Dear Drive… Should I buy a large SUV or a people mover?

Pricing starts at $72,000 drive-away for the Elite trim level, in either seven- or eight-seat configuration, or around $83,300 drive-away for the range-topping Highlander trim, again with either seven or eight seats. That’s for front-drive V6 petrol-powered variants. Opting for the available diesel engine and all-wheel drive will add around $4500 to the price.

Here, the Palisade measures in at 311L with all three rows of seats on use, expanding to a maximum of 1297L with the third row folded away. Bearing in mind that with six people on board, row three will be in use, that’s starting to look slim, even if you can stack seats seven and/or eight with luggage and bags.

The third row in many large SUVs is a packaging compromise, with a lack of toe-, knee- and legroom the biggest compromise, genuine comfort taking a back seat, so to speak, in the back seats. And forget week-long road trips with the whole family – and their luggage – along for the ride. There’s not enough space.