It is uncommon for a compact SUV to have a 3rd row, and there is a good purpose for that: Few people can truly slot in such a tiny area. And positive, there are clearly children, however they often require some kind of youngster seat that is not becoming again there, both.
In different phrases, the use case is as tiny because the seats themselves. No marvel, then, that there are solely two three-row compact SUVs: the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan and the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. Whereas I’ve but to witness the Tiguan, the above picture is the results of becoming a 6-foot-3 automotive editor into the Outlander’s third row. It ain’t fairly. And that is with the center row pushed all the best way ahead. Additionally observe that it is simply not a matter of legroom — headroom is horrible, too.
Clearly, that is an excessive and ridiculous take a look at. Ultimately, the necessity to accommodate the third row virtually actually permits the Outlander to have extra cargo area than common (and the mechanically associated Nissan Rogue) even when it is presence can be seemingly the explanation it does not have as a lot room because the CR-V, RAV4 and Tucson (extra on that coming quickly in a baggage take a look at). It is mainly a bonus function, and for those who can in actual fact use it, nice!
It is also exponentially higher than the unique Outlander third row. Particularly, the second-generation mannequin that had a surprisingly flimsy design that may’ve been rickety for the Nineteen Eighties not to mention the late 2000s. It consisted of a mesh material pulled over a tube metal ring. It was extra like a seashore chair than one thing that belonged in a transferring car.
Listed here are two interval movies of me demonstrating it in a 2010 Outlander. Within the first, I elevate the seat, exhibiting how tough it was to do and the way rickety it was as soon as in place. The second video exhibits the mesh seat backside.
Video 1:
Video 2:
