Three-Row SUVs Compared: Durango, Grand Wagoneer and More

In the Midwest, a three-row vehicle is rarely a luxury. It is hockey bags and a cooler on the way to a tournament in Fargo, a pontoon for the cabin, grandparents and kids on the way to a wedding in Cedar Rapids, and a carpool with snow tires. So three rows has to work in January, tow in July and fit in a garage that was built in 1962.

The Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lineup has gone through changes in this segment. Here is what is actually on sale for 2027.

The Grand Cherokee L and the Wagoneer

Two things matter before we compare anything.

The Grand Cherokee L is still on sale for 2027. Jeep sells the three-row Grand Cherokee L alongside the standard two-row body, priced $2,000 above the two-row model on every trim they share and starting at $41,730 for the Laredo. Trailhawk is offered only on the two-row. Jeep has not posted a 2027 spec sheet for the L, so its dimensions below come from the 2026 L sheet; confirm them with a dealer.

The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer have merged. Jeep says that starting in 2026 the Grand Wagoneer takes over as its full-size SUV, offering the features the Wagoneer once did. The Wagoneer name is now listed as discontinued. The Grand Wagoneer comes in standard and L lengths, with Grand Wagoneer, Limited, Limited Altitude, Upland, Overland, Summit, Summit Obsidian and Summit Reserve trims for 2027.

That leaves three current three-row SUVs, the Durango, the Grand Cherokee L and the Grand Wagoneer, with the Pacifica minivan as the practical alternative.

The numbers

	Dodge Durango	Grand Cherokee L	Grand Wagoneer	Grand Wagoneer L	Chrysler Pacifica
Seats	5 to 7	6 or 7	7 or 8	7 or 8	7 or 8
Wheelbase	119.8 in	121.7 in	123.0 in	130.0 in	121.6 in
Length	about 201 in	204.9 in	216.1 in	228.1 in	204.3 in
Behind third row	17.2 cu ft	17.2 cu ft	27.9 cu ft	42.6 cu ft	32.3 cu ft
Max cargo	85.1 cu ft	84.6 cu ft	116.7 cu ft	n/a	140.5 cu ft
Power	360 to 710 hp V8s	293 hp V6 or 324 hp turbo four	420 hp twin-turbo I6	420 hp twin-turbo I6	287 hp V6
Drive	AWD standard	RWD or 4x4	4x2 or 4x4	4x2 or 4x4	FWD; AWD optional
Max towing	7,200 lbs (8,700 with Tow 'n Go)	6,200 lbs	10,000 lbs (4x4)	9,860 lbs (4x4)	3,600 lbs
Ground clearance	7.8 to 8.0 in	8.5 in (10.9 in with air suspension)	7.4 in	7.4 in	5.1 to 5.4 in
Starting MSRP*	$43,875	$41,730	$65,000 (2027)	$68,000	$41,595

*Before destination, as published by the manufacturers in 2026. Prices change. Grand Cherokee L dimensions are from Jeep's 2026 L spec sheet.

Dodge Durango: the practical one

The 2027 Durango is, for Midwest purposes, the sensible choice if towing and standard AWD matter most. All-wheel drive is standard on every trim. There is no V6 anymore: Stellantis lists a 360-hp 5.7-liter HEMI in the GT AWD HEMI V8 trims, a 475-hp 6.4-liter in the R/T 392 and a 710-hp supercharged V8 in the SRT Hellcat. Seating is up to seven, with a six-passenger layout available on some trims.

The GT AWD HEMI V8 is rated to tow 7,200 pounds, and 8,700 pounds with the Tow 'n Go package or on the 392 and Hellcat. That is enough for most pontoons, bass boats and mid-size campers. It is also a quicker vehicle than anyone needs for a school run: the 392 does 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds, per Dodge.

The compromises are fuel economy (14/22/17 mpg on the GT AWD HEMI V8, with the 392 and Hellcat lower and both needing premium) and cargo space behind the third row. At 17.2 cubic feet, you can fit groceries or a few duffels with everyone aboard, but not a week's luggage for seven. A roof box or a hitch cargo carrier fixes that.

The Durango is assembled at the Detroit Assembly Complex, Jefferson plant, where it has been built since 2010.

Jeep Grand Cherokee L: the lower-priced one

The Grand Cherokee L stretches the two-row Grand Cherokee to a 121.7-inch wheelbase and 204.9 inches overall, and adds a third row for six or seven passengers. It starts at $41,730, below the Durango, and tows 6,200 pounds with either the 293-hp V6 or the 324-hp turbo four. Fuel economy is friendlier than the Durango's: the V6 is rated 19/26/21 mpg in 2WD and 18/25/21 in 4WD, and the turbo four 21/26/23 and 20/25/22.

The winter catch is the drivetrain. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the lower trims, and 4x4 is standard only on Limited Reserve and Summit, so order it on anything else. Cargo behind the third row matches the Durango's 17.2 cubic feet, and ground clearance is 8.5 inches on the standard suspension.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer: the big one

The Grand Wagoneer is a different scale of vehicle. It is 216 inches long, or 228 inches in the L. That space gives you real cargo room behind the third row (27.9 cubic feet standard, 42.6 in the L), seating for seven with captain's chairs or eight with the bench, and an available power-folding third-row bench.

Under the hood is a 3.0-liter Hurricane twin-turbo inline six with 420 hp and 468 lb-ft. Jeep rates it to tow up to 10,000 pounds on the standard wheelbase with 4x4 and 9,860 pounds on the L. Those ratings drop sharply with rear-drive: 6,210 pounds for the standard and 5,960 pounds for the L. Choose 4x4. Jeep lists an optional low-range 4x4 system for rougher conditions.

It costs more, with 2027 pricing starting at $65,000 before destination, and prices climb quickly through the Limited, Upland, Overland and Summit trims. Ground clearance is 7.4 inches on the standard suspension, so deep unplowed snow is a limit unless you choose a trim with air suspension, such as the new Overland or the Upland. The 2027 lineup is gas only: Jeep's configurator lists just the Hurricane six, not the range-extended electric version (647 hp, 92-kWh battery) it announced earlier.

The Grand Wagoneer is built at Warren Truck Assembly in Warren, Michigan.

The practical alternative: Pacifica

Many Midwest families who think they want a three-row SUV would be better served by a minivan. The Pacifica has 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row, more than either the Durango (17.2) or the standard Grand Wagoneer (27.9). Its Stow 'n Go seats fold into the floor, its sliding doors are friendlier in a tight parking lot, and AWD is available on Select, Limited and Pinnacle. The LX has heated seats and a heated steering wheel as standard. At about 5 inches of ground clearance, it is a plowed-road vehicle and wants winter tires.

It tows only 3,600 pounds, which covers a small camper or a pair of jet skis but not a pontoon. And it is built in Windsor, Ontario, not in a Midwest state. If you tow, choose the Durango or Grand Wagoneer. If you don't, a minivan is the better family tool.

Winter and Midwest practicalities

• Drivetrain. The Durango's standard AWD is a point in its favor. If you choose a Grand Cherokee L or Grand Wagoneer, order 4x4.
• Ground clearance. None of these is a drift-buster. They are all plowed-road vehicles.
• Garages. A Grand Wagoneer L is 228 inches long. That fits in a modern two-car garage but can be tight in older Chicago, Milwaukee or Minneapolis garages. Measure before you buy.
• Towing. Check payload on the exact vehicle, since tongue weight and a full cabin reduce it. The Durango's estimated payload is roughly 1,350 to 1,590 pounds, the Grand Cherokee L's is 1,210 to 1,400 pounds, and Jeep lists about 1,300 for the Grand Wagoneer.
• Fuel. These are not efficient vehicles. A Durango GT AWD HEMI V8 is rated 14/22/17 mpg, and long towing days will lower that.
• Heat. Look for second-row heated seats and rear climate zones. On a minus-10 morning, the third row is the last place to warm up.

For state-specific advice, see our guides for Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.

Bottom line

For most Midwest families, the Durango is the best three-row SUV: standard AWD, up to 8,700 pounds of towing and a lower price than the Grand Wagoneer. The Grand Cherokee L is the lower-priced, more fuel-efficient alternative if you order 4x4. The Grand Wagoneer is the choice if you need more space, more luxury and up to 10,000 pounds of towing, and can accept the size and the cost. If you don't tow much, a Pacifica with AWD is the better family hauler.