Which SUV Has the Best Third-Row Access?

CARS.COM — An SUV's third row could easily be called no man's — and no woman's — land. This necessary but often cramped space is for kids only, but they still need a way to get back there that doesn't involve climbing over the seats. During our Three-Row SUV Challenge 2016, we took a closer look at the third-row access for each of our competitors.

Related: What's the Best Three-Row SUV for 2016?

We looked at how easily the second row could be manipulated to create a pathway to the wayback, kept an eye on just how wide that walkway was as well as step-in height. Parents should look for a wide enough space that they can climb back there should they need to help little ones get buckled into their booster seats.

If a three-row SUV's third-row access doesn't pass muster, consider getting second-row captain's chairs to create another way to access the third row.

2017 Dodge Durango

For multitasking moms and dads, it only takes one hand to flip and fold the Durango's second-row seats forward. This creates a wide passage to the third row that any child or parent can traverse, making it one of our favorites for third-row access.  

2017 Ford Explorer

This SUV's second row also flips and folds to create third-row access, but the seat is heavy and it's a multistep, multilever process. The pathway to the third row, however, is wide, which adults will appreciate.

2017 GMC Acadia

The Acadia shrunk more than 7 inches with its redesign and it shows when it comes to third-row access. The second-row seat cushions fold upward and the whole seat slides forward, but there's hardly any passageway to the third row. Thankfully, our test car had captain's chairs – that's the only way an adult can navigate to the third row in this SUV.

2016 Honda Pilot

The Pilot treats families well thanks to its one-touch button on the second-row seats that folds and slides them forward for easy third-row access. The pathway to the wayback isn't the widest, but we were able to negotiate it.

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe

We had to use a little muscle, but we were able to slide the second-row seat forward with just one hand, creating a narrow path to the third row. Even though our Santa Fe had captain's chairs, the space between them is a little narrow; it's doable, but some adults will have to shimmy between the chairs.

2017 Kia Sorento

The Sorento skimps on third-row access, earning it a B for third-row access in our Car Seat Check. Like its Hyundai sibling, we were able to fold and slide the second row forward one-handed.

2016 Mazda CX-9

Space is at a premium in the redesigned CX-9, so we were surprised that this SUV had such a sizable pathway to the third row, though it wasn't as large as the pathway in the Explorer. The second-row seats fold and slide forward easily.

2017 Nissan Pathfinder

Just pull up on the lever and the redesigned Pathfinder's second-row seat cushion folds upward while the seat slides to create a wide opening to the third row. The higher step-in height, however, was a negative for our testers.