Toyota Highlander
With three rows of seating as standard as well as the choice of both traditional gas-only and hybrid powertrains, the Highlander continues to be a top choice in the category.
Interior room for both passengers and their cargo is the order of the day here, with the Highlander being one of the best examples of just how well a three-row crossover – even a mid-size version (although the Highlander’s Grand Highlander sibling inches ever closer to full-size territory) – can be a more than reasonable minivan stand-in.
That’s without mentioning the numerous storage bins and surfaces on offer.
Volkswagen Atlas
This one entry could actually be two, in that the Atlas comes in both in standard and in Cross Sport form. The latter offers a more aggressively raked roofline for a more coupe-like look, although that will cost you the third row.
Both Atlas models were partially redesigned for 2024, adding a new grille with full-length light bar to better reflect the look of the new Volkswagen seen on the likes of the Taos crossover and ID.4 EV.
Other additions included wood interior elements, new wheels measuring up to 21 inches and the switch to a single turbocharged 4-cylinder engine choice.
For 2025, the Atlas gets three new colour choices as well as a voice assistant feature powered by ChatGPT.
