When you need an SUV with eight seats, absolutely nothing else will do the job. Whether you need to move the better part of a baseball team, get your large family to the cottage, take your friends on plenty of road trips, or run a shuttle for a daycare or after-school program, maximizing interior space and seating positions can be a high priority for plenty of reasons. It helps that available four-wheel drive (4WD), plenty of ground clearance, and a high towing capacity makes an 8-seat SUV a flexible option.
There are two types of 8-seat SUVs available today, larger mid-size SUVs and full-size SUVs. Mid-size SUVs still fit eight people, but they’re a little smaller overall and tend to be easier to maneuver. Full-size or large SUVs are the behemoths of the road, sized to fit seven or eight adults but with a footprint and drive feel to match.
Regardless of the size category, be aware that you’ll often need to choose a lower-trim vehicle to get access to eight seats. Once there’s a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row, which is more common in higher trims, an SUV will only be able to accommodate a maximum of seven seats. It’s also important to look carefully at the number of seats in the third row as you’re shopping. Even some of the larger mid-size three-row SUVs only have tow seats at the back. For an SUV to have eight seating positions, it will need to have a three-seat third row.
Here, we’ve compiled a comprehensive ranking of the best 8-seater SUVs available in Canada. We’ve vetted every vehicle on this list to ensure it can accommodate eight passengers in at least one of its trim levels.
We should also mention that if you need to move a crowd, minivans are a roomy alternative that offer eight seats and plenty of interior space. Check out our list of the best used minivans you can buy in Canada here.
Prices shown include destination charges and dealer fees but not options or sales taxes. While these were accurate as of the time of publication, prices are subject to change.
Best 8-Seater SUVs in Canada
- 2025 Chevrolet Traverse
- 2025 Ford Expedition
- GMC Yukon
- 2025 Honda Pilot
- 2025 Hyundai Palisade
- Jeep Wagoneer
- 2025 Kia Telluride
- 2025 Mazda CX-90
- 2025 Nissan Armada
- 2025 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2025 Subaru Ascent
- Toyota Grand Highlander
- 2025 Toyota Sequoia
2025 Chevrolet Traverse (priced from $52,433)
Chevy’s mid-size three-row SUV, the Chevrolet Traverse, received a complete redesign as the third generation launched last year. For 2025, note that a seven-seat configuration is standard equipment for every trim. To get eight seats, you’ll need to order a bench as a no-cost option on the base LT grade. The Traverse’s 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque. Chevy touts details such as a best-in-class total cargo capacity of 2,763 litres, a 17.7-inch infotainment screen and 11-inch digital instrument cluster, a standard surround-view camera, and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). (Note that while the related GMC Acadia was also redesigned for 2024, it is not available in an eight-seat configuration.)
2025 Ford Expedition (pricing TBA)
Ford’s mid-size Explorer SUV only seats seven, but you can find an 8-passenger vehicle in the Expedition full-size SUV and its luxury stablemate, the Lincoln Navigator. Both vehicles are entering a new generation for 2025, so details are scarce as of this writing. We do expect both will continue to offer an eight-seat configuration, but the specifics are unknown at press time. A power-folding 40-20-40 split third row is stated as an option on the upcoming Expedition, providing a more versatile cargo space. The new Tremor off-road oriented trim level is one up from the base Active trim, so it’s not out of the question that eight seats may be available for this first-ever offering..
GMC Yukon (2024 pricing from $80,234)
In the General Motors line-up, there are three full-size SUVs available spanning from mainstream to luxury. The Chevrolet Tahoe and its long-wheelbase equivalent, the Chevrolet Suburban, provide the entry point — and, in fact, both have an optional first-row bench seat available in entry-level grades that make up to nine seats available. At the ultra-luxury end of the spectrum is the Cadillac Escalade, which can seat eight when the optional second-row bench is equipped. But we’re going to highlight the just-right GMC Yukon here, which is an ideal balance between upscale features and finishes versus overall price. Like the Tahoe, the Yukon can seat up to nine in the SLE grade, and the others—including the off-road oriented AT4 and upscale Denali—can seat up to eight. Three engines are available—a 5.3-litre V8, a 6.2-litre V8, and a 3.0-litre diesel—and the long-wheelbase Yukon XL is an option for those in need of maximum interior volume and cargo capacity. Pricing shown is for 2024 models. A refresh is on the way for 2025, so expect a price bump over the 2024 figures provided.
2025 Honda Pilot (from $55,486)
The 2023 model year heralded the arrival of the Honda Pilot’s fourth generation. One thing that didn’t change with the redesign is the available number of seats: the Pilot can still seat up to eight passengers in what remains one of the roomiest interiors in the mid-size SUV segment. Most trims come with standard eight-passenger seating, from the base Sport to the Touring and Black Edition. As of 2025, only the TrailSport trim comes with second-row captain’s chairs, which bring the seat count down to seven. Like the previous Pilot, all models come equipped with a 3.5-litre V6, which here produces 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, matched with standard torque-vectoring AWD.
2025 Hyundai Palisade (from $53,234)
Hyundai’s flagship mid-size three-row crossover, the Palisade, was refreshed for the 2023 model year. It comes with the same engine in all grades, a 3.8-litre V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and AWD is standard. Opt for the Urban 8P grade to equip a second-row bench seat that increases the Palisade’s capacity to eight passengers in total. All Palisades come with an impressive 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen system that’s easy to use and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone functionality. A new generation of Hyundai Palisade is on the way for 2026, and its unclear whether an 8-seat configuration will survive the upcoming redesign. If getting this feature in this vehicle is important to you, keep an eye out for news on the new Palisade as it develops.
Jeep Wagoneer (2024 pricing from $87,659)
Jeep is going upscale, and the Wagoneer brand has been resurrected as the top-shelf expression of its aspirational luxury. The Wagoneer large SUV, which is currently sold in Canada exclusively in the Series II Carbide trim, comes with eight-passenger seating. The Stellantis 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine was retired at the start of the 2024 model year, which means the default engine is currently the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder Hurricane making 420 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque. This engine is the sole option in the long-wheelbase Jeep Grand Wagoneer as well, which can also seat up to eight with the optional second-row bench.
2025 Kia Telluride (from $53,480)
The Kia Telluride mid-size crossover is closely related to the Hyundai Palisade, so it’s logical that it also makes an appearance on this list. While all grades of the Telluride come with the same powertrain that’s offered in the Palisade— a 3.8-litre V6 producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, with standard AWD—only the EX and SX are offered with eight seats. Being a Kia, you also get a standard 5-year, 100,000-kilometre warranty and lots of standard safety equipment including lane follow assist, which includes lane keeping assist and lane centring, and a forward-collision warning system with pedestrian and cyclist detection and junction turning collision mitigation. The 2026 Kia Telluride begins a new generation of this popular SUV. It’s unclear whether the eight-seat configuration will continue through the redesign, so keep an eye on this if it’s an important feature for you.
2025 Mazda CX-90 (from $47,877)
Mazda entered the eight-seater game in 2024 with the all-new Mazda CX-90 three-row SUV. This new model is more spacious than the outgoing Mazda CX-9, offering three full rows of functional space. Two different powertrains are available. The mild hybrid version that’s available with eight seats uses a 3.3-litre turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid system to produce 280 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. This configuration is offered with eight seats in the GS and GS-L trims. On the plug-in hybrid side, the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine matched with a 17.8 kWh battery come together to create up to 323 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This version can run for up to 42 kilometres purely on electric power. For 2025, all trims but Signature are available with eight seats on the mild hybrid version. The plug-in hybrid’s GS trim is offered with eight seating positions as well.
2025 Nissan Armada (pricing TBA)
A new generation of the Nissan Armada, the automaker’s largest SUV, is being released for the 2025 model year. It switches from a beastly V8 to a more fuel-efficient V6 that produces more power at 425 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The new Armada keeps the same 3,850-kilogram (8,500-pound) towing capacity. Expect features like an invisible-hood camera, a 3D around-view monitor, and the ProPilot Assist 2.1 semi-autonomous driving technology that combined adaptive cruise control with lane centring. Pricing for the 2025 Nissan Armada has not yet been announced as of this writing. The automaker’s luxury version of this same SUV, the Infiniti QX80, was also redesigned for 2025 and starts at $110,256
2025 Nissan Pathfinder (from $49,985)
If a large SUV feels like a bit much to you, Nissan has another option: the Nissan Pathfinder mid-size three-row crossover. It has eight seats in four grades from S to SL, including the off-road styled Rock Creek trim. The Platinum trim is equipped with captain’s chairs and is therefore a 7-seater SUV. All of these are powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine making 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque sent through standard AWD and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The premium-brand equivalent Infiniti QX60 was revamped at the same time as the Pathfinder, but its designers opted to drop a position in the third-row seats, which maxes out its capacity as a seven-passenger SUV.
2025 Subaru Ascent (from $48,674)
The Subaru Ascent made its mark when it landed on the market with no less than 19 cupholders in its interior, which provides plenty of beverage storage space for up to eight passengers. Subaru touted the Ascent as being designed for North America. For 2025, two trim levels are sold with eight-passenger seating in Canada: Convenience, which offers good value and practicality on its standard features as an entry-level trim, and the mid-grade Limited. All Ascents come with a 2.4-litre engine with four horizontally opposed cylinders, which creates 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. As with most Subaru products, AWD is standard equipment.
Toyota Grand Highlander (2024 pricing from $53,555)
Toyota products stand out on this list: this is the only brand that offers vehicles with both eight seats and hybrid powertrains, offering fuel economy that’s rare for larger vehicles. The all-new Toyota Grand Highlander is a mid-size three-row SUV with up to eight seats. It’s larger than the legacy Toyota Highlander and offers superior interior space and amenities as a result. AWD is standard across the board, and both the gas-powered XLE and the XLE Hybrid are offered with eight seating positions. In the latter, fuel economy runs at 7.0 litres per 100 kilometres combined, making it an exceptionally efficient way to move a crowd. The Toyota Grand Highlander comes with standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the brand’s suite of safety features. Note that the luxury equivalent of this new SUV, the Lexus TX, caps at seven rear seats, and Lexus doesn’t have an SUV with an eight-seat option. 2025 pricing has not been announced as of this writing.
2025 Toyota Sequoia (from $86,030)
After a long wait, the third-generation Toyota Sequoia arrived in Canada for the 2023 model year. It’s an eight-passenger SUV in its two lowest trims, the SR5 TRD Off-road and Limited. All Sequoias are powered by Toyota’s 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with hybrid drive, which has a total system output of 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque along with standard 4WD. The related (and also recently redesigned) Lexus LX large luxury SUV is available with eight-passenger seating in the U.S., but this option is not offered in Canada.
