Best 7-seater cars to buy 2024 (original) (raw)
We pick the best seven-seater cars across a wide range of price points
2 Oct 2024
Seven-seater cars are as popular as ever with large families, and there’s a wider variety than ever to choose from with both SUVs and MPVs up for grabs. Here our experts have rounded up the top 10 best seven-seater cars to buy in the UK, based on our thorough real-world testing, so if you’re in the market to carry a couple of extra passengers, look no further.
Top 10 best 7-seater cars to buy now
Scroll down for the 10 best 7-seaters on today's car market...
1. Dacia Jogger
- Prices from £18,300
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable price Interior space Holds its value well | Hybrid has an inconsistent feeling brake pedal Hybrid model has limited towing ability One-star Euro NCAP safety rating |
We think the Dacia Jogger is a phenomenal family car. As with the rest of the budget brand's line-up, the main headline here is the bargain price tag: well under £19,000 for the entry-level model. Even if you stretch to the hybrid powertrain with range-topping Extreme trim, it’s still under £25,000, undercutting most family hatchbacks.
Along with the Jogger’s chunky exterior styling, the interior feels sturdy and up to anything you or your family can throw at it. It’s well equipped too, with an eight-inch touchscreen that’s easy to use, a rear-view camera and a leather steering wheel on some versions. Even with all seven seats in place, you’ll still have 220 litres of cargo space at your disposal.
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
- Prices from £46,800
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Bold design Spacious, classy interior Surprisingly easy to drive in town | The full-hybrid system is slow to respond Unsettled ride on UK roads Fiddly to deactivate safety systems |
Much like the mid-sized Tucson, the latest Hyundai Santa Fe has taken a huge leap in terms of design, from generic to distinctive. This large SUV has some serious road presence thanks to its unique blocky look and sheer size, but we found it surprisingly easy to manoeuvre around the UK’s smaller urban streets.
The key upside of such a large car is the huge amount of cabin space on offer for both passengers and their luggage. In fact, if you don’t need to use all of the seats, the Santa Fe offers up to 1,949 litres of cargo capacity. Opt for the plug-in hybrid variant and you’ll even be able to drive up to 38 miles on pure electric power.
3. Skoda Kodiaq
- Prices from £37,500
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Well-equipped Good ergonomics Massive boot | Not fun to drive Sluggish engines Floaty ride |
With solid build quality, a comfortable ride and excellent practicality, the Skoda Kodiaq is among the very best SUVs, and it’s available as a seven-seater. In typical Skoda fashion, the Kodiaq is refreshingly straightforward in terms of design, with plenty of focus on ergonomics, although it’s not the most exciting car to drive.
If you’re not too fussed about the fun factor, though, the Kodiaq is comfortable on the move, and you also get the choice of petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power. During our test of the Kodiaq iV PHEV, we achieved a real-world purely electric range of 55 miles (just short of the official 62-mile figure), and this should certainly help to keep running costs at bay.
4. Peugeot 5008
- Prices from £37,400
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stunning, driver-focused cockpit Comfortable and refined Choice of hybrid and electric power | Slightly fidgety ride Occasionally laggy infotainment i-Cockpit still won’t suit everyone |
Whether you choose the hybrid-powered Peugeot 5008 or fully-electric Peugeot E-5008, this seven-seater SUV is a seriously stylish machine both inside and out. It’s not only striking in a visual sense, either, as the 5008 offers an appealing combination of technology, space and quality, too.
Provided that you can get along with Peugeot’s unusual i-Cockpit setup, the 5008’s cabin is a very pleasant and driver-focused place to sit. The twin screens look great and the tech is pretty easy to navigate (even if it is a little sluggish for our liking). Every version of Peugeot’s large SUV is pretty frugal, too, with even the mild-hybrid achieving over 50mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. The E-5008, meanwhile, has a class-leading claimed battery range of 415 miles.
5. Kia EV9
- Prices from £65,000
- Best for company car drivers
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lots of space for seven people Rapid charging speed Excellent ride | Efficiency could be better Captain’s chairs are a bit of a gimmick High insurance prices on 4x4 models |
You might think a big, heavy SUV with a rather blocky design would not work all that well as an electric car, but the Kia EV9 claims up to 349 miles of range on a single charge. It comes with a rather substantial 99.8kWh battery, and in single or dual-motor form. The single-motor model should be plenty, even though it’s only available in entry-level Air trim.
The EV9 Air isn’t stingy when it comes to kit, though, as it still gets Kia’s Level 2 driving assistance, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, an electric boot lid, a triple-screen layout including a pair of 12.3-inch screens, plus a wireless smartphone charger and 19-inch alloys. Thankfully, Kia hasn’t tried to make the EV9 sporty, focusing instead on ride quality, which means you can happily eat up the car’s impressive range in comfort.
6. Citroen Berlingo
- Prices from £32,000
- Best value for money
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comfortable Van-like practicality Pure-electric e-Berlingo | Van-like looks Wind noise Clunky manual gearbox |
The Citroen Berlingo might, in effect, be a van converted into an MPV, but the brand has been performing this trick for a while, and this seven-seater really appeals as a result. Opt for the fully-electric e-Berlingo and there’s really no better option that can offer pure-electric motoring and seven seats at the same price point.
The e-Berlingo drives as well the petrol version, but here you’ll have the bonus of a near-silent powertrain and instant torque. You’ll find the ride pretty smooth and, as with most van-based cars, the visibility is tremendous, thanks to big windows. For maximum space, the XL variant offers a humongous 1,050 litres of boot space.
7. Kia Sorento
- Prices from £42,000
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Practical, spacious interior High equipment levels Four-wheel drive standard | Uninspiring to drive Cabin materials could be better Slightly unrefined engines |
If you’re not quite ready to make the switch to electric, the Kia Sorento is another exceptional contender in the large SUV class. Featuring distinctive looks, an upmarket interior, plenty of tech and a selection of efficient powertrains, the big Korean is a firm Auto Express favourite.
Of course, the Sorento is a family SUV first and foremost, which means it boasts a roomy interior that can comfortably seat seven adults. The cabin is also a cut above mainstream rivals in terms of look and finish, with high-grade materials and wall-to-wall screens. The infotainment system looks great and is easy to use, plus you get plenty of useful driver aids. It’s not as sharp to drive as the Skoda Kodiaq, but the Kia’s refinement and comfort are first rate.
8. Nissan X-Trail
- Prices from £36,200
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More spacious interior Good levels of safety Decent residual values | Not exciting to drive Average three-year warranty Boot could be bigger |
The latest Nissan X-Trail is the best yet, delivering more passenger space and better cabin quality than its predecessor. It also features excellent safety features and Nissan’s unique e-Power hybrid set-up. This brings EV-like smoothness and performance without the range anxiety, although it’s not as efficient as some of the other hybrids on this list.
It’s also worth noting that the entry-level mild-hybrid and range-topping all-wheel-drive e-4orce versions of the X-Trail come with five seats as standard, but are available with seven seats at an extra cost. Even so, only kids will really feel comfortable in the back row, because of the limited knee and headroom. At least the X-Trail is comfortable out on the road, with the suspension only really troubled by the worst of the UK’s pockmarked routes.
9. Land Rover Defender
- Prices from £64,100
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Off-road ability Still supremely practical Plug-in hybrid version | Confusing trim range Some wind noise at higher speeds Running costs |
In the blink of an eye, the Land Rover Defender has gone from a utilitarian workhorse to one of the best premium SUVs on the market. Its charming boxy style will win over many buyers’ hearts, but its looks are backed up by impressive levels of comfort, a smart cabin and incredible off-road ability.
The Defender is available in three forms: the three-door 90, the 110 model that offers seating for up to seven people, and the even larger 130 which offers space for up to eight occupants. In Defender 110s fitted with seven seats, the middle row provides ample space and can slide forward to make the third row passable for taller children, if not adults. There are cup-holders, power outlets and air vents for all, while the 231-litre boot with three rows in place expands to a van-rivalling 2,233 litres if you fold down the rear seats.
10. BMW X7
- Prices from £88,900
- Best driving experience
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very comfortable Good to drive High-quality interior | Feels big on UK roads Expensive to buy High running costs |
There’s a common belief that family cars are pretty boring to drive, but the BMW X7 smashes this theory to pieces. It’s one of the largest cars on sale in the UK, so your loved ones will have room to spare, but at the same time it’s very comfortable and drives exactly like a BMW should, regardless of its sheer bulk.
Those with a particular thirst for power are catered for by the 537bhp V8-powered M60i variant, as this will launch from 0-62mph in a mere 4.7 seconds. It’s all very appealing but, inevitably, this version sits very firmly above the £110,000 mark.
Best 7-seater cars: prices and ratings table
Our expert road testers rate every new car in context of rival models that can do a similar job and be bought for a similar price. Below you can see our top 10 7-seaters drawn from across the car market with their prices and star ratings side-by-side...
| Best 7-seater cars ranking | Name | Prices from | Practicality, comfort and boot space rating (out of 5) | Overall Auto Express star rating (out of 5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dacia Jogger | £18,300 | 4.8 | 4.5 |
| 2 | Hyundai Santa Fe | £46,800 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| 3 | Skoda Kodiaq | £37,500 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| 4 | Peugeot 5008 | £37,400 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| 5 | Kia EV9 | £65,000 | 4.8 | 4.5 |
| 6 | Citroen Berlingo | £32,000 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| 7 | Kia Sorento | £42,000 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| 8 | Nissan X-Trail | £36,200 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| 9 | Land Rover Defender | £64,100 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| 10 | BMW X7 | £88,900 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
7-seat SUVs vs 7-seat MPVs
If you’re looking for a seven-seat car it’s fair to say you’re probably a car buyer with a family. Practicality and running costs generally come ahead of driving dynamics for those seeking family transport, but the same basic car buying rules apply whatever you’re buying: do your research, understand your finance options and work out your budget, however you’re paying for it. From there, think about what you need the car to do.
The first thing for seven-seat car buyers to decide is whether an MPV or an SUV is the best fit. Generally, MPVs offer more space for the money but SUVs are more stylish to many peoples’ eyes. For most buyers, an SUV will offer more than enough room, and most also have the option of four-wheel drive – ideal if you tow a caravan or live in a remote area.
On the other hand, MPVs usually provide better head and legroom for passengers in all seats thanks to lower floors and (mostly) higher rooflines. Plus, the seating systems are usually more easily adaptable to different passenger- and luggage-carrying configurations. If you plan on carrying a full complement of six or seven passengers a lot of the time, it’s worth bearing this in mind. Many models have very limited luggage space when all seven seats are in use or particularly difficult access to the third row, these are all things you should consider as a buyer.
Another important consideration is which fuel type to go for. Here the decision is a little more clear-cut because seven-seaters are generally larger and heavier than your regular car, so diesel will be the better choice for most. Plug-in hybrids and fully electric models are changing the equation, but there aren’t too many seven-seaters to choose from at the moment, fully loading the car may affect range and you’ll need a home charger to make the best use of the vehicle.
You should also check the cars’ interior design and build quality. If you have young children, soft leather trim might not be the best idea. Make sure all your child seats can fit in; while some cars have three ISOFIX mountings across the middle row, you may not be able to squeeze three abreast in others. Make sure that the rear seats give your kids enough space and light as well as a decent view out and think about how easy the interior will be to keep clean.
Need even more space? These are the best 8-seater cars to buy...
Shane is responsible for looking after the day-to-day running of the Auto Express website and social media channels. Prior to joining Auto Express in 2021, he worked as a radio producer and presenter for outlets such as the BBC.
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