Camping, hiking, biking, Overlanding, and road trips are just a few reasons you might need to sleep in your SUV. It could be a one-night stay if you need to get up early to begin a daunting day hike, or it could be weeks on the road if you are Overlanding on a budget.

Sleeping in your SUV can be beneficial for a variety of reasons. Hotel costs are usually the first thing that comes to mind. Why spend $200+ on a brief night when you don’t intend to use all of the amenities you’re paying for?

Sleeping in your car can sometimes get you a good spot. If you need to start a trail early, sleeping at the trailhead and getting a couple hours more sleep may be better to paying for a hotel and then wasting time commuting to the trailhead.

This article will go over some of the best SUVs for sleeping. Obviously, bigger is better, but most of the time, that big SUV will cost you a lot of money, so I will cover everything from the largest to the smallest to give you some perspective.

Qualities of a Good SUV for Sleeping

The SUV’s flat length ensures comfort during sleep, particularly for taller people. Most of the vehicles’ widths should not be an issue, as they normally range from 36 inches between the wheel wells to around 48 inches.

The humps created when the seats are folded down are also taken into account in these reviews. Most small SUVs have these humps because the seats cannot fold flat. The larger SUVs can fold flat, so you won’t notice the shifts from the third to second seating row, even with a small sleeping pad.

4 Small-Size SUVs To Sleep In

Ford Escape

The Ford Escape has one of the smaller sleeping areas. When the rear seats are folded down, it provides approximately 5 feet of total support. However, there is a 7-inch gap between the front row of seats and the folded seat, so if you can find something to bridge that gap, it will be more comfortable.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in this SUV for long trips, but you can manage if the trip is short.

Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade is a compact SUV. If you are over 6 feet tall and trying to sleep in this vehicle, be prepared to curl up and get cozy. The total length from the back door to the front seats is approximately 66 to 68 inches, depending on how far the front seats are pushed up.

Subaru Forester

The Forester is well-known for its excellent all-wheel drive and high ground clearance. It is a popular vehicle for people going on camping trips or exploring the wild. It’s also a good place to sleep if things get rough outside.

The cargo area is approximately 60 inches long from the door to the folded-down seat. Moving the front seats forward gives you 79 inches or approximately 6.5 feet. As with most vehicles on this list, you’ll need something to fit between the second and third rows of seats to support your head.

Honda CRV

The Honda CRV appears to be a small-size SUV, but when the middle seats are folded down, it has a length of 70 inches. The newer CRV models fold flat and with ease.

It is a decent option if you intend to be on the road for an extended period of time.

4 Mid-Size SUVs to Sleep In

Ford Bronco

It is the newest 4×4 in the off-roading industry and has 6.5 feet of space between the trunk and the backs of the front seats, making it a great option for sleeping.

Even better, if the temperature and weather conditions are favorable, the sleeping space length can be extended to 8 feet when the tailgate is opened to lay flat.

With an estimated width of 3.5 inches, it is a decent option even for two people.

Honda Passport

The Passport is on the small side when the seats are folded down. The vehicle’s total length from the back door to the rear of the front seat is approximately 68 inches. This equates to 5.6 feet, which is insufficient for a taller person.

 Don’t forget the space between the front seat and the seat headrest. Using an inflatable mattress is the best option to take advantage of the entire length.

Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is slightly larger than the Honda Passport, which translates into more cargo space for sleeping. When the two rows of seats are folded down, the total length is around 84 inches or 7 feet. That distance is determined by how far the front row seats are extended to the front.

Grand Cherokee Trailhawk

The Trailhawk, with a ground clearance of up to 10.8 inches, is an excellent choice for off-roading and camping in remote locations. 

When the rear seats are folded down, the Trailhawk has a total length of 68 inches or 5.6 feet. It’s probably not ideal for people over 6 feet tall, but it could be an acceptable option if you don’t mind squeezing in for a couple of nights.

4 Full- Size SUVs to Sleep in 

Ford Expedition

The dimensions of the Ford Expedition are comparable to those of the Chevy Tahoe. The distance between the back door and the first row of seats is 82.5 inches.

Similar to the Tahoe, the seating arrangement is limited for older versions, and both seats fold down for newer versions.

GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon is ideal for sleeping in the back because of the space available after folding down the seats. The Yukon XL is even more impressive. This is due to the XL being 20.5 inches longer than the standard Yukon.

When the seats are folded down, the XL has a total length of around 100 inches, which is about 8.3 feet!

Toyota Sequoia

When both rows of seats are folded down, the Toyota Sequoia provides an estimated 91 inches of length for sleeping. 91 inches equals about 7.5 feet in length. This is sufficient for even the tallest of drivers.

Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevy  Tahoe has a length of approximately 81.4 inches from the front row seats to the rear of the vehicle. That is approximately 6.78 feet! This is enough for even the giants of the camping and 4WD worlds.

Conclusion

Let’s wrap this up and get to our favorite SUVs for sleeping! Remember that the 12 SUVs listed above are excellent choices; it all comes down to your budget and what you can afford.

The best small-size SUV to sleep in would be the Forester, with 79 inches of space after pushing the chair forward.

The new Ford Bronco is the best mid-size SUV for sleeping. Its ability to fold down the tailgate and achieve an overall length of 8 feet is a game changer.

The GMC Yukon is the best Full-Size SUV for sleeping. It has 100 inches or 8.3 feet of space to stretch out, store your gear/luggage, and have more space to make your night more enjoyable!