Skip to main content

Looking for a new daily driving SUV that won’t break the bank? These options are affordable SUVs with three rows from brands like Toyota, Subaru, and Nissan. While a cheap, used sport utility vehicle from 2010 might not be the safest option out there, national safety groups still tested each one.

The Toyota 4Runner is an affordable SUV with three rows from 2010

When U.S. News rated some of the best three-row SUVs, the 2010 Toyota 4Runner checked all boxes. Toyota made the 4Runner off-road capable, and even though the third row isn’t the roomiest, it does bump the seating up to seven. The 4Runner gets around 17 mpg in the city and between 22 and 23 mpg on the highway.

Rear-wheel drive was standard, but four-wheel drive was an available option. Drivers like the 4Runner for its off-road capability, spacious cargo area, and technology inside the cabin. Even in 2010, the Toyota SUV had an eight-speaker stereo system and a retractable rear window. Bluetooth and a backup camera were optional.

J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and U.S. News gave the 2010 Toyota 4Runner a reliability rating of four out of five. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 4Runner good scores on most of its crashworthiness tests, as did the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Subaru’s 2010 Tribeca is an affordable SUV with three-rows

Do you remember the 2010 Subaru Tribeca? On the list of affordable SUVs with three rows, the Tribeca had plenty to offer. It had room for seven passengers and came with all-wheel drive standard. Fuel economy was around 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. While this Subaru SUV had a third row, most adults won’t be comfortable back there for too long.

Even on the base version, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, tilt-adjustable steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, and three-zone climate control are standard. Bluetooth came on the Limited and Touring models, and Bluetooth was an available feature.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Tribeca high scores on all crashworthiness tests. That was enough to earn the Top Safety Pick award. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also gave the SUV high safety scores.

The 2010 Nissan Pathfinder is another option

Affordable SUVs with three rows like this Nissan Pathfinder
A 2010 Nissan Pathfinder | Nissan

What the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder gets right is being an affordable SUV with three rows that can also go off-road. It has room for seven passengers but is better suited for five. Nissan offered the 2010 Pathfinder with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. J.D. Power and U.S. News gave the Nissan SUV a three-star rating for reliability.

It came with a powerful enough V6 engine, but the V8 was an option that could tow more than the competition. The V8 dropped the fuel economy down to 13 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. While the Pathfinder is an affordable option that can go off-road, it is outshined by the competition. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Pathfinder some good scores, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn’t rate it.

These affordable SUVs with three rows might not check all the boxes, but each has plenty of favorable features for budget-conscious buyers. Modern vehicles will be safer due to more stringent safety standards and technology that wasn’t around in 2010, but these will get you from point A to point B on time and under budget.

Related

This List of SUVs That Can Last 200,000 Miles Doesn’t Have 1 Jeep