Seller Guide Jul 14, 2026
Finding the ideal three-row midsize SUV for your family can be a difficult process. There are lots of good models out there, but three of them really jumped out at us: the all-new Hyundai Palisade that just had a refresh, the driving-focused Mazda CX-90, and the max passenger space Toyota Grand Highlander.
They each have advantages and disadvantages, focused on different needs. We're going to highlight the differences to help you figure out what you're looking for.
The Style And Luxury Champ: Hyundai Palisade
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is a stunner, and has a luxurious feel to its interior. When you jump inside, you feel like you're in a more premium vehicle. Even the top-spec Calligraphy model sings luxury and sophistication from the moment you see it and take a seat. The interior has a class-topping feel when it comes to material quality, design, and overall look.
Strengths:
Premium Interior: The interior has plush, relaxation captain's chairs with a footrest, a sanitization box for your phone and similar, and robust 100 watt USB-C ports gives it a "near-luxury" feel.
Stylish Look: The Palisade has a unique exterior design, with a set of unique vertical lights flanked by elegantly structured body lines that stand out in a sea of other mid-size SUVs.
Quiet Ride: The Palisade is a smooth ride that feels hushed to all 7 passengers in quell silence and comfort.
Weaknesses:
The standard gas engine can feed. lf you want to impress the neighbors by just having your vehicles hitting in the driveway, the Palisade is the one for you. Hyundia is targeted by buyers who like the high-end features and comforts but do not want to pay the cost of a luxury vehicle.
Best Driving Experience: Mazda CX-90
Mazda has earned its reputation for producing fun vehicles to drive through its singular focus on driving experience, and the CX-90 is no exception. If your primary consideration about your family vehicle is handling and performance, the Mazda CX-90 is a slam dunk.
The turbocharged inline-six produces plenty of power and the chassis has agility that is nearly unheard of in this segment.
Strengths:
Fun to Drive and Best Handling: There is no questioning that the Mazda has the best handling and offers a more dynamic driving experience and feel from behind the wheel than anything else in this group.
Great Driving Position: The driving position is simply perfect to have the ultimate measure of control and a great deal of comfort on long trips.
Stylish and Classy: The exterior and interior materials and layouts look great, and still hold up against making the jump to a more expensive brands.
Weaknesses:
Space: Space is probably cx-90's biggest concession. The second and third-row legroom are far lesser than its rivals in this group, and there are challenges to successful ingress/egress to the rearmost row.
Infotainment: The largest issue is operating the infotainment system that is not always easy to use as the touchscreen functions are more limited when the vehicle is moving.
Best Space Utilization: Toyota Grand Highlander
Toyota takes the best family hauler and uses the longer version to really extend passenger and cargo space for a laughable amount of space to put people and belongings. The Grand Highlander has the only third row that is actually friend-sized and there is massive cargo space either with seats down or up and without passengers.
Strengths:
Best Overall Space Utilization: Hands down this is the biggest third row, and the most cargo space in the comparison. If you are a large family, or are the use-a-lot-of-stuff-on-weekend-warriors this has no peer.
Functional Cabin: Very usable features in the interior space - lots of power outlets for charging devices, with rear vents for climate control.
Weaknesses:
Exterior and interior styling is functional, while durable materials seem more durable than luxury. You are more likely to feel premium going with the Palisade or CX-90.
The driving experience is ok, solid driving, predictable. The issue is there is no thrill factor found in the Mazda.
Conclusion
Choosing the right three-row midsize SUV comes down to your priorities. The Hyundai Palisade excels in luxury and comfort, the Mazda CX-90 delivers a thrilling driving experience, and the Toyota Grand Highlander offers unmatched space and practicality. Each has its strengths—pick the one that fits your family’s needs best!
