Front Bench Seats Still Exist
You might not find them in cars anymore, but bench seats are still around. You’ll have to take a look at full-size pickups to see them, though. Ford, GM, and Ram have those in their trucks, at least in entry-level or heavy-duty models. But can you find three-across seating outside of the world of pickups?
Apparently, you still can. While fiddling around Chevrolet’s configurator, we’re glad to see that the Tahoe and Suburban for the 2026 model year still have that option. After checking the competition, we can safely say that those two are the only ones in class to have room for three at the front.
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It’s Not Exactly a Bench, Though
The classic definition of a bench seat has a one-piece seat base, and sometimes, a one-piece backrest too. Later on, a split was added to make the driver’s side independent from the other two seats. But in the case of the current Tahoe and Suburban, it’s more like three individual seats side-by-side with each other.
It’s actually the same as the ones used in the Silverado and GMC Sierra. It employs a 40:20:40 design, and the center seat has its own base. Still, you can seat three people at the front of a Tahoe or Suburban, bringing the total occupant capacity to 9. That’s something the last two generations didn’t have.
Adding the front seat actually saves you $250. When not in use, the backrest can be used as a center console with cupholders and a storage bin. Mind you, it’s only available in the entry-level LS trims for both, and it’s a challenge to find one in stock. We tried looking around online for one, but came up empty. We’re genuinely curious about the uptake, though.
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Other SUVs With Three-Across Front Seating
If the Tahoe and Suburban are too big, there’s the Land Rover Defender, which actually comes standard. That means you can fit eight people in it with a 3-3-2 arrangement in the stretched-out 130 version.
Another noteworthy mention is the Hyundai Palisade, which offers a 9-seater option. Hyundai made it possible for owners to drive their Palisades in bus lanes in Korea. It’s not available in the US, though, and it’s unknown if it will even be offered stateside.
While uncommon in America, the bench seat is still alive and well in most parts of the world. European utility vans still have them, as do some pickups in Asia. It still has its purpose, but mostly for commercial use.
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About the author
Anton Andres
News Editor