Just because you want to drive a smaller car doesn’t mean you have to give up the ability to haul around a decent amount of people. There are a number of smaller options out there that also allow you to utilize a third row seat option. Okay, so small is a relative statement and we aren’t talking Fiesta or Smart ForTwo small, but we are talking smaller than a minivan and definitely smaller than you average third row capable SUV---ehem Suburban.

We would love to take credit for the research that went into the following vehicles, but our partner site FamilyCarGuide.com would probably object. Recently, FCG published a story titled: Third Row Seats: The Smallest, Easiest-Parking Vehicles With Them. The list they came up with is pretty interesting, so let’s check it out: 

  • 2011 Mazda5
  • 2011 Toyota RAV4
  • 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander
  • 2011 Kia Sorento
  • 2011 Toyota Highlander
  • 2011 Volvo XC90

 

So how small are these vehicles really? They basically range from 180” to 189” in overall length. To give you a comparison, the 2011 Ford Fiesta is about 160” in overall length, which makes some of the options above over two feet longer than the diminutive Fiesta. That said, they also allow you to carry up to seven passengers. Some other options that will be coming is the Ford C-Max, a vehicle based on the Fiesta Global C-segment platform. If you are willing to go another foot longer than the Volvo XC90 you could also look at the Ford Flex…however, we couldn't classify that as small.

 

Be sure to check out all the details on the third row small haulers over at FamilyCarGuide.com.