only for TrailSport

Cons

1. Rugged exterior design
2. TrailSport's legit off-road abilities
3. Spacious interior

Specs

• Price: $41,295
• Engine: V6 3.5 Liter
• Horsepower: 285 @ 6,100
• Torque: 262 @ 5,000
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 19/25/21
• Rear Headroom: 40.2 in
• Rear Legroom: 40.8 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 18.6/87.0 cu-ft

4. 2024 Chevrolet Suburban | MT Score 8.4

The recently redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Suburban gets the nod from us for its comfortable ride (made possible by a new independent rear suspension setup along with available air springs and adaptive shock absorbers), as well as its acres of interior room and the availability of strong V-8 or thrifty turbodiesel engines.

The Suburban also delivers a set of second row captain's seats that not only slide forward and backward for comfort and convenience, but also flip forward to make it a breeze to access the rearmost accommodations. Both the seven-passenger High Country and Premier trim levels provide these seats as standard equipment, and they're available as an option starting at the LT trim level.

4. 2024 Chevrolet Suburban | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. A truly enormous interior
2. Powerful engines
3. Nimble despite size

Cons

1. Cabin's lackluster appointments
2. Wallowy standard suspension
3. Miserable fuel economy

Specs

• ·Price: $61,195
• ·Engine: V8 5.3 Liter EcoTec3
• ·Horsepower: 355 @ 5,600
• ·Torque: 383 @ 4,100
• ·Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 15/20/17 (RWD)
• ·Rear Headroom: 38.9 in
• ·Rear Legroom: 42.0 in
• ·Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 41.5/144.7 cu-ft

3. 2024 Subaru Ascent | MT Score 8.5

We love the 2024 Subaru Ascent's strong 2.4-liter, 260-hp turbocharged I-4 engine, the sure-footed driving character of its standard all-wheel drive system, and its spacious interior for hauling both people and cargo.

We also like the fact that the Subaru Ascent provides the option of second-row captain's seats on the up-level Premium and Limited trims (and they're standard with Onyx Edition and Touring models). Although this does drop the Ascent from being an eight-passenger SUV to a seven-passenger SUV, the second-row captain's chairs slide forward and backward to make it easy to get into the back row when needed, while also offering extra legroom for adults.

3. 2024 Subaru Ascent | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Strong turbocharged engine
2. Well-packaged interior
3. Strong feature-per-dollar value

Cons

1. Ride is a bit stiff
2. Folded seats don't provide a continuous cargo floor
3. Dated tech

Specs

• Price: $35,740
• Engine: 4-Cyl Turbo 2.4 Liter BOXER
• Horsepower: 260 @ 5,600
• Torque: 277 @ 2,000
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 20/26/22
• Rear Headroom: 38.7 in
• Rear Legroom: 38.6 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 17.6/72.8 cu-ft

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2. 2024 Kia Telluride | MT Score 8.7

The 2024 Kia Telluride earns strong marks for its attractive styling, for the way it drives more like a car than a large crossover SUV, and for the features and equipment stuffed inside of it within its relatively affordable price tag.

If you're looking for captain's seats with the Telluride, they come standard in the S or SX trim levels. Each of these makes the transition from eight-passenger to seven-passenger capacity, but they make up for the reduced seating capacity with the additional comfort of the second-row captain's chairs, which are both heated and cooled. It's also possible to add them to the EX trim by selecting the EX Premium Package, which swaps out the second-row bench.

2. 2024 Kia Telluride | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Smart interior packaging
2. Excellent ride and handling
3. Large screens with responsive UI

Cons

1. V-6 engine's thirst
2. Third row could be bigger
3. Just one engine option

Specs

• Price: $37,585
• Engine: V6 3.8 Liter Lambda II
• Horsepower: 291 @ 6,000
• Torque: 262 @ 5,200
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 20/26/22 (FWD)
• Rear Headroom: 38.8 in
• Rear Legroom: 42.4 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 21.0/87.0 cu-ft

1. 2024 Lincoln Aviator | MT Score 8.8

The 2024 Lincoln Aviator is a true stand-out when it comes to both its exterior design and the look and feel of its cabin, which provides a luxurious, high quality driving environment. It's also equipped with a mighty 400 horsepower turbocharged V-6 as its base engine that helps it balance a premium ride with decent all-around performance.

The Aviator delivers standard second-row captain's seats starting at the Reserve trim, which is the second rung on the ladder as you climb towards the Black Label model at the top. These seats transform the Lincoln from a seven-passenger SUV to a six-passenger setup, but it also comes with power tip and slide capability, as well as a useful center console.

1. 2024 Lincoln Aviator | Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Spacious cabin
2. Excellent ride quality
3. Lots of power

Cons

1. Below average fuel economy
2. Cramped third row
3. Fewer choices compared to last year

Specs

• Price: $54,735
• Engine: V6 Turbo 3.0 Liter
• Horsepower: 400 @ 5,500
• Torque: 415 @ 3,000
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy/combined): 18/26/21
• Rear Headroom: 38.4 in
• Rear Legroom: 39.0 in
• Cargo Capacity (seats up/down): 18.3/41.8 cu-ft

Best 3-row SUVs with captain's seats

• 12. 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class | MT Score 7.5
• 11. 2024 Acura MDX | MT Score 7.7
• 10. 2024 Cadillac Escalade | MT Score 7.8
• 9. 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe | MT Score 8.1
• 8. 2024 Volvo XC90 | MT Score 8.3
• 7. 2024 Lincoln Navigator | MT Score 8.3
• 6. 2024 Ford Expedition | MT Score 8.3
• 5. 2024 Honda Pilot | MT Score 8.4
• 4. 2024 Chevrolet Suburban | MT Score 8.4
• 3. 2024 Subaru Ascent | MT Score 8.5
• 2. 2024 Kia Telluride | MT Score 8.7
• 1. 2024 Lincoln Aviator | MT Score 8.8

Photos by Alan Muir