Need an SUV that seats like a small school bus? While there aren't many 2012 cars that seat 9 passengers, General Motors has a few new cars for sale that may meet your extra seating needs. That is if you're willing to sit elbow to elbow of course, that extra belt space comes at a cost after all. For everyone with big families or big carpools consider one of the SUVs below. Be warned though, they cars aren't cheap.
2012 SUVs that Seat Nine
Chevrolet Tahoe LS $38,755 Starting MSRP
Chevrolet Suburban LS $42,220 Starting MSRP
GMC Yukon 1500 SLE $40,085 Starting MSRP
GMC Yukon XL 1500 SLE $43,555 Starting MSRP
While traditionally these are cars that seat 8 passengers, for extra $250 bucks you can swap out those driver and passenger bucket seat and drop that center armrest with storage space for a bench seat to expand your vehicle to seat nine. Now that may put you shoulder to shoulder with three full-sized adults but it's the biggest 2012 SUV seating space available as well.
The breakdown is like this. The addition of a 40/20/40 bench seat in front gives you belt space for three up front, a middle bench that seats three, and a very tight seating for three in the back third row seats. These are the best SUV 2012 has to offer especially the Yukon XL and Suburban models which stretch things even further by combining massive seating with big trunk space.
Not the Cheapest New Cars for Sale
All this space sounds amazing, but they aren't even close to being in the SUV under 30000 range. All but the Tahoe will cost you over $40,000 but at least the difference in cost between the 2012 cars that seat 8 passengers and the new cars that seat 9 passengers is a manageable $250 option upgrade. And of course the nine seat option on all models is among the cheapest options these new cars for sale offer. Still prepare to pony up or start looking at those cheaper full size passenger vans if you need all that seat room.