Here's $45,000. Which three-row family SUV would you buy?

The three-row family SUVs that typically get highlighted are special off-road versions, or the top-of-the-line Platinum Elite Limited versions with quilted leather and heated everything that few people actually buy. Or can afford to buy. Today, we're here to look at the volume-selling portion, or those in the middle of each three-row SUV's trim lineup. True, $45,000 is still a big chunk of change, but it's also 2023 and that's the way it is. We certainly could've gone lower, but we figured $45,000 was a nice round number and it gave us a bit more variety of choice.

Now, if you want to know what we think are the best three-row SUVs, check out our list here. That would be an objective take on the segment where we take into consideration the average buyer. This list is literally what our individual editors would get for whatever reason. That should become quickly obvious.

As always with this little weekly game, there are rules. For this week, they are:

1. It must be new.

2. You must spend within $1,000 of the MSRP. You can't use $40,000 on the SUV and spend the rest on Uppa Baby gear.

3. EV tax rebates cannot be applied to lower the cost.

Jeep Grand Cherokee L Laredo

Senior Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: I thought long and hard about this one. I happen to own an SUV with three rows of seats, and while my Suburban is old, thirsty and very trucky, the reasons I chose it are otherwise solely due to utility. So if I were shopping for a new three-row 'ute to replace it, I'd have to choose something that can tow and has a real four-wheel-drive system with low range. Yes, I know a crossover like the Hyundai Palisade would be more comfortable for long trips than a traditional SUV, but that's less important to me than sheer capability. Turns out you can just barely squeak under our $45,000 price cap with a Jeep Grand Cherokee L Laredo 4x4.

There's just enough imaginary budget left to add the Luxury Tech Group, outfitting the Laredo with heated seats and steering wheel, a power liftgate, remote start and a bunch of interior charging ports. Jeep's Uconnect 5 is a solid piece of software, and it works well enough on the Grand Cherokee L's base 8.4-inch screen. But most importantly for a proper sport utility vehicle, the rear-drive-based chassis and 293-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine with the desirable eight-speed automatic gearbox can tow 6,200 pounds, and do so with greater ease than its more car-like rivals. The Trailer Tow Group improves powertrain cooling and adds load-leveling suspension. This SUV also boasts Jeep's class-leading four-wheel-drive tech, complete with a traditional two-speed transfer case. It'll get the job done even when the going gets tough.

Kia Telluride EX X-Line

Senior Editor John Beltz Snyder: We've got a Hyundai Palisade in the Snyder household, so that's what I'd likely have picked if I could find a suitable configuration within $1,000 of our target. I looked at the Kia Telluride configurator, though, and saw the EX X-Line right in that wheelhouse, with a respectable feature set. All-wheel drive is part of the X-Line package, along with the increased ground clearance. It also has heated and ventilated leather-trimmed seats, a sunroof, wireless phone charger and Highway Driving Assist. Picking one of the fancier colors (I love the Midnight Blue) would have pushed me past our price target, so I went with the also excellent Dark Moss. I also really dig those wheels. In all, not a bad replacement for the Palisade. Looks cooler, too.

Honda Pilot EX-L

Managing Editor Greg Rasa: It’s rare that you can say a three-row family SUV is handsome. Most of them are anonymous boxes. The list of really attractive choices is short. In the luxury segment, it’s Volvo XC90. In non-luxury, there’s the Mazda CX-90 and now, thanks to its redesign for 2023, the Honda Pilot. And, well, that’s about it. The Pilot used to among the ubiquitous many — one of the boringest, really — but it’s got some chiseled good looks going for it now. It at least looks rugged, even if you never take it off pavement, which you won't. The interior’s much improved, too.

The 2023 Honda Pilot starts at $36,300 before destination in base LX trim. Our budget won’t quite let us buy into the rugged new TrailSport trim, but we can take two steps up from base to EX-L trim, starting at $42,300. For that, you get leather seating, Apple CarPlay, power tailgate, parking sensors, and more. Add AWD for $2,100, towing package for $750 and second-row captain’s chairs for $300, and you’re at $45,450. Done.