Do not judge only by whether everything fits once
On a multi-day Xinjiang trip, the real issue is not the first loading test but the repeated hotel loading and unloading every day. If each stop requires reshuffling large cases, cabin bags and loose boxes, departures become slower and the whole group feels the friction.
A folded third row buys efficiency and order, not just raw capacity
Once the third row is flat, luggage can be layered by weight, frequency and access order. A cooler box can also keep a stable position instead of being shifted around near passengers' feet. For four travellers, that daily order often matters more than the theoretical ability to seat more people.
When is it reasonable to keep the third row available?
If the group changes hotels infrequently, uses mostly soft bags, or truly expects to need extra seating during the route, keeping the third row upright can be worthwhile. The decision is really about which need appears more often: seating flexibility or loading efficiency.
The layout still needs high-frequency and low-frequency layers
Folding the third row is not enough by itself. The steadier method is to place high-frequency items near the outside, large evening-use luggage deeper inside, and the cooler box or weather gear in a clearly assigned corner. That prevents full unpacking at every stop.