The Five Most Comfortable Non-Luxury SUVs for a Long Road Trip According to Topspeed.com

​​One could easily argue that the most comfortable vehicle for a long road trip is a minivan. They offer a comfortable, spacious interior, ample cargo space, large windows, and efficient operation — all the essentials. Yet, you could argue this until you’re blue in the face, and most people would respond with “Whatever, not for me.” This is SUV country, and that’s simply how it is. So, what are the most comfortable SUVs for a long road trip? Topspeed.com shares its opinions, and Alderman Automotive passes them along to you. 

An article titled “Top 10 Most Comfortable SUVs for Long Road Trips in 2026” could easily focus entirely on luxury SUVs, so Topspeed.com chose to split the list between luxury and non-luxury models. In this post, we will discuss the non-luxury models. After selecting which models would make the list, they decided not to rank them. Instead, they highlighted the standout feature of each to describe the vehicle in general. 

Worth noting is that, with one exception, the ability to seat three rows of people doesn’t mean there’s cargo space for everybody’s luggage if a trip is going to be overnight or more. That will likely have you haul some items on the roof rack above. The engine bays feature a mix of turbocharged inline-4s or naturally aspirated V6s, with one having a standard V8. Most models offer Front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), but there are exceptions: some offer standard AWD, and others offer rear-wheel drive with available 4-wheel drive (4WD). Starting with the non-luxury model list, the first model mentioned is: 

Honda Pilot 

Like many 3-row crossover/SUVs, the Pilot offers a choice between a 3-row bench seat for the second row and “captain’s chairs,” which are essentially replicas of the front-row bucket seats in terms of structure and materials, if not in adjustments or features like heating, ventilation, or massage. Heating and ventilation for these seats are usually available on higher trim levels. The downside is that your maximum seating capacity decreases by one. The Pilot provides this choice as well, but also allows some flexibility by making the center second-row seat easily removable and storable under the floor in the cargo area, leaving two bucket seats separated by floor space. 

The rest of the model showcases Honda’s typical clever use of space, standard tri-zone climate control, and an available 12-speaker Bose audio system. The standard 285-horsepower 3.5-liter naturally aspirated engine delivers 25 mpg on the highway, and its displacement allows it to operate smoothly during highway cruising. The overall design of the 2026 Pilot dates back to 2023, with a refresh planned for 2026.

Toyota Grand Highlander 

The Grand Highlander remains in its original design generation, which debuted in the 2024 model year. It may have taken Toyota a while to offer a dedicated three-row SUV, but they didn’t mess around when they finally did. The third row in the Highlander offers 33.5 inches of legroom, about an inch more than the Pilot, and it’s likely sufficient for adults who aren’t the tallest in the group. Notably, the Grand Highlander features 13 cup and bottle holders—almost two for each passenger—and these can hold a second drink or other small items. 

Powertrains include a 265-hp 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 or a hybrid drivetrain based on a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, with total system power of 245 hp and 36 highway MPG with AWD. 

Hyundai Santa Fe 

The Santa Fe is the smaller of Hyundai’s two three-row crossovers. This makes the third row sets more suitable for kids and others of smaller stature, leaving three-row adjustable seating for the larger Palisade. Beyond that, the model’s boxy exterior creates a spacious interior, and upper-level models include niceties such as dual wireless phone charging, heating, and power-adjustable second-row captain’s chairs. Power comes from a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 producing 277 hp, or from the hybrid model, which uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 plus motors for 231 total horsepower and 34 highway mpg.

Kia Telluride 

The current Telluride dates back to 2022, with a new design expected in 2027. It represents the larger of two 3-row crossovers in the Kia lineup and is similar in size and mechanics to the Hyundai Palisade, though with entirely different styling. Topseed.com highlights its standout feature as the 42.4 inches of second-row legroom, which rivals the front legroom on many models. Third-row legroom is 31.4 inches, which is average for the category. Regarding the rest of the cabin, the Telluride presents itself as a luxury brand vehicle, and its higher trims enhance this impression. 

Like the Pilot, the Telluride currently has no hybrid version and is powered solely by a fairly large 3.8-liter V6 engine that produces 291 hp and gets 23 highway mpg with AWD. A hybrid model is expected with the redesign. 

Chevrolet Suburban 

The Suburban is responsible for all those exceptions mentioned in the third paragraph. With a design dating back to 2021, the Suburban is the largest in its class and surpasses most other vehicles. Unlike the others here, it is a genuine SUV with truck-based, body-on-frame construction and either rear-wheel drive or part-time four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case for very tough terrain. The interior can be simple or luxurious, and the upscale dash design complements all configurations. Space is plentiful throughout; it offers 42 inches of legroom in the second row and 36.7 inches in the third row. Even with all seats occupied, there are 41.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to a spacious 144.5 cubic feet when the second and third rows are folded down. The industry-leading SuperCruise hands-free highway driving system keeps the drive comfortable. 

The Suburban comes standard with a 355-hp 5.3-liter V8 engine that gets 19 highway MPG, and there’s an optional 6.2-liter V8 producing 420-hp with 18 highway MPG. While there is no hybrid model, the available 3.0-liter diesel inline-6 offers 26 highway MPG. The available Magnetic Ride Control and Four-Corner Air Ride Adaptive Suspension significantly counter the truck-based chassis to deliver a smooth, comfortable highway ride. 

These are Topspeed.com’s picks for the most comfortable non-luxury brand SUVs for long road trips. Look for these and their close rivals in the Alderman Automotive inventory, and come for a test drive to see which you find most comfortable. If you want more comfort, we will cover Topspeed.com’s luxury brand options in a future post.