What are the best new SUVs for growing families?

2016 Honda Pilot in Elite trim (Honda North America)

If you're in the market for a crossover or SUV that offers enough space for all the family the choice on offer from everyone from Ford and GM to Kia and Toyota has never been greater. But even with attractive prices and low running costs (until prices at the pump start to rise), how can you be sure that the SUV you're considering really can do everything that a minivan can?

"Families still love their SUVs, and three-row SUVs are among the most popular rides for shoppers," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor-in-chief. "They offer a ton of cool features, lots of useable space and cargo room, and come with plenty of ways to pamper the kids."

Indeed the growing popularity of the SUV across all sizes and market segments means that the traditional minivan, once the most sought-after car in the U.S. is starting to struggle. But can the latest SUVs really replace a Chrysler Town & Country?

The 2016 cars.com "Three-Row SUV Challenge" set out to answer this question and with help from US TV show "MotorWeek" took a selection of the latest affordable SUVs on the market that offer seating for between six and eight.

The test vehicles were selected based on price tag and their EPA combined cycle fuel economy figures. Only cars that cost less than US $45,000 and with a 19 mpg were considered.

So the Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover Autobiography didn't make the cut. But the Honda Pilot, Kia Sorento, Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan pathfinder, GMC Acadia and Mazda CX-9 did.

The cars were put through a series of real-world tests including a 170-mile drive to determine fuel economy and some genuine testing by real families in the market for a three-row SUV as well as automotive journalists.

After testing, the 2016 Honda Pilot was declared the best three-row SUV of 2016, with the 2017 GMC Acadia coming in second and the 2017 Kia Sorento taking third place.

"The Honda Pilot is a world-class SUV and the perfect alternative for minivan-averse families," said Olsen. "It offers minivan practicality in a SUV body. The Pilot is packed with smartly designed family features, incredible attention to detail and all kinds of storage room and space for people and cargo."

The 2016 Mazda CX-9 came in fourth and the top five was rounded out by the 2017 Dodge Durango. The Ford Explorer, considered the catalyst in the US for the SUV growth explosion, had to settle for sixth place.