Good news, everyone! If you need an SUV with a 6-cylinder engine and a 3rd-row seating there is a decent choice to pick from.
Nowadays, nearly every SUV designed for a big family has a 6-cylinder engine on the regular basis or as an option for up-level trims. Let’s see what offers are the most affordable.
Ford Explorer
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $31,050
Ford has a couple of SUVs with a 6-cylinder engine and a 3rd-row seating. The Ford Explorer, which is the best-selling SUV in the world over the last 25 years, comes with a 3.5L Ti-VCT V6 engine and has an option for a 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost or a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engines.
Mitsubishi Outlander GT
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $30,995
The up-level Mitsubishi Outlander GT has a 224-hp 3.0L MIVEC SOHC 24-valve V6 engine while ES, SE, and SEL trims include only a 2.4L MIVEC SOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder which means the Outlander has no low-cost benefit if you want exactly the 6-cylinder engine.
Hyundai Santa Fe
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $30,800
The 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe offers a 290-hp 3.3L GDI DOHC 24-valve V6 engine as the basic feature. Its price is a little more expensive than you might expect from Hyundai but the previous Santa Fe was also above the $30,000 mark. Look for the Kia Sorrento if you need something cheaper with similar key features.
Dodge Durango
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $30,495
The Dodge Durango has a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine that generates up to 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This is more than enough for conventional driving. However, if you want the extreme power, you can purchase the up-level Dodge Durango R/T trim which includes a 5.7L HEMI V8 engine.
Honda Pilot
- Seating for: 8 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $30,145
The award-winning Honda Pilot can accommodate up to eight passengers instead of seven but has a slightly less powerful engine in comparison with the closest rivals. The 3.5L V6 engine is standard for all trims; it generates up to 280 hp.
Mazda CX-9
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $29,985
Starting at $29,985, the Mazda CX-9 is the first 7-passenger V6-powered SUV below the $30,000 mark. It comes with a 273-hp 3.7L DOHC 24-valve V6 engine and 6-speed Sport automatic transmission.
Nissan Pathfinder
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $29,830
The 260-hp 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V6 engine is standard for all Nissan Pathfinder trims. As you can see, it’s pretty much similar to the CX-9’s. These Japanese SUVs are fighting for the same customer.
Ford Flex
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $29,600
The Ford Flex comes with a 3.5L Ti-VCT V6 engine that we’ve already mentioned in Ford Explorer features. There is also a Limited version which comes with a slightly better 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine.
Kia Sorento LX V6
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $28,700
Korean sibling of the Hyundai Santa Fe that is essentially the same but at lower cost (in basic package). L and LX trims include a 2.4L DOHC 16-valve I-4 engine; EX and Limited trims include a 2.0L Turbocharged I-4 engine; finally, LX V6, EX V6, SX V6, and Limited V6 trims include the 3.3L DOHC 24-valve V6 engine we seek.
Dodge Journey Crossroad
- Seating for: 7 passengers
- Starting MSRP: $27,290
For all its faults, the Dodge Journey is still the most affordable 7-passenger SUV with or without a V6. The 3.6L V6 24-valve VVT engine is available in Crossroad, Crossroad Plus, and R/T trims.
If you don’t mind to have an inline-four engine instead of a 6-cylinder, you might want to check our rating of the most affordable SUVs with 3rd-row seating. While the lists are similar, there are some differences in pricing and positioning.