Cars.com Tests, Reviews and Ranks Popular 3-Row Family Haulers

Cars.com [NYSE: CARS] has released the results from its 2017 Three-Row SUV Challenge, which put four family haulers through intensive testing to determine the best option for shoppers. Contenders included the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse, 2017 Honda Pilot, 2017 Toyota Highlander and 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.

“With as many as eight seats, three-row SUVs are the vehicles of choice for families that prefer the styling and optional all-wheel drive of an SUV over a minivan,” said Jennifer Newman, Cars.com editor-in-chief. “The market has changed some since our last three-row Challenge, so we tested last year’s winner, the Honda Pilot, against three significant competitors – one updated, one fully redesigned and one new to the market.”

For the Challenge, vehicles tested could not exceed $46,000, including all options and destination charges. Judges awarded points in 12 categories: interior quality, front-seat comfort, second-row comfort, third-row comfort, cargo storage, in-cabin storage, multimedia, powertrain, ride quality, noise, visibility and value. Each model was also awarded points for advanced active safety features and for its Cars.com Car Seat Check, which gauges the accommodation of various child-safety seats.

Testing resulted in the following ranking:

1.     2018 Volkswagen Atlas

2.     2018 Chevrolet Traverse

3.     2017 Honda Pilot

4.     2017 Toyota Highlander

“Volkswagen’s first SUV with a standard three rows of seats won this competition by one of the larger margins in Cars.com Challenge history,” said Newman. “The all-new three-row SUV stole the show with its refined driving manners, ample passenger and cargo space, and easy-to-use technology.”

This is the second recent win for Volkswagen in a Cars.com Challenge. The redesigned Volkswagen Tiguan was ranked No. 1 in the 2017 Compact SUV Challenge.

For more information, including scoring details, photos and videos from the Cars.com Three-Row SUV Challenge, visit www.cars.com/news.