SUVs with Fold Flat Seats

What Are Flat Fold Seats?

An SUV is often judged by practical criteria, such as whether there are any fold-flat seats and how easy they are to use. Some drivers, especially those with bigger families, need the ability to fold down the back seats into the floor for greater storage. Some vehicles even allow folding the front passenger seat nearly flat to create more cargo space. Let’s go over some modern SUVs with fold-flat seats. We’ll first explain what to expect and why to look for this feature before diving into the key differences for each SUV.

Why Get SUVs With Fold-Flat Seats?

Image via Flickr by AlBargain

Perhaps you want an SUV with plenty of loading room, but you know you’ll also need to fill every seat at other times. Being able to fold extra seats out of the way any time means you don’t miss out on either situation. You could also keep just one or two rear seats down to make room for one more item if the vehicle allows split-folding.

Whether you get to fold down just the third row, the second and third, or everything but the driver seat depends on the vehicle you pick. Many SUVs that fall under this category include power-folding seats. This means the process is electronically controlled either from a switch in the cabin or a connected device. It’s also worth checking for similar loading features, such as power sliding seats or a power liftgate. Take a look at some examples of SUVs with fold-flat seats.

What SUVs Have Seats That Fold Into The Floor?

Buick Encore

The two-row Encore is one of Buick’s more compact SUVs. It could be the perfect balance of premium detailing, exciting performance, and convenient loading for many drivers. You’ll have 18.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row if all the seats are upright. That’s plenty for sets of golf clubs or a vacationing family’s luggage. It also benefits from premium LED lighting, standard, along with an available power moonroof.

Fold down the second seat row to increase storage space to 48.4 cubic feet, allowing you to transport a bicycle, music equipment, materials for your next DIY project, and more. You may even fold just one of the 60/40 split-fold second-row seats if you still need the others for passengers. Even the front passenger seat folds down, accommodating objects up to 8-feet long.

BMW X7

One of the biggest full-size SUVs on the market, the X7 is not cheap. The second and third-row fold-down seats may be activated with a single button, expanding the available cargo area. If you press it again, all of the seats will rise back up. While the X7 does have power sliding seats for getting in and out of the third row more easily, there have been complaints about low sliding speed.

The premium SUV’s total interior storage volume is up to 90.4 cubic feet, with all seats down, expanding from a somewhat underwhelming rear cargo area of 12.8 feet. There’s plenty of rarely-seen comfort and tech features, and a lot of the space lost in the rear goes to the passenger volume. That said, it is a luxury-priced vehicle and a bit large compared to the average family’s needs.

Chevy Suburban

Few SUVs can match the Suburban when it comes to loading capacity. This full-size SUV boasts fold-flat second and third-row seats, providing more room for sports equipment, groceries, and just about anything else. The 2022 Suburban features 41.1 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats up. When the second and third rows are folded down, that area expands to 144.7 cubic feet. While the roominess is great, the seats in base models could be better, and some drivers don’t need quite so much bulk.

GMC Terrain

Vehicles with fold-flat seats in the second and third rows are common, but with the GMC Terrain, the passenger seat in the front row also folds flat. This allows drivers to transport extra-long objects such as stacks of construction material in this relatively compact SUV. Even just the rear zone by itself has a substantial 29.6 cubic feet, which can expand to potentially 63.3 cubic feet. The GMC Terrain has many trim levels, including a programmable one-touch power liftgate. It also includes Smart Slide second-row seats to pack the whole crew in seconds.

Ford Explorer

The Explorer offers 18.2 cubic feet of capacity with all seats up. With the fold-flat seats down, the volume expands to 87.8 cubic feet. Second-row and third-row seats that fold flat at the stroke of a cargo-area button are available as an option. However, the interior design leaves little room in the third row, and the upgrades required to get the seat-folding button could price it out of your budget.

Buick Envision

A slightly bigger five-seater than the Encore, the compact Buick Envision’s cabin is equal parts premium and practical. The rear 60/40-split seats support a variety of cargo and passenger arrangements. An available hands-free programmable power liftgate with LED logo projection helps make loading and unloading a breeze. The Envision’s 25.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity is ideal for bulky luggage. With the second-row seats folded down, the Envision has a maximum cargo capacity of 52.7 cubic feet.

The Envision also benefits from the latest infotainment features, such as Amazon Alexa voice commands on top of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Buick’s vehicles are easy on the eyes, and the quiet, gentle ride style is perfect for long road trips. Some models also offer enhanced versions of expected active safety features, such as enhanced automatic emergency braking and automatic park assist.

Fold-flat seats may be available in most SUVs, but each vehicle has its advantages and design choices. We consider any Buick or GMC SUV well worth your time due to their attention to detail and luxury features. For their price point, you’re unlikely to find a better midsize SUV than the Buick Encore or Envision. We hope you now have a better understanding of fold-flat seats and what kinds of SUVs are out there. Contact or visit Cochran Buick-GMC to learn more about the latest Buick and GMC vehicles.