Best 7-seater cars 2024
Even if you haven't got enough children to fill half a football team, you could find a good use for a 7-seater. Maybe you need to take your kids and their mates to a party. Or perhaps you're heading out for a Sunday lunch with the grandparents. Those extra seats will come in handy.
In the past, buying a 7-seater meant looking for a people carrier, also known as an MPV. Today, you're more likely to buy an SUV with three rows of seats and the flexibility to fold away the third row to increase the size of the boot. SUVs tend to look better than people carriers – something your kids will appreciate when you meet them at the school gate.
That said, seven-seat SUVs are often less flexible than people carriers, which is why we've included one on our list of the best 7-seater cars. For head room, space and convenience, a people carrier is hard to beat.
Best 7-seater cars
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Skoda Kodiaq
The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the best 7-seater cars on sale. Skoda’s largest SUV has established itself as an upmarket-feeling family car. A recent facelift brings more distinctive styling and even higher quality detailing for the interior. The first and second rows of seats are very accommodating and the third row is useful for ferrying younger children. Even with all seven seats in use, the 270-litre boot is a reasonable size. In five-seat mode, it’s a capacious 720 litres. Various economical petrol and diesel engines are available, and you can even choose a sporty four-wheel drive Kodiaq vRS, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 245PS.
Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento is a large and rugged SUV. It measures 4.8 metres long and 1.9 metres wide, so it certainly has a presence on the road. It’s well equipped inside too, justifying prices that start from around £50,000. Choose either a diesel version or a ‘self-charging’ petrol-electric hybrid. There’s also a plug-in hybrid model that emits 38g/km CO2 in official tests and has an EV range of 35 miles. Every Sorento comes with an automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. It’s roomy in all three rows of seats, while even third-row passengers get an array of USB charging sockets and their own air conditioning controls. Meanwhile, fold all five rear seats and a cavernous 2000 litres of boot space is opened up.
Dacia Jogger
The novel Dacia Jogger is a new take on the 7-seater concept. It’s derived from the Sandero supermini, but has an ultra-long wheelbase and a rear end that’s a fashionable mix of crossover SUV and estate car. This unique setup offers really impressive second-row legroom and a surprisingly spacious third row. It even has 200mm of ground clearance for a spot of mild off-roading. The real standout, though, is the price. The Jogger starts from around £18,500, which is little short of astonishing. Even the top-spec model costs less than many entry-level small cars. The Dacia is a brilliant choice for those seeking the most affordable 7-seater car on sale.
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SEAT Tarraco
The SEAT Tarraco is the 7-seater alternative to the smaller five-seat Ateca SUV. It has upmarket styling to position it as SEAT’s range-topper, and the interior feels high quality. Every version has seven seats and benefits from a full five-star Euro NCAP safety score. All models have an 8.25-inch touchscreen media system and 10.25-inch ‘digital cockpit’ electronic dials. Efficient petrol and diesel engines are available, along with six trim levels: SE, SE Technology, FR, FR Sport, Xperience and Experience Lux. Prices start from around £33,500.
Land Rover Discovery
The Land Rover Discovery is an archetypal 7-seater that has a long history here in the UK. A huge 4x4, it offers acres of space inside for all seven occupants, plus ultra-practical seats that fold in a multitude of ways. An authentic off-roader, every version gets air suspension and a comprehensive four-wheel drive system. Its upmarket ethos also means plentiful equipment, including an ultra-wide touchscreen infotainment system called Pivi Pro. This looks good and is a delight to use, with all the smartphone connectivity you’d hope for. Petrol and diesel engines are available, all with automatic transmissions, with prices starting from around £60,500.
Volvo XC90
The Volvo XC90 is another long-running 7-seater. This latest version continues to be the firm’s range-topping model, with levels of equipment (and prices) that reflect this. Offered in both mild-hybrid and XC90 Recharge plug-in hybrid guises, the latter has a pure electric range of up to 41 miles. Every version offers a luxurious cabin with plush trimmings and a Google-based infotainment system: Volvo claims ‘best-in-class’ navigation. Safety is also second-to-none, with good crash protection and an armoury of active assistance tech to help you avoid an accident in the first place.
BMW X7
If you need to transport seven people, and you want to do it in serious style (and have fun while you’re doing it) then look no further than the BMW X7. It’s a very, very large SUV but it drives remarkably well considering its size. Seven seats come as standard and it’s huge inside, with easily enough space for everyone to stay comfortable, helped by a top-notch standard of interior design, material quality and technology. Just about the only problem you’ll find with it is tracking down a parking space that’s big enough. With prices starting from around £86,500, you'll also need a big wallet.
Peugeot 5008
The Peugeot 5008 is the seven-seat sister to the well-liked 3008 SUV. It's identical up-front, but has a more voluminous rear end to accommodate third-row passengers. The small rearmost seats are great for carrying a couple of friends for your children, while folding them flat into the floor provides a seriously impressive 952 litres of boot space. Choose from petrol, diesel and 'self-charging' hybrid versions, with the latter offering an official 48.7mpg on a combined cycle. Peugeot also offers a good amount of standard equipment, while its innovative ‘i-Cockpit’ layout keeps things interesting inside.
Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
The Vauxhall Combo Life Electric – formerly the Combo-e – is a large 7-seater offered in regular and long-wheelbase formats. Because it’s based on a van, not a car, interior space is genuinely vast. No matter which seat you choose, there will be acres of legroom and headroom. It’s easy to access all seven seats as well – aided by sliding rear doors. A gigantic tailgate also hides a very practical boot. Now offered solely in electric guise, the Combo Life Electric has a range of up to 174 miles. Don’t think its van-derived nature means a back-to-basics drive; ride comfort and refinement are very impressive, and the interior looks smart and well finished.
Audi Q7
The Q7 was Audi’s first SUV, and now fully warrants its name by coming in 7-seater guise. Befitting its status at the top of Audi’s range, the Q7 is extremely luxurious, with vast levels of standard equipment and a multitude of customisation options. The top-of-the-range Vorsprung boasts a Bang & Olufsen sound system and 22-inch alloys, plus rear-wheel steering to make it easier to park. The Audi is very roomy inside, particularly for those in the second row, while the third row is comfortable, too. Even the entry-level 45 TDI diesel engine produces a punchy 231PS, although we'd recommend the 286PS 50 TDI.
What is the most affordable 7-seater?
The most affordable new seven-seater, by a clear margin, is the Dacia Jogger. An innovative type of car, it's a mix of traditional estate and modern crossover SUV. This liberates impressive interior space and an appearance that’s different to the norm. If you need a roomy five-seater with a third row of occasional seats to squeeze in seven people, and for a bargain price starting from less than £20,000, look no further.
Which is the best 4x4 7-seater SUV?
For taking people deep into the rough stuff, there is no better all-wheel-drive seven-seater than the Land Rover Discovery. It is virtually unstoppable, and will take on everything from slippery slopes to rushing rivers. That it offers so much space and comfort for seven people makes it a great contender for best 4x4 seven-seater status. That said, if you want a more affordable 4x4 seven-seater that also comes with plug-in hybrid capability, the Kia Sorento is a good alternative.
Can you buy an electric 7-seater car?
Electric seven-seaters are rare, because these big, heavy vehicles need large batteries to offer sufficient range. One option is the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, but then at the other end of the spectrum is Tesla Model X, a very expensive car that serves up staggering performance. It can produce more than 1000PS, while its upwards-opening Falcon Wing doors remain unique. There are more seven-seaters available in plug-in hybrid guise, which provide sufficient pure electric range for most daily commutes, along with a petrol engine as back-up for longer distances – removing the need to charge away from home.
Full Electric, petrol or a Hybrid but twith 7 seats
