These Are the Best 7-Seat 2021 SUVs

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re a car shopper with a large family, you already know you need more space than the average vehicle permits. Even if you don’t have a large family, you may like the flexibility that a three-row SUV offers. With plenty of passenger and cargo space, some of the best 7-seat 2021 SUVs have it all: safety, style, and space. Let’s take a look at some of the best options for 7+ seater SUVS out there.

2021 Kia Telluride | Kia

The 2021 Kia Telluride is one of the best 7-seat 2021 SUVs

The 2021 Kia Telluride is one of the best three-row SUVs on the market right now. It’s large enough to seat 7 passengers and still haul home a boatload of groceries.

The Kia Telluride is also safe. Consumer Reports recommends a slew of advanced safety features that car shoppers should consider. These include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city and highway speeds, lane-keeping assistance, and lane departure warning. Consumer Reports also says that pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning are important to have. Rearview cameras are standard in all new cars. You should also look for anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights.

The 2021 Kia Telluride comes standard with everything that Consumer Reports recommends – except for automatic emergency braking for the highway, which isn’t available at all. 

Both the IIHS and NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 Kia Telluride. The IIHS gives it all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it five stars for everything except for the overall frontal-crash, overall frontal-crash on the driver side as well as passenger side, and the rollover rating. Each of these gets four stars. 

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is a top rival of the Telluride

Or perhaps they’re besties. Built on the same platform, if you like the Telluride, you’ll probably also like the Palisade. The Palisade offers slightly less cargo space than the Telluride, but ample front row space. 

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade comes standard with most of what Consumer Reports recommends. Automatic emergency braking for the highway isn’t available. Blindspot warning and rear cross-traffic warning are optional.  

Both the IIHS and NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The IIHS gives it all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it five stars for everything except for rollover. Both the 2WD and 4WD get four stars. 

The 2021 Toyota Highlander also comes with a hybrid option

The 2021 Toyota Highlander isn’t just a great 7-seat SUV, it’s also green. Customers can choose to purchase a hybrid version of the Highlander. The Highlander does have slightly less space than the Palisade or the Telluride, so if you’re going to regularly cart three or more kids around, you may not find this appealing. 

The 2021 Toyota Highlander comes standard with everything that Consumer Reports recommends – except for blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning, which are optional. 

Both the IIHS and NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 Toyota Highlander. The IIHS gives it all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it five stars for everything except for the overall frontal-crash, overall frontal-crash on the driver side as well as passenger side, and the rollover rating for both 2WD and 4WD. Each of these gets four stars. 

The 2021 Ford Explorer is also an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award winner

The 2021 Ford Explorer has lots of space and headspace. Even the second row has plenty of room, which is great for kids who may want to stretch their legs. The third row isn’t quite as spacious, but the Explorer does come with a host of safety features. It includes everything that Consumer Reports recommends.

The IIHS also gives the 2021 Ford Explorer its highest honor: a Top Safety Pick+ award. Additionally, the NHTSA gives it five stars for everything except for rollover. Both the 2WD and 4WD rollover ratings are four stars. 

If you want one of the best 7-seat 2021 SUVs, you can’t go wrong with any of these options. Each of them are stylish and offer enough space for a larger family. They also include lots of safety features. You’ll be able to cart your kids from sports practice to sports practice, and carry all their gear, too. 

RELATED: Ford’s Best-Selling SUV Is Going Electric

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Rivian IPO: Backed By Amazon And Ford, Startup Files For $80 Billion

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Rivian is the darling of the electric vehicle world. Rivian advertises its R1T truck and R1S SUV as tools for sustainable outdoor adventure. First, Ford invested in the company, then Amazon awarded Rivian a delivery van contract and invested too. With R1Ts set for delivery this fall, Rivian hype is at an all-time high. So it’s unsurprising that the automaker is filing for an IPO, but could it possibly be worth $80 billion? 

Rivian IPO Seeks An $80 Billion Valuation

Rivian at an auto show | Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

According to Bloomberg, Rivian has filed a registration for an initial public offering (IPO). The registration form is a draft, and its details are confidential. But Bloomberg’s source states the Rivian IPO will set its valuation around $80 billion. Rivian said it has not decided the precise size and price range of its offering.

In July of 2021, Rivian closed a $2.5 billion round of private fundraising. Amazon and Ford were the primary investors during this recent round. Other investors included T. Rowe Price, BlackRock, Soros Fund Management, Fidelity, Coatue, and Third Point. This brings Rivians total amount raised to around $10.5 billion.

Ford and Amazon Invested Ahead of The Rivian IPO

Attendees visit the Amazon booth where a Rivian electric truck with Amazon Alexa integration is displayed, January 7, 2020, at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) | Rivian IPO: Backed By Amazon And Ford, Startup Files For $80 Billion
Amazon displays a Rivian at an auto show | ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

In 2019, Ford announced that Rivian technology would underpin blue oval electric trucks and Lincoln SUVs. Ford also made a $500 million initial investment in Rivian. Later, Ford decided to develop its own electric technology for the F-150 lightning and its SUVs. But with Rivian targeting top-trim Tacoma drivers, not F-150 drivers, Ford continued its partnership with the startup. Ford has since invested more money in Rivian, but has not disclosed the amount.

In February 2021, Amazon awarded Rivian a contract for 10,000 electric delivery vans. Jeff Bezos was so impressed with Rivian’s technology he also made a sizeable investment in the startup. Currently, Bezos owns more than ten percent of Rivian. When Bezos rode his Blue Origin rocket to space, he first rode a Rivian R1S prototype to the launch pad. His use of a Rivian was a savvy advertising move, proving he wants to see a return on his Rivian investment. His next logical step would be to push for a Rivian IPO.

Tesla Is Worth $700 Billion, Ford $53 Billion

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 26: Rihanna attends Rivian Unveils First-Ever Electric Adventure Vehicle Before Its Official Reveal At The LA Auto Show at Griffith Observatory on November 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Rivian) | Rivian IPO: Backed By Amazon And Ford, Startup Files For $80 Billion
Rihanna attends a Rivian event | Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Rivian

In 2010, Tesla had delivered some Roadsters, but was still developing its first mass-produced model. With the brand generating excitement, Elon Musk opted for a traditional IPO on NASDAQ. The startup issued thirteen million shares at the initial price of $17 per share. Tesla’s IPO raised $226 million.

Tesla’s IPO was the first public launch of an American auto manufacturer since Ford’s 1956 IPO. Since its initial offering, Tesla’s value has grown exponentially. The electric vehicle company now has an estimated valuation of $700 billion, outstripping all other automakers. For comparison’s sake, experts give Ford a market cap of around $53 billion and put Chevrolet at $72 billion.

After the Rivian IPO, could the brand be worth $80 billion? Bloomberg admits that the actual valuation of an EV company is anyone’s guess. Rivian has yet to deliver a vehicle to a consumer or fleet and thus has no cash flow for investors to judge. But it has been slogging away at perfecting an electric truck for longer than most anyone. As a result, the brand name Rivian is becoming a buzzword, which has value as well.

What we know from Tesla is that an EV manufacturer can break all the rules. Rivian will show us whether or not lightning can strike twice.

RELATED: 4 Reasons Electric 4x4s Will Be Better Off-Road

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If Toyota Continues to Push Back on EVs, It Could Devastate 1 of the World’s Biggest Car Companies

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Toyota has an impressive following among car buyers. The Toyota lineup comprises five of the 10 best-selling cars of 2021 to date. The Toyota RAV4, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, and Tacoma appeared in the top 10, with Toyota comprising an impressive 50% of the list. Additionally, the RAV4 had a 20% increase in sales for the first quarter of 2021. With such a hold on the market, Toyota is poised to move drivers closer to EV dependence. However, the carmaker is reluctant to pursue EVs for now. Let’s take a look at why and how things may change in the future.

Toyota isn’t ready for the EV change

The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime hybrid model | Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Despite their impressive sales, Toyota is resisting the change to make EVs. The New York Times says, “In statements, Toyota said that it was in no way opposed to electric vehicles. ‘We agree and embrace the fact that all-electric vehicles are the future,’ Eric Booth, a Toyota spokesman, said. But Toyota thinks that ‘too little attention is being paid to what happens between today when 98 percent of the cars and trucks sold are powered at least in part by gasoline, and that fully electrified future.”

The reluctance could affect the carmaker’s bottom line. The Biden administration is making green energy a top priority. The goal is to get U.S. auto sales to be 50% EVs by 2030.  They will also change fuel economy standards to nudge automakers in the direction of using EVs. The administration’s steps could affect the bottom line of automakers that don’t fall in line, so to speak.

Toyota is lobbying in Washington

Toyota has met with congressional leaders to lobby against the push for EVs that the Biden administration proposes. Toyota’s covert efforts to slow the EV policies are surprising since it was an early adopter and influencer of EVs with the Prius hybrid model. Thanks to the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997, the company helped pave the way for Tesla and other EV manufacturers. Despite their opposition to the momentum of the EV revolution, the automaker has revealed plans to release 70 new electric-based models by 2025, including battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and gas-electric hybrid models.

In other political news involving Toyota, the company came under fire recently after it was revealed that it was the largest corporate donor to Republican lawmakers who objected to the certification of the 2020 presidential election. It also supported the former administration’s policies, such as removing California’s power to set its own emissions standards. However, that rule was reversed under Biden, which allowed California and other states to set their own standards.

The history of the Prius

Toyota‘s hybrid Prius was first introduced in Japan in 1997. It was then introduced worldwide in 2000. Japan and the U.S. are the biggest markets for the Prius. In 2007, the EPA rated the Prius among the cleanest vehicles sold in the U.S. based on smog-forming emissions. The 2018 model year Prius Eco ranked as the second most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered car without plug-in capability available in the U.S., following the Hyundai Ioniq Blue. 

The Prius has had a few redesigns over the years. The Prius c was introduced in 2012 and the Prius Prime in 2016. The Prius Prime offers a few more standard and tech features than the Prius base model, and the Prius c was a cheaper alternative. 

Overall, Toyota seems to be losing the battle to slow the EV revolution. Countries worldwide are slowly moving to all EVs, with Norway boasting over 50% EV registration recently. If Toyota refuses to fall in line with the current trends, it could soon lose its crown as the top-selling automaker globally. 

RELATED: Consumer Reports Says Avoid the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, Get the 2021 Toyota Corolla Instead

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A Compact SUV Sized Kia Carnival Might Be Coming

by Gabrielle DeSantis

OK, so we’ve all heard of a minivan. But what about a mini minivan? Could this even be a thing? Apparently Kia thinks so, and the Korean manufacturer has some camouflaged compact SUV sized Kia Carnival models rolling around before the official debut. 

2022 Kia Carnival | Kia

According to CarsGuide, a new model from Kia might change the SUV game. It’s the size of the Kia Seltos and shares the same platform. For now, it’s going to be made in India for “local and as-yet-unclear international markets,” set to release there in 2022. So a miniature Kia Carnival might be coming. 

What we know about the camouflaged KY that hasn’t been released

A white 2022 Kia Seltos on the top of a parking garage with a city in the back.
2022 Kia Seltos | Kia

This is an MPV, or “multi-purpose vehicle.” Codenamed KY, the new Kia vehicle will slot under the Kia Carnival. It’s not aimed toward U.S. markets yet, but the brand is known to release products in global markets before bringing them to the states. 

Because the new Kia MPV sits on the same platform as the Kia Seltos, it’s likely that we’ll see it powered by the same 1.5 liter turbo-diesel that we see in global versions of the compact SUV. Or, it may use the 2.0 liter gasoline engine––perhaps both––though we don’t ever expect to see a diesel version in the U.S.

The coolest feature of this emerging new product is possibly the fact that it seats seven people. Due to the fact that it’s significantly smaller than other models like Kia Telluride or Kia Carnival, this is an attractive feat. We expect affordable pricing and solid fuel economy for KY, both of which are important for success in southeast Asian markets.

Is this camoed Kia a new Mazda5? 

You aren’t alone if you wish the Mazda5 was still in production. This versatile little vehicle had sliding doors and was every inch a mini minivan. The Kia model spotted in camouflage could be  a new version of something like Mazda5. 

If it’s successful, there’s a chance it could expand to other markets. That means in the coming years we may actually see it make its way across the pond. That said, it will have to make a compelling argument in terms of value. Plus, it will need to look good. 

We imagine the final product will turn out looking like a small Kia Carnival. This new Kia minivan (or MPV as Kia calls it) is an all-new model. The Kia Carnival’s predecessor is the Kia Sedona, but it’s a clear departure from Kia’s former minivan style. In fact the Carnival has even been called an SUV with sliding doors. 

The new little Kia van may not have sliding doors––it’s difficult to say with all that camo. Still, there’s a chance it will gain significant traction when it arrives on the market. 

Kia’s new mini minivan

While we know virtually nothing about this new Kia model, we can certainly speculate. The new baby Kia Carnival may not make it over to the North American market. Still, it’s something that will attract some attention regardless.

Whether it will turn out to be a minivan, MPV, or compact SUV is still anyone’s guess. But it’s small enough to quirky and large enough to be useful. We will definitely follow the story on this one because we are dying to know just how, exactly, this new compact SUV sized Kia Carnival turns out.

RELATED: Minivans and MPVs: What’s the Difference?

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