SUVs are one of the most popular classes of vehicles, not just in the United States, but throughout the entire world.
They are known for their gorgeous exterior, stacked interior, maneuverability, and light off-roading capabilities.
This class of vehicles is perfect for nuclear families, as they can seat multiple people depending on the type. Since they are often intended for families and groups of people, one major thing to look out for is roominess.
For tall and big guys that take quite some space, hip room is a very important factor, as it determines how comfortable they’d be.
In this article, we have curated a list of models under the different SUV categories with extra hip room for big guys. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Table of Contents
Sub-Compact SUVs
Subcompact SUVs are the smallest SUVs in the market. They are known for being compact and somewhat huge at the same time, and they also possess much-needed maneuverability.
Below are a few subcompact SUVs with extra hip room for big guys:
1. Honda HR-V
The Honda HR-V is Honda’s offering for the popular subcompact SUV segment. It debuted in 1998 and after a 7-year-long hiatus, returned in 2023 and has grown in sales and critical acclaim.
Now in its third generation, the Honda HR-V still ranks among the best subcompact SUVs on the market. Some of its best features include a nimble ride, a simple infotainment system, and a slew of standard features.
The Honda HR-V is one of the roomiest SUVs in its class. It has a hip room of 54.0 inches at the front and 47.4 inches at the back. It also has a leg room of 41.9 inches at the front and 37.7 inches at the rear.
The entire passenger volume measures up to 98.7 cubic feet. It does well enough in terms of hip room and passenger room in general for a subcompact SUV.
2. Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a subcompact crossover SUV named after one of Chevrolet’s defunct SUVs. It debuted in 2020 and has since taken the segment by storm with sales of over 120,000 units so far.
It is also considered one of the very best subcompact SUVs on the market. All thanks to features like its great fuel efficiency, spacious cargo, and sizable seating arrangement.
Speaking of sitting arrangements, the Chevrolet Trailblazer has a hip room of 52.3 inches at the front and 45.7 inches at the back. Legroom is 40.9 inches at the front and 45.7 inches at the rear. Meanwhile, the shoulder room is 55.4 inches at the front and 53.8 inches at the rear.
If these numbers are anything to go by, we can say confidently that the Chevrolet Trailblazer deserves a place on this list. It is a great car for big guys who fancy a subcompact SUV or will be frequent occupants of one.
3. Kia Soul
The Kia Soul debuted in 2008 as a subcompact crossover SUV. It is currently in its third generation and boasts sales amounting to more than a million units over the last decade.
It is often touted as one of the best subcompact crossover SUVs on the market by critics and consumers alike. Some of its top features include its balanced handling, myriads of top standard features, and a roomy interior.
We believe the Kia Soul is one of the best subcompact SUVs in terms of roominess and it’s perfect for big guys. At the front, the leg room is 41.1 inches and the shoulder room is 55.5 inches. The rear leg room is 38.8 inches and the rear shoulder room is 54.7 inches.
While there are no official specifications detailing the hip room, we can say based on previous models that the Kia Soul also gets enough hip room. The Kia Soul isn’t the roomiest vehicle on the planet but it does well enough for a subcompact SUV.
If you’re very tall, check out our article compact SUVs with the most headroom for taller people.
Compact SUVs
Compact SUVs are a tier above subcompact SUVs and they are also known as compact crossover SUVs. Below are compact SUVs with the most hip room for big guys:
4. Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a compact crossover SUV that hit the market in 1995. Now in its sixth generation, it is one of the most commercially successful vehicles of any class in the U.S. with millions of units sold so far.
To add to that, many pundits consider it one of the best compact SUVs on the market. Its best features include its sizable cargo hold, great fuel economy, and spacious/comfortable interior.
The CR-V has two rows, seats up to five people and the cabin experience is a generally comfortable one. The hip room at the front is 55.6 inches and at the rear, it is 52.6 inches, which is pretty massive for a compact SUV.
The leg room is 41.3 inches at the front and 41 inches at the rear while the shoulder room is 55.9 inches at the rear and 57.9 inches at the front.
The seats are also pretty wide and comfortable. All in all, the Honda CR-V is a great compact SUV for big, buff guys.
5. Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV that has been in production since 1997.
It is now in its fifth generation and boasts sales of millions of units over the last decade. It has also received multiple awards, accolades, and excellent ratings from industry critics.
Some of the Forester’s top features include its standard AWD, well-mannered ride, dope fuel economy, and spacious cabin. It is a two-row SUV with wide seats for five people and a magnanimous amount of passenger room.
Hip room is 54.1 inches at the front and 53.6 inches at the rear which is pretty good for a compact SUV. It also has a front shoulder room of 58.1 inches and a rear shoulder room of 57.2 inches.
You’d be hard-pressed to find many compact SUVs that offer a better hip room and overall passenger room than the Subaru Forester. And that’s exactly why it has made its way onto our list.
The Forester is one of the compact SUVs with the most passenger room, making it ideal for large families.
Mid-Size SUVs
Mid-Size SUVs are the second largest SUV category and they are right above compact SUVs. Below are a couple of mid-size SUVs with enough hip room for big guys:
6. Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is a three-row mid-size crossover SUV that has been in production since 2018. It got off to a great start with over 200,000 units sold so far and multiple accolades from different publications.
Some of the Ascent’s most acclaimed features include its standard AWD, great cargo capacity, and excellent seating arrangement. The vehicle has three rows with wide seats that can comfortably seat eight adults.
It also has bench seats in the second row which further improves the car’s roominess. It has a front hip room of 57.8 inches and a rear hip room of 57.5 inches which provides enough space and comfort for big guys.
You also get 60.3 inches of rear shoulder room and 61.1 inches of front shoulder room. Without a doubt, the Subaru Ascent fits the billing when it comes to mid-size SUVs with enough space for big guys.
7. Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride is a mid-size crossover SUV that debuted in 2019 as part of Kia’s growing lineup. In 2020, it was named the Motor Trend’s SUV of the year and has managed to sell over 200,000 units in the last three years.
Some of the Telluride’s most acclaimed features include balanced ride/handling, a long list of standard features, and a spacious/ritzy cabin. The cabin is arranged in three rows with eight wide seats and a tradable bench seat on the second row.
The hip room is 58.9 inches at the front and 58.0 inches at the rear while the shoulder room is 61.6 inches at the front and 59.9 inches at the rear. These are class-leading dimensions, making the Telluride a more-than-decent SUV for big guys that typically need a chunk of hip room.
With its ample cabin dimensions, the Telluride qualifies as one of the SUVs with the most rear legroom.
Full-size SUVs
Full-size SUVs are the largest SUVs on the market and they are usually known for their huge cargo hold and great off-roading packages. Below are full-size SUVs with enough hip room for big guys:
8. Chevrolet Tahoe
The Chevrolet Tahoe is one of Chevrolet’s most popular full-size SUVs. It debuted in 1994 and reached its latest fifth generation in 2021. The Chevrolet Tahoe boasts millions of total units sold and retains a reputation as one of the best full-size SUVs on the market.
Its top features include its roomy cargo, excellent fuel economy, and spacious cabin. The Tahoe seats between seven and nine people depending on the configuration. Models with a second-row bench seat can accommodate eight people.
Most of its passenger room is pronounced in the first two rows although the third row doesn’t do badly in that department. Hip Room at the front measures 61.5 inches and the rear hip room measures 61.3 inches.
It also boasts a shoulder room of 64.8 inches at the rear and 66.0 inches at the front to go along with it. The Tahoe offers better dimensions than most cars and works perfectly for big guys that require extra hip room.
9. Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban is arguably the most iconic Chevrolet model of all time. It debuted in the 1930s and remains one of the very best full-size SUVs to this day.
It has several accolades to his name and has sold several millions of units.
Some of its best features include its powerful engine options, balanced rice and massive seating space/cargo. Speaking of its seating space, the Suburban seats has three rows with eight seats. A nine-seat system is also available.
The Chevrolet Suburban has ample passenger room, especially in the front and second rows. Hip Room is 61.5 inches at the front and 61.3 inches in the rear while shoulder room is 66.0 inches at the front and 64.8 at the back.
This vehicle is fitting for big guys who need extra hip room to feel comfortable and that right there, is why it closes out our list.