Best 8-seater SUVs | 2026 8-Passenger Cars Rated | CarBuzzFor larger groups or families, an 8-seat SUV provides a much more comfortable way to get around than a sedan or smaller crossover. Aside from passenger space, we also assess each car’s cargo capacity with the seats in their various configurations, how useful small-item storage is, whether all perches are easily accessible, and if occupants at the back get a raw deal or benefit from amenities like dedicated air-conditioning vents. You will also want enough power to comfortably motivate a fully-loaded SUV, so our assessment includes feedback on how each machine performs in town and on the highway. These are the best 8-seater or 8-passenger SUVs for 2026, including both luxury and mainstream models.Vehicles are assigned a BuzzScore in relation to their direct segment competitors, and as such, vehicles in this list, while similarly scored, do not necessarily compete directly against one another. Find out more about how the BuzzScore ratings work here. These lists are continuously updated with the latest BuzzScores and vehicles as they become available. Hyundai Palisade The best 8-passenger SUV on our list is the Hyundai Palisade, with a BuzzScore of 8.9 out of 10. Not only is it a great 8-seater SUV, it recently won our award for being the Best Family Car of 2026. It's a respectable choice for families on a budget, since it starts at $39,435 before destination and options. It's also available as a hybrid model that gets better fuel economy, which starts at $44,160. The standard gas variant has seven trims, with three offering eight-seat layouts. The SE comes with eight seats as standard, but it's an optional layout in the SEL and SEL Premium trims."...if you've got a taste for the finer things, you'll appreciate the heated third-row seats of the Limited and Calligraphy, with a cabin trimmed in genuine leather on the former and premium Nappa on the latter. The flagship also gets an integrated dashcam and lounge-style captain's chairs with integrated leg rests for the first two rows. Posh hardly begins to cover it."- Brett T. Evans, CarBuzz Mazda CX-90 The next 8-passenger SUV we'll highlight today is the Mazda CX-90. Hyundai might have a surprisingly luxurious top trim in its family SUV, but Mazda offers a premium driving experience at essentially every level. The CX-90 isn't too much more expensive, either. Its standard gas variant starts at $38,800, while the PHEV isn't a cheap car with its base price of $50,495. The gas-only version of the CX-90 has six trims to choose from, with the five cheapest options coming with eight seats. The PHEV only has three trims, and none of them can seat more than seven people."The thing with a three-row SUV is that it’s likely going to have a full load of people much of the time and, on at least a few occasions, will be used for road trips. Whether it’s a day’s adventure during the summer or a week-long excursion, the ride in the CX-90 is smooth and quiet. Rough pavement is largely muted both in terms of sound and vibration. If the kids doze off, they’re not going to be jostled awake the first time you’re in a construction zone."- Nicole Wakelin, CarBuzz Toyota Grand Highlander This isn't the first Toyota we'll go over today, but the automaker's best 8-seater SUV is the Grand Highlander. Our road tester was particularly impressed by how easy it is to enter the third row in this model — especially since the regular Highlander struggles with that aspect. This 8-seat SUV has reasonable pricing for a vehicle of its size, too; the most basic gas version starts at $41,660, while the cheapest hybrid variant starts at $45,010. There are four gas trims and six hybrid trims to choose from, but only the LE and Hybrid LE (base models for each powertrain) have eight seats."Getting into the third row is pretty easy, too, requiring a lever pull to slide the middle seats forward in one motion. There is a large gap to access those rear seats and even a special footwell cutout to make it easier to step up into the vehicle. Buyers can get eight seats on the XLE model, but the Limited and Platinum models are limited to seven seats with captain's chairs and a removable center console."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Nissan Armada Nissan has a foothold among other eight-seater SUVs with its full-size model: the Armada. This massive machine is a tough body-on-frame SUV with more interesting trims than almost any other on this list. Buyers can opt for the Pro-4X off-road model, or a unique Nismo track-focused variant with more power. However, those are pretty expensive and the Nismo can only seat 7 people. On the cheaper end, the base model is the SV, which starts at $58,840. There are six total trims, all of which can have a 4WD drivetrain — most can seat up to eight people."The Pro-4X and Platinum Reserve trims ride on adaptive air suspension that is not available on lower trim levels. While it can produce a truck-like bounce on some uneven surfaces, the Armada's suspension is among the most comfortable and controlled in the segment. We have no complaints about the ride, nor could we complain about the lack of road noise. This is a quiet SUV that will keep your family relaxed on long trips."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz GMC Yukon The GMC Yukon secures a spot on our list of the best SUVs with eight seats, since it's a balanced combination of rugged capability with an upscale interior. It falls somewhere in between the Chevy Tahoe and the Cadillac Escalade in terms of luxury, but its most expensive trims push closer to Cadillac's levels. Nevertheless, GMC offers five trims for the Yukon; they start with the Elevation for $69,600 before destination, and end with the Denali Ultimate for $103,900. Only the Elevation and AT4 trims can seat up to eight people, though. The other trims have room for seven people each. Chevrolet Suburban It doesn't get much more American than the obnoxiously huge Chevrolet Suburban. That said, if you're a family who will actually use a vehicle of this size to its fullest capacity with any regularity, then it's absolutely worthwhile. Not only can this SUV seat eight people when properly configured, buyers can even optimize it to seat up to nine people from the factory. At that point, we'd start looking for a passenger van, though. Nevertheless, the Suburban is available in six trims, with the base model starting at $63,700. Every trim can seat up to eight occupants."Three-row SUVs can be a mixed bag when it comes to comfort and room, but not this one... The third row truly does accommodate three adults. Unless you're planning to drive for days, adults can get comfy even if they're taller than average."- Nicole Wakelin, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz Chevrolet Tahoe Like its larger sibling, the Chevrolet Tahoe is technically the only other SUV that can seat up to nine people when properly configured. However, most other trim levels have room for up to eight people without needing to customize your order or change the seating arrangements while configuring yours. The Tahoe isn't quite as big as the Suburban, but there's still plenty of headroom and legroom in all three rows. There are six trims available, with the base model starting at $60,700 before destination. The Premiere and High Country trim levels are the only two versions that do not seat eight people — they only have seven seats each, while the rest of the lineup can seat eight. Toyota Sequoia Toyota's second entry on our list of 8-seat SUVs is the Sequoia. This is yet another giant body-on-frame model with a powerful engine and impressive capabilities. The Sequoia excels with a comfortable ride in any situation — it can tow up to 9,500 pounds, or hit the trails in its rugged TRD Pro trim. There are six available trims, including the SR5 base model for $64,835 and the top-of-the-line Capstone for $85,235 before destination and options. While most trims can seat up to seven people, the SR5 and the next-cheapest trim, the Limited, have room for eight occupants."The Sequoia's third row does not fold flat into the floor due to the hybrid battery positioning, meaning Toyota had to get clever in the cargo area. This SUV features a new Adjustable Cargo Shelf System that can be adjusted to create multi-tiered storage. Though this system feels like a solution to a problem that Toyota itself created, we think it could prove useful to families."- Jared Rosenholtz, Editor-At-Large, CarBuzz Ford Expedition Rivaling the Toyota Sequoia and Chevy Suburban is the equally-as-large Ford Expedition. It's just as impressive in terms of power and towing capabilities as either competitor, since it can pull 9,600 pounds. It's not quite as capable off the pavement as the Toyota SUV's most rugged trim, but it offers the Tremor trim level that comes with 33-inch all-terrain tires to help crawl over rocks and dirt. Ford offers just four trims for the Expedition, which start with the Active for $62,700, and end with the King Ranch for $84,360. While the Active is the only trim t have standard eight-passenger seating, the Platinum and Tremor trims can be optioned for up to eight seats. GMC Acadia Wrapping up our list of the best SUVs with eight seats is the GMC Acadia. This model offers more interior space than the Terrain, but it's not as cumbersome and difficult to maneuver as the Yukon. The Acadia is another premium SUV at any trim level, but its Denali and Denali Ultimate trims approach Cadillac levels of luxury just like the Yukon. There are only four available trims, though; the Elevation starts at $43,800, while the Denali Ultimate starts at $63,100. Unfortunately, only the Elevation has room for up to eight people, though - the rest can seat seven occupants across three rows."There’s room for up to eight people in the GMC Acadia with available second-row captain’s chairs that take seating down to seven; the Acadia gets an honorable mention on our list of Best SUVs with Captain's Chairs. There’s a standard eight-way power driver’s seat with a six-way power front passenger seat, both with four-way power lumbar. A heated steering wheel and heated front seats are standard with the option for heated and ventilated second-row outboard seats available."- Nicole Wakelin, CarBuzz Characteristics Of Cars That Seat 8 People Bordering on minivan-like capabilities, these enormous machines need to do quite a few things right to recommend themselves. Only a select few vehicles can actually be configured to accommodate eight. Making the right choice means considering the following: Space - Unsurprisingly, squeezing eight people into even a large crossover is no simple feat. Aside from providing enough room for all the arms, legs, and everything in-between, these automobiles also have to ensure that accessing every pew does not require contortionist abilities. And, with eight people comes a boatload of luggage. The most capable contenders should at least be able to stow carry-on bags for each person. Power - Being bigger than your run-of-the-mill vehicle, these rotund beasts often weigh close to three tons. Moving that much weight requires a pretty potent powertrain, and adding more than half a dozen individuals and their assorted cargo certainly does not help. Horsepower in excess of 300 hp is not uncommon in the segment. Economy - As you’d expect, none of these machines boast particularly inspiring gas mileage figures, but they still try to be affordable to run, with some brands even offering hybrid configurations. Many start at over $50k. Pros And Cons Of 8-Seater SUVs While not absurdly expensive, 8-passenger SUVs are still a significant purchase. You need to carefully weigh the pros and cons before jamming one of these juggernauts into your garage. Alternatively, you may be able to find one for rental if you only need to transport a whole soccer team now and then. Pros Mom, dad, the kids, the grandparents, and the dog can all fit inside High safety ratings and lots of standard tech Generally impressive cargo capacity Capable powertrains Cons They’re huge and can be difficult to operate in tight areas Poor fuel efficiency Only a select few offer spacious third rows Sources: Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Hyundai