The kids are getting bigger, the in-laws keep tagging along on weekend makan trips, and that five-seater is starting to feel like a clown car every time you load up for a balik kampung run. Sound familiar? It might be time for a three-row SUV.
Buying new means stretching the budget for most of these, but the used market is where the value lives. A three-year-old example has already eaten the steepest part of its depreciation, and if you shop through a platform like Carro, the units are inspected, come with paperwork sorted, and many are covered by a warranty — which takes a lot of the anxiety out of buying pre-owned.
Here are five three-row SUVs worth hunting down in Carro’s used inventory, each with a different flavour – the Mazda CX-8, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, the Nissan X-Trail, the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, and the Proton X90. They come from all kinds of origin brands – Malaysian, Japanese, European, and Chinese!
Powertrain, dimensions & specs
Not all these 7 seaters have third rows that can comfortably fit adults, but the fact that they’re built for a third row brings massive space advantages where you get a huge boot when you fold the third row down.
Mazda CX-8
Powertrains are a highlight. There’s the 2.5 litre SkyActiv-G petrol (around 195 PS), the punchy 2.5 litre turbo petrol added in the 2022 update (228 hp and a meaty 420 Nm, with AWD), and the cult-favourite 2.2 litre SkyActiv-D diesel — 190 PS but a thumping 450 Nm that makes light work of a fully-loaded car climbing Genting or cruising up to Cameron Highlands.
The diesel sips fuel on long hauls, which is exactly the kind of driving a seven-seater does, unfortunately with the price of diesel the last few weeks it has become uneconomical to run compared to a petrol-powered version that can drink Budi95.
On the other hand, because of the diesel price situation, the price of used CX-8 diesels have been pushed down so you can get one at a really good deal if you’re betting on the fact that fuel prices will go back to normal after a year.
Best for: Buyers who prioritise cabin quality, refinement and genuine third-row comfort. Diesel hunters, look for the 2.2D for a great deal.
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
The Allspace is the stretched, three-row version of the Tiguan, and it’s the one to pick if you actually enjoy driving. You get a properly sorted European chassis and a cabin full of tech.
Two flavours were sold here – the 1.4 TSI Highline (150 PS/250 Nm, front-wheel drive) is the sensible, frugal everyman version — around 7.3 l/100km is achievable.
Then for those who are already a familyman but berjiwa GTI, there’s the 2.0 TSI R-Line: 220 PS, 350 Nm, 4Motion all-wheel drive and a seven-speed wet DSG. That’s hot-hatch-adjacent firepower in a family SUV, and it makes the R-Line the muscle car of this comparison.
Fold the rearmost seats and boot space is best-in-class at 1,775 litres, so it doubles as a serious load-lugger. The digital cockpit and three-zone climate still feel modern.
Best for: The dad who’s still a boy-racer at heart, or anyone who wants German driving feel and tech over outright third-row space.
No Carro Certified cars found.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
If you want maximum metal and kit for your ringgit, the Tiggo 8 Pro makes a compelling case. It arrived in 2023 as a direct rival to the Proton X90, and it came out swinging: a 2.0 litre turbo making around 254 hp and 390 Nm — the most powerful engine in this group on paper — paired with a dual-clutch transmission.
The third row is, like most in this class, best for kids or shorter adults. But as the newest nameplate here, used Tiggo 8 Pros tend to be low-mileage and recent — you’re buying a nearly-new car for a noticeable discount over sticker.
Best for: Value-focused families who want the most equipment and power per ringgit, and don’t mind a younger brand. Verify the remaining warranty.
Nissan X-Trail
The T32 generation is already outdated but is still on sale here in Malaysia. Having a long running life means plenty of used choice and a well-understood ownership story.
Engines are the simple, durable 2.0 litre (144 PS) and 2.5 litre petrols, driving through an Xtronic CVT. There are also
Best for: Buyers who value proven track record over flash. Buy on service history. Being aged also means it can be had for really cheap – the example here is under RM40k!
Proton X90
If the goal is maximum three-row SUV for the smallest outlay, the X90 is tough to argue with. Used units from the pre-facelift generation are very different from brand new ones that were launched at a lower entry price, they have more safety features included and a different engine.
For the pre-facelift models, underneath the songket-pattern grille sits a Geely-derived 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system, good for 190 PS and 300 Nm through a seven-speed wet dual-clutch.
You get six- or seven-seat layouts depending on variant; the range-topping Flagship swaps the second-row bench for ventilated captain’s chairs.
The real trump card is ownership. As a national brand, Proton’s service network reaches into every corner of the country, so parts and servicing are never a worry.
Best for: Budget-conscious big families who want the cheapest entry, strong kit-for-money and the reassurance of a nationwide service network.
