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By now, you’ll know that one of the most popular cars in the Philippines are three-row SUVs. So why are these so popular locally? Well, they come with a lot of benefits, especially for the family-oriented Pinoy. Here are the other advantages of a three-row SUV:
- Cargo Space – While the third-row seats are not in use, one can fold and turn it into more cargo space. Some select few models will also have large default cargo spaces even with rear-most seats in use.
- Power and torque – Since their inception, SUVs have been given powerful engines. Locally, most of these are diesel-powered and can make lots of torque. This quality is particularly useful since three-row SUVs are inherently heavy. Also, it makes these cars able to handle the added weight when all of its three rows are occupied.
- Durability – As per its traditional definition, an SUV uses a body-on-frame/ladder-frame chassis. This means that they are more durable and are less likely to suffer damage when traveling over rough terrain. In the case of truck-based SUVs, this also allows for more torsional flexing, which is immensely useful for off-roading.
- More passenger capacity – As we’ve said, three-row SUVs are favored by families since it can fit in up to seven passengers.
Three-row SUVs offer lots of space for cargo and passengers
Here is a list of SUVs with 3rd-row seating available in the Philippines right now. Included is an overview and a price range for each model. For the purposes of this list, we only included models that come with a body-on-frame chassis, and excluded three-row crossover models that use a unibody frame.
Toyota Fortuner
The Hilux-based Fortuner is currently the undisputed king of midsize SUVs, at least when it comes to sales numbers. In 2019, Toyota Motor Philippines sold a whopping 19,865 units of the said model.
The Toyota Fortuner LTD and the Fortuner Q
The latest facelifted version of the Toyota Fortuner is available locally. Leading its huge variant lineup is the Fortuner LTD 2.8 4x4 AT, which is priced at Php 2,404,000. Meanwhile, the entry-level variant called the Fortuner G 2.4 4x2 MT, is priced at Php 1,633,000.
The Fortuner for the Philippine market currently has two engine options, a 2.4-liter which makes up to 148 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. The larger 2.8-liter makes more at 201 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. Power is handled by a six-speed automatic gearbox or a six-speed manual. The said model either has a 4x2 or a 4x4 drivetrain.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
Next up in the Toyota three-row SUV lineup is the Land Cruiser Prado. It sits in-between the larger Land Cruiser and the Fortuner in terms of price, power, as well as size. Under the hood, this SUV model either has a 3.0-liter gasoline engine or a 4.0-liter diesel engine. The gasoline mill can make up to 275 horsepower and 381 Nm of torque, whereas the diesel engine can produce up to 163 horsepower and 410 Nm of torque.
The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
The more affordable gasoline version of the Land Cruiser Prado uses a six-speed automatic tranny with power sent to all four wheels. The diesel version either gets a six-speed AT, or a six-speed manual gearbox. It also uses a 4x4 drivetrain.
Currently, the Land Cruiser Prado’s price ranges from Php 3,369,000 to Php 4,170,000.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado for sale
Toyota Land Cruiser
Sitting on top of the Toyota three-row SUV hierarchy is the Toyota Land Cruiser. Its sole engine option is a 4.5-liter V8 engine capable of churning out 232 horsepower and 615 Nm of torque. All of its variants use a six-speed automatic gearbox, and all come standard with a 4x4 drivetrain.
The Toyota Land Cruiser LC200
The entry-level Land Cruiser 4.5 4x4 AT is priced at Php 4,619,000, while the top-spec Land Cruiser Premium 4.5 4x4 AT starts at Php 4,985,000.
Mitsubishi Montero Sport
The Montero Sport is Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corporation’s entry to the highly contested three-row midsize SUV segment. That said, it currently enjoys its spot as one of the most popular SUVs in the market today. This is evident from its 2019 sales figures, which numbered at a total of 12,861.
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Under the hood, the Montero Sport only has one engine option. It’s a 2.4-liter diesel mill capable of making up to 179 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque. Only the entry-level Montero Sport GLX 2.4 4x2 is available with a manual tranny, and the rest uses an eight-speed automatic.
The Montero Sport’s price ranges from Php 1,568,000 to Php 2,450,000.
Mitsubishi Montero Sport for sale
Mitsubishi Pajero
The most premium three-row SUV in MMPC’s model lineup is the Pajero. Its sole variant, the GLS, uses a 3.2-liter diesel engine that’s capable of producing up to 189 horsepower and 441 Nm of torque. It uses a 4x4 drivetrain, and a five-speed automatic.
The Mitsubishi Pajero
As of 2021, the Pajero GLS is priced at Php 3,000,000.
Nissan Terra
While a bit late to the midsize SUVs with 3rd-row seating game, the Nissan Terra has since proven to be a potent model. Under all of its variant’s hood is a 2.5-liter diesel engine that can make up to 187 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque.
The Nissan Terra
Available to the Terra is a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic transmission. The Terra either gets a 4x2 or a 4x4 drivetrain depending on the variant.
The top-spec Terra VL 2.5 4x4 AT is priced at Php 2,176,000. Meanwhile, the most affordable variant is the Terra EL 2.5 4x2 MT, which in turn is priced at Php 1,539,000.
Nissan Patrol Royale
Rivaling the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Mitsubishi Pajero full-size SUVs is the luxurious Nissan Patrol Royale. Currently, its sole variant, the Patrol Royale 5.6 4x4 AT, is priced at Php 3,988,000.
The Nissan Patrol Royale
Like its Toyota rival, the Nissan Patrol Royale uses a V8 engine. It does however, have a larger 5.6-liter displacement. At the most, the said engine can make 400 horsepower and 560 Nm of torque. It is paired with a seven-speed automatic, with power sent to all four wheels.
Isuzu mu-X
The D-Max based mu-X is Isuzu Philippine’s sole three-row SUV model. Like the other three-row midsize SUVs on this list, the mu-X enjoys a lot of popularity in the Philippines for its robust build, macho styling, and practicality.
The Isuzu mu-X
As of this writing, the PH-spec Isuzu mu-X has two engine options. The smaller one is a 1.9-liter diesel engine capable of making up to 148 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Its larger 3.0-liter mill, on the other hand, makes more at 175 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque.
The most affordable mu-X variant is the mu-X RZ4E 1.9 4x2 LS AT, which is priced at Php 1,350,000. Meanwhile, the top-spec mu-X LS-A 3.0 4x4 AT can be had for Php 2,145,000.
Ford Everest
The Ford Everest is the Blue Ovals entry into the very contested three-row midsize SUV battlefield. It has a good number of variants available locally, but the most powerful one is the Everest Titanium+ 2.0 Biturbo 4x4 AT.
It shares the same engine as the Ford Ranger Raptor, and it even has the same output of 211 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque. This makes the Everest Titanium+ 2.0 Biturbo the most powerful midsize SUV production model in the local market as of the moment.
Facelifted 2021 Ford Ranger & Everest: The Blue Oval Dynamic Duo | Quick Look
Apart from the 2.0-liter Biturbo, the Ford Everest has two other engine options. There’s the 2.0-liter diesel, which can make up to 178 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque.
The other is a 2.2-liter capable of producing up to 158 horsepower and 385 Nm of torque. The 2.0-liter variants including the Biturbo use a ten-speed automatic tranny, while the 2.2-liter versions come standard with a six-speed tranny.
As of 2021, the Everest’s price ranges from Php 1,738,000, with the Everest Trend 2.2 4x2 AT as its entry-level variant, to Php 2,299,000 for the top-spec Everest Titanium+ 2.0 Biturbo 4x4 AT.
Ford Expedition
One large SUV with 3rd-row seating from Ford is of course the Expedition. There’s only one engine option for this model, and it’s a V6 3.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine making up to 375 horsepower and 636 Nm of torque. Power is then managed by a ten-speed automatic, and sent to a 4x4 drivetrain.
The Ford Expedition
Technically speaking, there’s only one variant of the Ford Expedition in the Philippine market. It's called the Expedition Ecoboost 3.5 V6 Limited MAX 4x4 AT, and its price starts at Php 4,479,000. There is however, a variant that comes with bucket seats and it has a heftier price tag of Php 4,612,000.
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Another notable midsize, three-row SUV available locally is the Trailblazer. Like most of the models in its class, it is also based on a pickup truck, specifically the Chevrolet Colorado.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer
Currently, the Chevrolet Trailblazer has two engine choices. The smaller one is a 2.5-liter diesel mill that can make 163 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque. The larger 2.8-liter mill is also a diesel and it can make more at 200 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque.
The Trailblazer’s price ranges from Php 1,618,888 to Php 1,998,888.
Chevrolet Trailblazer for sale
Chevrolet Suburban
Now in its eleventh-generation, the Chevrolet Suburban is one of the longest-running nameplates in the history of the automobile. Currently, it is one of the two larger models sold by Chevrolet Philippines, with the other one being the Tahoe.
The Chevrolet Suburban
Being a sizable three-row SUV, the Suburban uses a 5.3-liter mill, which is rated to make up to 355 horsepower and 516 Nm of torque. Depending on the variant, this full-size SUV can either get a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain, although only a six-speed automatic transmission is available.
Locally, the Suburban has two variants. The more affordable one is the Suburban LT 5.3 4x2 AT, which is priced at Php 4,852,000. The top-spec variant is the Suburban LTZ 5.3 4x4 AT, which sits at Php 5,338,888.
Chevrolet Tahoe
The other large three-row SUV in Chevrolet PH’s lineup is the Tahoe. Like the Suburban, it's also a full-size SUV, but its pricing is positioned to be more affordable. That said, it uses the same 5.3-liter engine found on its brother.
The Chevrolet Tahoe
The sole variant of the Chevrolet Tahoe available locally is priced at Php 3,971,888 as of 2021.
SsangYong Rexton
The SsangYong Rexton is one of the few Korean-made models available locally, which fits in the traditional definition of what an SUV is. It also shares a platform with the Musso pickup truck.
The SsangYong Rexton
The Rexton is powered by a 2.2-liter diesel engine. At the most, the engine can make up to 179 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. Power is sent to a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain by a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The Rexton only has two variants in the Philippine market. There’s the Rexton 2.2 4x2 AT priced at Php 1,730,000, and the Rexton 2.2 4x4 AT, which sits at Php 2,230,000.
Foton Toplander
Rounding up the three-row SUV list is the Foton Toplander. It too uses a body-on-frame chassis, and it can comfortably seat seven with its three rows.
The Foton Toplander
Under the Toplander’s hood is a Cummins diesel 2.8-liter engine capable of producing up to 160 horsepower and 360 Nm of torque. It either has a 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrain, but both available variants only come with a seven-speed automatic tranny.
The price of the Foton Toplander ranges from Php 1,388,000 to Php 1,498,000.
Other three-row crossover SUVs available locally
There are other three-row models that are currently marketed locally as SUVs, but are not actually SUVs. This is because they use a unibody frame, and thus are closer to the definition of a crossover. While not as robust, and not as durable as traditional ladder-frame SUVs, these offer more passenger comfort due to their softer, car-like suspension systems. They are also lighter, so driving these might be easier than the models mentioned above.
The 7-seater Chery Tiggo 8 looks like an SUV, but its actually a crossover
Here’s a list of three-row crossovers available in the Philippines right now:
- Ford Explorer
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Hyundai Palisade
- Kia Sorento
- Mazda CX-9
- Mazda CX-8
- Honda CR-V (Diesel variants)
- Chery Tiggo 8
- Subaru Evoltis (Upcoming model)
- Geely Okavango
These is a list of SUVs with 3rd-row seating available in the Philippines right now. Do note that the prices are subject to change, especially now that we’ve recently switched over to a new year. Also, do check out our car guide section for a more detailed spec sheet for each of the three-row SUVs on this list.
For more car buying and selling guides, keep it here on Philkotse.com.