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Top 15 Cars With Seats That Fold Into A Bed

ByMatsumoto Naoki-October 07, 2022

Although SUVs on the market today have significant carrying capacity, the cars with seats that fold into a bed can expand the space to accommodate the heaviest packages and create a relaxing place for passengers in the most comfortable way possible.

Typically, seats that fold into a bed, also known as a magic seat, are a unique feature of many Honda car models. However, there are also many other models with similar “reclining seats” around the world nowadays.

Foldable seats are an impressive seat design on models, allowing the front seats to recline 180 degrees combined with the second row to form comfortable legroom like a bed. This portable bed creates a space to rest, relax after a tiring driving time, or simply a convenient place to lie down at any time. For couples, the folding seats set easily creates a romantic and poetic space, especially on long trips, turning the car into an ideal dating spot.

Cars With Seats That Fold Into A Bed: Top 15 Models

With mentioned convenient features, any family or driving crew who want to enjoy both the journey and the sleep when tired may find this type of car very astonishing. So according to automobile experience, users who are passionate about SUVs and have a great need for cargo potential often fancy fully flat SUVs with folding seats (standard or optional). And with that said, here is the list of 15 super-wide folding SUV models that can make it more convenient for drivers to choose one that suits their transportation needs.

Honda Jazz

The Honda Jazz is the cheapest model on this list equipped with reclining seats. This is also the most compact model to own magic foldable seats, with enough interior space for 5 people. The car comes with a 7-inch touch screen, all buttons are touch-sensitive, combined with a push-button start. The steering wheel and gear lever are wrapped in black leather, with contrasting red stitching, for a sporty feel. On the steering wheel, the driver can manipulate many features through buttons, and gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel, adding to the fun of driving.

Honda Jazz does not have many highlights, so the Japanese automaker emphasizes a lot on the magic seat, considering this as an outstanding advantage of Jazz compared to rivals. Remove the headrest, and recline 180 degrees, the front seat will seamlessly connect with the back seat to form a neat and comfortable single bed.

Honda Jazz competes in the B-segment hatchback segment with Toyota Yaris, and Mazda2 hatchback and no competitor has as attractive seats as Jazz.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Not much to mention about the reclining chair set, Mitsubishi Outlander has more advantages to introduce to customers among the best cars with seats that fold into a bed. The car has a simple, spacious interior, and a control panel with few buttons thanks to the reduction of functions on the touch screen.

The car has a 7-seater design, the 3rd row is only suitable for young children or folds flat to the floor to increase luggage space. The second row of seats is quite wide compared to other models in the same segment. The best part of Outlander’s interior design is that the luggage compartment is completely flat, spacious, and quiet.

The front seats can recline 180 degrees when the headrests are removed, connecting to the rear seats to create a spacious enough space to lie down.

Mitsubishi Outlander (Photo: Car Blog)
With a larger size than the Honda Jazz, Outlander’s “bed” space is even more comfortable. (Photo: Mitsubishi Newsroom)

Honda HR-WORLD

As the senior Honda Jazz, Honda HR-V returned in 2018 and is the next model in the small SUV/crossover segment on the street. The interior space of the Honda HR-V is designed in a sporty direction. The details of the case are made of plastic, and the layout of the function buttons is simple and easy to operate. The most advanced version of the Honda HR-V L has leather seats and an 8-way electric driver’s seat.

Users can fold the front seats to connect with the rear seats to form a mini-bed. The rear seats are also relatively spacious, with plenty of ceilings and pillows to help people sit comfortably when traveling long distances. However, the middle seat position has a relatively hard back cushion and the sitting space is quite narrow.

Toyota Fortuner

Not only new models, Toyota Fortuner 2015 and earlier can also recline the seat similar to the Magic Seat style. With the maximum reclining operation of the front seats, removing the headrests, the front seats of the Fortuner combine with the rear seats to form an almost uniform block, a convenient resting space.

The current generation of Toyota Fortuner launched in 2016 with a completely changed design and no longer has the above functions. The interior space of Fortuner is also redesigned, covered in leather with most details from the seats, and the dashboard. The seat is also designed to hug the driver, the driver’s seat has an electric adjustment function.

Toyota Fortuner is one of the most popular SUV models in the world, the car is priced from $43,000 – $56,000, competing with rivals such as Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Everest, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Nissan Terra.

Kia Carens

The MPV Kia Carens model used to be a popular 7-seater car in Vietnam. However, Kia discontinued this model in 2016, replacing it with the Kia Rondo.

The interior of Kia Carens is designed quite simply, the details, as well as the interior layout, are geared towards user convenience rather than aesthetics. The 2nd row of seats is arranged with 3 independent seats, the 3rd row is only suitable for children because the rear ceiling is not high.

The interesting thing about Kia Carens is that it can form a bed inside the cabin, but different from the Magic Seat on other models. The second row of seats can recline 180 degrees and connect to the last row and create a spacious resting space. With this design, the first row of seats will be pushed closer to the front, and the mobile bed will be located at the back.

Possessing a neutral design, Carens is popular with consumers due to its fuel economy, low breakdown, and stable operation. The car is often available in 2 engine versions, 1.6L, and 2.0L. This model used to be the most formidable competitor of Toyota Innova, even though it is more attractive than its brother Rondo when both are sold by Kia in parallel.

2020 Kia Telluride

The back seat of the Kia Telluride is easy to pull up and down. Users only need to strongly pull the rear latch of the third row and the seat will lower.

Then press the standard one-touch button in the rear luggage compartment to lower the second row of seats. In just a few seconds, the luggage compartment capacity of the Telluride has increased from 595L to 2,463L when the rear seats are lowered.

2020 Kia Telluride (Photo: Nathan Leach-Proffer)
The back seat of the 2020 Kia Telluride is easy to pull up and down to form a comfortable bed. (Photo: Suntrup Kia South)

Subaru Outback 2020

Coming up next in the line-up of cars with seats that fold into a bed, Subaru’s beloved SUV Outback is designed for challenging journeys of discovery. Pull-down rear seats are part of that design.

Levels of luggage compartment capacity are quickly opened up after folding the second row of seats down, expanding the luggage compartment capacity from 920L to 2,143L. For the new generation, Subaru has put a lot of effort into expanding the rear space so that users can store more items.

BMW X7

This seven-seat SUV from BMW is full of handy features, including the ability to fold down the rear seats. With the push of a button, users can maximize the luggage compartment capacity by activating the function of folding the second and third-row seats down with a single touch of a button.

When you want to pull up the chair, the driver needs to press the button one more time and all the chairs will automatically rise. Drivers also need to know that lowering the BMW X7‘s second row of seats also takes a short time, and this row of seats cannot be down.

However, the luggage compartment capacity increased to 2,559L is enough for users to store a lot of things and relax comfortably in this luxury SUV.

Mazda CX-5

This CX-5 is popular for its curvaceous appearance and enjoyable ride. The feature of folding the rear seats down also makes the CX-5 a lot more convenient with the second row of folded seats in a ratio of 40:20:40.

It has the independently foldable left, right, or center seats, or the whole row. Thanks to that, the luggage compartment capacity of the CX-5 car increased from 874L to 1687L.

Honda CR-V

According to auto sales experience, Honda CR-V is a pioneer in the midsize SUV segment and is getting more and more improved than before.

Pull-down rear seats open up a large luggage compartment up to 2,146L. On the upcoming Honda CR-V Hybrid 2020 model, the luggage compartment capacity has not changed even though there is an additional battery block to operate the electric motor.

Chevrolet Suburban

When it comes to SUVs with spacious luggage compartments, there are not many models that can beat the Chevrolet Suburban. The Suburban can fold the second and third rows of seats, creating a spacious area to store tools.

When all rows of seats are at the standard, the new generation Chevrolet Suburban has 1,163L of luggage space. When pulling down both the second and third rows, it opens up a luggage compartment up to 4,097L, 651L wider than its predecessor and comparable to the space of small apartments in big cities.

Toyota Sequoia

Toyota Sequoia is one of the most requested cars with seats that fold into a bed that has a spacious luggage compartment. The foldable second and third rows of seats create a luggage space of 3,597L, larger than that of a Dodge Durango, Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, or Chevrolet Tahoe. This luggage compartment is large enough for users to comfortably store their belongings and luggage.

Toyota Sequoia (Photo: Car Direct USA)
Toyota says the Sequoia can hold items up to 3.3 meters long. (Photo: Auto Trader)

Ford Explorer

For this latest generation Explorer, Ford has upgraded the seats to folding chairs. The model has an option where the second and third rows of seats can be fully folded down with the push of a button in the luggage compartment, a feature typically found only on more expensive premium SUVs.

When all seats are up, the Ford Explorer has 515L of luggage space and when you fold down the rear two rows of seats, the capacity increases to 2,486L.

GMC Terrain

SUVs with folding second and third-row seats are no longer a strange thing, but this GMC Terrain has a feature that the passenger seat next to the driver’s seat can also be folded down.

This gives drivers more room to store longer items in this midsize SUV even though it would be difficult to carry an extra companion. However, thanks to that, the luggage compartment capacity has increased to 1,792L thanks to the folded-down rear seats.

Jeep Renegade

Jeep’s small but sturdy Renegade is among the smallest SUVs on the market, but it still has a rear seat that can be fully folded down. When the seat is up, the luggage compartment capacity is only 523L. But when the seat is down, the capacity increases to 1,438L, creating more storage and sleeping space.

Wrapping Up On Cars With Seats That Fold Into A Bed

When commuting in a car, it is vital to consider which type of vehicle will have the most space for cargo or sleeping. So SUVs and minivans with car seats that can fold are always the best options.

Many cars have the advantage of folding down the rear seats. But this doesn’t always guarantee that the seats will be comfortable to sleep in and relax. So here are just some cars with seats that fold into a bed that are likely to make the best possible portable sleeping area because of their availability of space and the seats’ ability to fold down flat from both sides.

Good luck when choosing one best-suited model for your driving and tripping needs. See you again with more Car review on Car From Japan.

Matsumoto Naoki is senior car blogger at Car From Japan. Having background in mechanical engineering, he has a unique perspective on a lot of new car innovations. Prior to Car From Japan, Matsumoto was Mechanical Design Engineer at Yajima Plant, Subaru Corporation. His articles provide detailed DIY instructions and how-tos to help you get your new car on the road. If you want to save money and feel more confident when working on your cars, you should not ignore Matsumoto’s sharing posts. He presents driving tips and tricks for everyone through easy-following steps and mechanically but friendly writing.

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