Three-row SUV shoppers have more efficient choices than ever in 2026. The redesigned 2027 Kia Telluride and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade now offer turbocharged hybrids rated in the mid-30s for mpg, Toyota's Grand Highlander Hybrid carries a 36-mpg EPA combined rating, and four of the six vehicles below earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest award for 2026.
The safety bar is worth understanding. IIHS's 2026 Top Safety Pick+ requires good ratings in its small overlap, moderate overlap and side crash tests, plus acceptable or good headlights and front crash prevention ratings as standard equipment. Toyota's Grand Highlander does not appear on the 2026 award list, and Volkswagen's 2026 Atlas earned the second-tier Top Safety Pick.
The shortlist
Three-row SUVs compared
| Model | Starting MSRP | Hybrid | Best EPA combined mpg | IIHS 2026 award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Palisade | $38,935 | From $43,660 | 34 (Hybrid FWD) | Top Safety Pick+ (built after Nov. 2025) |
| 2027 Kia Telluride | $39,190 | From $46,490 | 35 (Hybrid EX FWD) | Top Safety Pick+ (built after June 2026) |
| 2026 Mazda CX-90 | $39,300 | Plug-in hybrid offered | 25 (3.3L turbo) | Top Safety Pick+ |
| 2027 Subaru Ascent | $40,795 | No | 22 | Top Safety Pick+ (2026 model) |
| 2027 Volkswagen Atlas | $41,610 | No | 25 (FWD) | Top Safety Pick (2026 model) |
| 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander | $42,260 | From $45,610 | 36 (Hybrid FWD) | Not on 2026 list |
MSRPs exclude destination. Palisade pricing is for the 2026 model year; the hybrid mpg figure is Hyundai's 2026 estimate, which matches the EPA rating for the 2027 Palisade Hybrid FWD Blue.
2027 Kia Telluride. The second-generation Telluride starts at $39,190 for the LX FWD with a new 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that Kia says makes nearly 50 lb-ft more torque than the outgoing engine. The first Telluride Hybrid starts at $46,490 for the EX FWD and produces 329 horsepower and 339 lb-ft; Kia quotes an EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined and a 637-mile range for that version, with 4,500 pounds of standard towing. The EPA rates the gas Telluride at 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 20 with AWD. It seats up to eight, is built in West Point, Georgia, and carries a $1,545 destination charge. IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ applies to vehicles built after June 2026.
2026 Hyundai Palisade. The redesigned Palisade starts at $38,935 for the SE FWD with a 3.5-liter V6, while the Hybrid Blue SEL starts at $43,660 with front-wheel drive and $45,660 with AWD. Hyundai quotes up to 329 horsepower for the 2.5-liter turbo hybrid and up to 34 mpg combined. The EPA rates the 2027 Palisade Hybrid at 34 mpg combined in FWD Blue form and 30 with AWD, and the V6 at 22 FWD and 20 AWD. The Palisade is built in Ulsan, South Korea, and IIHS's top award covers vehicles built after November 2025.
2026 Mazda CX-90. Mazda raised the CX-90's starting MSRP to $39,300 on May 4, 2026, plus $1,530 destination. The EPA rates the 3.3-liter turbocharged six-cylinder, which uses mild-hybrid assistance, at 25 mpg combined. Both the CX-90 and the CX-90 PHEV earned the 2026 Top Safety Pick+.
2027 Subaru Ascent. Subaru held the line at $40,795 for the Ascent Premium; the Limited is $47,985 and the Touring $51,165. Every version uses a 260-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine, seats seven or eight depending on trim, tows up to 5,000 pounds and is assembled in Lafayette, Indiana. The EPA rates the 2027 Ascent at 22 mpg combined. The 2026 Ascent earned a Top Safety Pick+.
2027 Volkswagen Atlas. The redesigned Atlas, which debuted at the New York auto show in March 2026, starts at $41,610 for the SE with front-wheel drive and $43,610 with 4Motion all-wheel drive, plus $1,525 destination. Kelley Blue Book reports it is due in dealerships this fall. The EPA rates the turbocharged 2.0-liter Atlas at 25 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 23 with AWD.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander. The Grand Highlander starts at $42,260 for the gas LE and $45,610 for the Hybrid LE on toyota.com. The 245-horsepower 2.5-liter hybrid earns the best EPA rating here, 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and the 362-horsepower Hybrid MAX starts at $56,090. Toyota quotes 33.5 inches of third-row legroom, 37.2 inches of third-row headroom and 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. It is built in Princeton, Indiana.
How to choose
- Price the hybrid premium honestly. A 2027 Telluride Hybrid EX FWD costs $2,700 more than the gas EX FWD; a 2026 Palisade Hybrid Blue SEL FWD costs $2,220 more than the gas SEL FWD; and the Grand Highlander Hybrid LE costs $3,350 more than the gas LE.
- Check final assembly if you will finance. The 2025-2028 federal deduction for car-loan interest requires final assembly in the U.S.; the Telluride (Georgia), Ascent and Grand Highlander (both Indiana) are built here, while the Palisade comes from South Korea.
- Confirm the build date when safety awards depend on it. IIHS ties the Telluride's and Palisade's top awards to vehicles built after specific months.
- Bring the whole family to the dealership. Third-row access, child-seat anchors and cargo space behind the third row matter more day to day than a few mpg.
How we chose
We focused on mainstream three-row SUVs with published 2026 or 2027 pricing below about $45,000 to start, then weighed IIHS 2026 award status, EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov and the availability of a hybrid. Prices are manufacturer MSRPs current in early October 2026. Drive Edition has not road-tested these vehicles, so this guide reflects published specifications, pricing and safety results rather than driving impressions.