Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Key to the appeal of the&nbsp;Audi Q7&nbsp;is its versatility. It can seat up to seven people in lavish comfort and yet has the driving manners of something much smaller and lighter. It’s a great tow car, too, and can even manage a bit of off-roading.

Indeed, the five-metre-long Audi Q7 has been one of the very <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-suvs/n17036">best luxury SUVs</a>&nbsp;since its launch a few years ago. That's despite it competing against some fine alternatives, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x7/4x4/review/n19102">BMW X7</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audi</a> has given all of the regular petrol and diesel versions&nbsp;mild-hybrid assistance, allowing the engine to switch itself off when decelerating to save fuel. However, if you're more interested in barnstorming acceleration than thrifty fuel economy,&nbsp;there's also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-suvs/n20200">sports SUV</a> version with an astonishing 500bhp petrol engine – you can read about that in our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n17281">Audi SQ7</a> review.

In fact, just about the only thing the Q7 can't do is run on electricity. Audi has never offered a fully electric version of its biggest SUV, and while there used to be a plug-in hybrid version (called the 55 TFSIe) it was dropped from the line-up a while back.

Over the next few pages, we’ll explain why the Audi Q7 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a> is such a fantastic&nbsp;all-rounder, as well as running you through its few weaknesses. Plus, we’ll tell you which engines and trims make the most sense&nbsp;and which option packs you might want to consider.

Once you've decided which luxury SUV is right for you, head over to our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car?&nbsp;New Car Deals</a>&nbsp;service to find out how much you could save on the brochure price&nbsp;without any haggling. You'll find great deals on&nbsp;many makes and models, including some tempting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/luxury-suv">new luxury SUV deals</a>.

A brilliant luxury SUV, majoring on comfort and&nbsp;interior quality

Audi Q7

7-seater

The Dacia Jogger is the cheapest new seven-seater in the UK, so if you have a big family and a not-so-big budget, this MPV is&nbsp;very much worth a look.

To put the Jogger's price&nbsp;into perspective, the entry-level car costs about&nbsp;half the starting price of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/hatchback/review/n78">BMW 2 Series Active Tourer</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/b-class/hatchback/review/n18344">Mercedes B-Class</a> and the VW Touran. The next cheapest seven-seat MPV available is the van-based <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/tourneo-connect/estate/review/n17334">Ford Tourneo Connect</a> – and that will still cost you around £10,000 more.

And while the Jogger comes with a petrol or hybrid petrol engine, the Citroën e-Berlingo, the Peugeot e-Rifter and (as its new name suggests) the Vauxhall Combo Life Electric are all electric now.

<h2 dir="ltr">Dacia Jogger video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hq1--BlzFGg" width="560"></iframe>

For families on a budget needing more than 150 miles of real-world range, the Jogger may be the only new option. But is the Jogger cheap at the expense of all else or great value for money?

That’s what we’re going to find out in this Dacia Jogger review, as we tell you how we rate it against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seaters</a>. Read on to learn more...

<a href="https://www.dacia.co.uk/vehicles/jogger.html">Learn more about&nbsp;the&nbsp;Jogger from Dacia</a>

If you want a new car but would rather not spend much, Dacia is a great place to start your search.

This budget brand builds some of Britain’s cheapest new cars, including the Sandero hatchback. And don’t think cheap automatically means corners have been cut, because the Sandero has been commended at the annual What Car? Car of the Year awards on numerous occasions.

Other Dacia models include the&nbsp;higher-riding Sandero Stepway, seven-seat Jogger, and rugged Duster SUV. And while these cost slightly more than the Sandero, they’re still priced aggressively enough that they’re really only competing directly with used cars.

Dacia manages this by borrowing mechanicals and technology from its owner, Renault, to minimise development costs.

DACIA

JOGGER

The Jogger is the UK's cheapest new seven-seater, and it's&nbsp;practical and&nbsp;well equipped

Dacia Jogger

Sometimes&nbsp;when a car maker claims a model&nbsp;has been radically transformed, it’s code for "you’ll hardly notice the difference". In the case of the Hyundai Santa Fe&nbsp;"radically transformed"&nbsp;barely does it justice.

Out has gone the inoffensive but generic look of old, and in its place you’ll find a much more striking and angular design punctuated by various H&nbsp;motifs, including in the headlights and tail-lights.

Dig deeper and you'll find familiar parts. You see, the Santa Fe's&nbsp;radical new look hides the same <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-car-platform-and-chassis/n27195">underpinnings</a> as the&nbsp;previous-generation version,&nbsp;as well as tweaked versions of the same <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">regular hybrid</a>&nbsp;(HEV) and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a>&nbsp;(PHEV) petrol engines.

<h2>Hyundai Santa Fe video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qDyh93s-YbQ?si=H9itu_q0YQ5V6V2Q" width="560"></iframe>

Sure, the previous&nbsp;Santa Fe was no turkey, but the above still begs the question: is this new one actually a shallow rehash or a thrilling new instalment worthy of a glowing review?

Well, read on to find out how the latest Hyundai Santa Fe stands up against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seat SUVs</a>&nbsp;– ranging from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a>&nbsp;to the closely related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>.

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

SANTA FE

The Santa Fe is a practical and very smart seven-seat SUV with a great interior

Hyundai Santa Fe

The KGM Rexton is a seven-seater that also offers the off-road capabilities most SUVs miss out on. For example, all versions have&nbsp;four-wheel drive and&nbsp;enough power for a 3,500kg towing capacity.

On top of that, this is a vast car – bigger even than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/4x4/review/n17345">Mercedes GLC</a> – and all for around the same price as many smaller models.

Indeed, the comparatively luxurious surroundings of the Rexton should have no trouble transporting your family to the supermarket – even if that involves terrain you’d usually need, say, an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ineos/grenadier/4x4/review/n25493">Ineos Grenadier</a>&nbsp;or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a> to get across.

It all sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, if you want to know whether the KGM Rexton (previously known as the Ssangyong Rexton) really deserves to&nbsp;be on your <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seat SUV</a> shopping list, read on...

Estate

REXTON

The Rexton is only worth considering if you need a muscular tow car that seats seven

KGM Rexton

Natural selection affects SUVs, not just animals, and seven-seaters that drink diesel are starting to look like dinosaurs. So the Kia Sorento – like a species with a strong survival instinct – has evolved.

Instead of simply slinging a petrol engine under the Sorento’s bonnet, Kia has used its expertise in the field of electrification to give the model regular&nbsp;hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">HEV</a>) and plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) options. You can still get a diesel version, and every version gets <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">four-wheel drive</a> and an automatic gearbox as standard.

To keep the Sorento evolving and avoid extinction, a 2024 facelift to the car has updated its looks, its interior and its pricing. But it’s still up against premium rivals including the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358"> Land Rover Discovery Sport</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glb/estate/review/n20538">Mercedes GLB</a> as well as mainstream alternatives such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a>.

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Z5xyMialec?si=cmaWeVqdVH8Gi8Pl" width="560"></iframe>

Is the Kia Sorento one of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seat SUVs</a>&nbsp;you can get? Read on to find out...

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

SORENTO

The 2024 Sorento is not the cheapest seven-seat SUV but it is very practical and&nbsp;a great all-rounder

Kia Sorento

Reinventing an icon like the Land Rover Defender isn’t easy, and it's something Land Rover thought long and hard about before reviving the Defender name.

To try to keep existing Defender fans happy while attracting new SUV buyers, the British brand&nbsp;decided to leave no room for criticism. So&nbsp;this latest model is more practical, more refined and more <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">capable off road</a> than its illustrious predecessor.

The Defender is available in three body styles. There's the three-door&nbsp;Defender 90, the longer, five-door Defender 110 – which is available as a five, six or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;and the even longer&nbsp;Defender 130, which comes with up to eight seats.

<h2 dir="ltr">Off-road megatest video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PeLBdDssy8I?si=SG-SL0Cwc8FRON_n" width="560"></iframe>

The Defender 90 is up against other&nbsp;premium <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a> models, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>. In 110 and 130 form, it's&nbsp;competing with the likes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x7/4x4/review/n19102">BMW X7</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>. Buyers in search of off-road prowess might also be considering a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jeep/wrangler/4x4/review/n196">Jeep Wrangler</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/g-class/4x4/review/n180">Mercedes G-Class</a>.

Read on to find out how we rate&nbsp;the Land Rover Defender against its many rivals...

Land Rover is synonymous with SUVs, and especially with the Defender – the rugged runabout that has seen service in war zones across the world, but also as part of the Queen’s personal garage.

If off-road prowess is one of Land Rover’s core values, though, the other is luxury. Indeed, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar are among the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

The Discovery, meanwhile, is a practical rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, while the stylish Evoque (which is available as a three-door convertible as well as a traditional SUV) goes head to head with Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.

In the coming years, we’ll see a new road-biased ‘Road Rover’ as well as an all-new Defender.

LAND ROVER

DEFENDER

The latest Defender&nbsp;is a practical and comfortable SUV that's virtually unstoppable off road

Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Discovery is the Swiss Army Knife of the car world. It can do pretty much any job you ask – from ferrying around seven people to pulling a caravan out of a muddy field.

Looking for an upmarket chariot to impress the neighbours? The Discovery can do that&nbsp;too. It'll even take you to places a mountain goat would think twice about visiting.

In Land Rover's SUV line-up, the Discovery – which comes with seven seats as standard – sits above the smaller&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Discovery Sport</a> and the more rugged <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a>, but below the more luxurious&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport</a>.

<h2>Land Rover Discovery video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nGTW6AZ4nPE?si=dxEFRa7Y9D9gyKmG" width="560"></iframe>

The "Disco" has plenty going for it then,&nbsp;but so do other premium brand <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seat SUVs</a>,&nbsp; ranging from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x7/4x4/review/n19102">BMW X7</a> to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>. Read on to find out how we rate the Land Rover Discovery against its key rivals.

DISCOVERY

The Discovery has seven seats as standard and is capable both on and off road

Land Rover Discovery

What was Mazda thinking? At a time when manufacturers are falling over themselves to launch electric seven-seaters, the Japanese brand decided that its three-row SUV flagship – this Mazda CX-80 –&nbsp;should have a great big six-cylinder diesel engine.

Still, as we’ve seen, Mazda has a long history of flying in the face of convention, and anyway there’s a plug-in hybrid&nbsp;CX-80 to give&nbsp;you the option of some electric-only driving. The diesel, too, is slightly electrified (with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild-hybrid tech</a>)&nbsp;but can’t officially go any distance on electric power alone.

The CX-80 is Mazda’s biggest, poshest model –&nbsp;it’s about the same length as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a> but a lot cheaper. Seven-seat rivals at a similar price include the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glb/estate/review/n20538">Mercedes GLB</a>. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a> can carry seven people and cost less, but they're less spacious.

So is the Mazda CX-80 worthy of a place among the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seat SUVs</a> or are you better off looking elsewhere? Read on to find out...

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

CX-80

The CX-80&nbsp;is smart inside and available with&nbsp;up to seven seats&nbsp;but there are more practical rivals

Mazda CX-80

When it comes to SUVs, we’re spoilt for choice. There are small ones, big ones, rugged ones, fast ones, hybrids and even fully electric ones. So, where does that leave the Mercedes GLB?

Well, it’s actually one of few <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seaters</a> that you can buy with a premium badge – at least one that isn't the size of an aircraft carrier.

Underneath, it’s closely related to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/b-class/hatchback/review/n18344">Mercedes B-Class</a> MPV. However, don’t let the ‘B’ in its name make you think that it’s small, because like its chief rival –&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Land Rover Discovery Sport</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;it’s aimed at those who regularly carry lots of people or luggage.

We say "chief rival"&nbsp;because you could also be looking at the similarly priced <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>&nbsp;(although those are five-seaters only). If you can live without the premium badge but absolutely must have seven seats, there are other alternatives, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a>.

So, should the Mercedes GLB be at the top of your wish list, and how does it stack up against its key rivals? Read on to find out...

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

The GLB is a more practical seven-seater than premium-badged rivals

Mercedes GLB

There are big cars, very big cars – and&nbsp;the Mercedes GLS. This 5.2-metre long, 2.0-metre wide behemoth is designed to seat seven people in comfort and is Mercedes' flagship SUV. Think of it as an S-Class that's expanded upwards rather dramatically.&nbsp;

There should be a version of the GLS to suit anyone (well, anyone with a six-figure sum to spend). Core models are offered alongside a performance-focused Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 and the extravagantly luxurious Mercedes-Maybach GLS, which has its sights set squarely on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/bentayga/4x4/review/n17228">Bentley Bentayga</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/rolls-royce/cullinan/4x4/review/n18282">Rolls-Royce Cullinan</a>.

You can even specify your GLS with an off-road package to allow you to venture out on to tricky terrain – although, let’s face it, cars of this type are rarely asked to tackle anything more challenging than a stately home car park on a rainy day.

As far as rivals are concerned, the GLS is closest in concept to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x7/4x4/review/n19102">BMW X7</a> and the long-wheelbase version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a>. However, as a prospective buyer, you might also want to consider (slightly) smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seaters</a> such as the Audi Q7, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a>.&nbsp;

So, is the latest Mercedes GLS good enough to rank among the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seat SUVs</a> available? Read on to find out...

The 2024 GLS is luxurious and well equipped&nbsp;but the best rivals are comfier and more practical

New Mercedes GLS

Do you need an SUV that can cross a mountain range or a desert? If so, the Toyota Land Cruiser will almost certainly end up on your shortlist.

For more than 70 years, the Land Cruiser&nbsp;has built a reputation for itself as an unstoppable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">off-roader</a>,&nbsp;often found providing transport in the most challenging environments in the world.

This new fifth-generation Land Cruiser aims to carry on that tradition, but with the promise of more focus on its on-road comfort and refinement. While previous Land Cruisers have been untouchable off the beaten track, they’ve felt pretty agricultural and uncomfortable on a school run compared to the best SUVs for the same money.

Toyota Land Cruiser video review

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xUh-asGCGqo?si=zzn7c7IaLc6kmkle" width="560"></iframe>

This new model – which is a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a> as standard – faces competition from the similarly off-road-focused <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ineos/grenadier/4x4/review/n25493">Ineos Grenadier</a>&nbsp;as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a>, which is tough off-road but still luxurious on it.

Other markets will get the option of a bigger Toyota Land Cruiser 300 with a broad choice of engines, but in the UK we only get this Land Cruiser 250 with one diesel engine, lots of off-road tech and some big expectations. Is it just an off-road workhorse or can it mix it with the best all-round SUVs?&nbsp;

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

LAND CRUISER

The Land Cruiser is great off road&nbsp;but also expensive – and you can only have a diesel engine in the UK

New Toyota Land Cruiser

Planning for every scenario family life has to throw at you is impossible. For example, you pick up your child from football practice and their five friends want a lift –&nbsp;or you’re going on holiday and the pile of luggage is taller than you are. If that sounds familiar, take a look at the new Volvo XC90.

The XC90 is the largest and most practical SUV in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volvo">Volvo model line-up</a> and it comes as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a> as standard. The current-generation XC90 has been around for a while now but it's been updated for&nbsp;2025, with a new front fascia and the outside and a new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment system</a> on the inside.

So are the changes enough to keep the Volvo XC90 competitive with its key rivals – namely the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x7/4x4/review/n19102">BMW X7</a> and seven-seat versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a>? Read on to find out. Or, if you're interested in the all-electric equivalent of the XC90, see our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/ex90/estate/review/n27061">Volvo EX90 review</a>.

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

XC90

The 2024 XC90 is a classy seven-seater&nbsp;with improved&nbsp;refinement and a newly updated infotainment system

New Volvo XC90

SUV means "sports utility vehicle", and while many would argue that most&nbsp;new SUVs have forgotten that, the Nissan X-Trail certainly hasn’t. It combines&nbsp;sports with utility to make it fit for a lifestyle featuring beaches, surfboards and mountain bikes.

Adding to the X-Trail's appeal as practical family transport, it's&nbsp;available&nbsp;with up to seven seats, making it an attractive alternative to an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/mpvs-and-people-carriers/n17001">MPV</a>. It&nbsp;comes as the VC-Turbo&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild-hybrid</a>&nbsp;or as a full hybrid&nbsp;called the e-Power, which is an interesting option because it&nbsp;drives like an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>.

You can have the X-Trail e-Power&nbsp;with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">four-wheel drive</a>&nbsp;– slightly confusingly called "e-4orce" by Nissan – and the 4x4 version was a winner in its weight category at our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/tow-car-awards">Tow Car Awards</a>. Don't worry: we'll explain all these "e-" terms in more detail later in this review.

<h2 dir="ltr">Nissan X-Trail video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1oCfZf8GVJM" width="560"></iframe>

Sounds promising, doesn’t it?&nbsp;Even so, the Nissan X-Trail has plenty of rival&nbsp;SUVs and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seaters</a> to contend with – ranging from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>&nbsp;to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-60/estate/review/n24505">Mazda CX-60</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a>. Read on to find out how it compares...

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

X-TRAIL

The X-Trail hybrid SUV offers plenty of space and is available with seven seats and four-wheel drive

Nissan X-Trail

The story of the Peugeot 5008 is rather like that of the ugly duckling. Once upon a time, the popularity of this family-friendly seven-seater was undermined by awkward looks, but then it morphed into something more desirable – in this case, from an MPV to an SUV.

Now in its third generation, the 5008 is arguably more striking than ever, but it's not just its appearance that’s changed. The conventional petrol and diesel engines it was previously sold with have now been binned in favour of two <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a> options and an electric version that you can read about in our separate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n26918">Peugeot e-5008 review</a>.

While the e-5008 has few direct rivals, there are a lot of alternatives if you’re considering one of the hybrid 5008s. They include two models that are closely related to each other – the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>&nbsp;– plus the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a>.

In this review, then, we’ll look at how the Peugeot 5008&nbsp;compares with those cars in all the key areas – everything from&nbsp;comfort and&nbsp;quality to practicality and&nbsp;costs – to see if it's now the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seater</a>&nbsp;you can buy.

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

5008

The Peugeot 5008 is a practical&nbsp;seven-seat SUV available with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines

Peugeot 5008

Mahatma Gandhi talked a lot of sense, and one thing he said was: "If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.” It’s a principle the Skoda Kodiaq follows&nbsp;too.

You see, it takes its name from the Kodiak bear – one of the largest brown bears and one that’s related to the grizzly. Which is apt, because the Kodiaq is a jolly large SUV. It's also&nbsp;available with seven seats.

Is it the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seat SUV</a> choice? Well, Skoda has certainly sold plenty of them: 850,000 of the first-generation car were shifted. With more space, efficiency and luxury, this second-generation version is very much after the same success.

<h2 dir="ltr">Skoda Kodiaq video review</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7f0v5ejJRs?si=G6WouKvcTJxKelTp" width="560"></iframe>

There are lots of big&nbsp;SUVs out there though. Fancy-pants ones with premium badges, like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Land Rover Discover Sport</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glb/estate/review/n20538">Mercedes GLB</a>. But with Skoda’s aggressive pricing strategy, the Kodiaq’s starting price is a lot less grizzly than those cars. It even undercuts the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a> and is a similar price to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a>.

So&nbsp;how does the Skoda Kodiaq fare against its rivals? Read on to find out...

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

KODIAQ

The Kodiaq is a very good&nbsp;seven-seat SUV –&nbsp;as well as one of the most affordable

Skoda Kodiaq

It has a fresh new name but the Volkswagen Tayron is a car many buyers will be familiar with once they look beyond the badge on the back.

That’s because the Tayron (pronounced "Tie-ron") replaces the Tiguan Allspace, and like that car it's available as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven seat SUV</a>&nbsp;to rival the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe,</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a>.

Underneath, the Tayron shares its basic <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-car-platform-and-chassis/n27195">underpinnings</a> with the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">VW Tiguan</a> and comes with the same interior and tech found in that stablemate, as well as a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a>) engines.

<h2 dir="ltr">VW Tayron video reveal</h2>

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mqNZFyoOcvI?si=yByJHVHpQ54p2e9w" width="560"></iframe>

In keeping with its predecessor, if you simply fancy a Tiguan with a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-cars-with-the-biggest-boots/n18791">bigger boot</a> you can get the Tayron as a five-seater. In fact, if you pick one of the PHEVs you can only have five seats.

So how does the VW Tayron compare with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">best family SUVs</a> and seven-seaters? Read on to find out how we rate it for performance, comfort, practicality and running costs...

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

TAYRON

The Tayron is Volkswagen's new replacement for the Tiguan Allspace seven-seat SUV

Volkswagen Tayron

Regardless of what you might hear, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace proves that size matters – or at least it does for&nbsp;buyers of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seaters</a>.

So while the five-seat Tiguan can already be considered a resounding success for the car maker, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/volkswagen">Volkswagen</a> is looking to exploit its popularity by adding an extra two seats and even more room to create the Allspace.&nbsp;

In total, 215mm has been added between the front and rear wheels of the standard model&nbsp;to accommodate seven seats, while adding some extra boot space when the third row is folded. The bigger model also has a slightly different front-end design and roof rails as standard to set it apart from the common or garden five-seater.

The Allspace has a similar range of petrol and diesel engines to the standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">VW Tiguan</a>, but without some of the lower-powered entry-level variants.

You get a choice of three high-spec trims –&nbsp;Life, Elegance and R-Line. They all come with plenty of kit, but this does mean the Allspace looks expensive compared with seven-seater rivals including&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a>.

How well does the VW Tiguan Allspace stack up against the standard Tiguan and those rivals, then, and can it justify the extra expense? Read on over the next few pages of this review to find out what we think of its performance, reliability, interior quality, boot space and more, as well as which engine and trim combination we recommend.&nbsp;

Then, when you’ve decided which make and model of car is the right one for you, we can help you find it for the best price&nbsp;if you search our free&nbsp;What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals service</a>.

TIGUAN ALLSPACE

Has all the positive traits of the five-seat Tiguan but adds a bigger boot and two extra seats. It’s expensive, though

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

While the popularity of SUVs continues to grow, the Volkswagen Touran sits quietly in the background offering maximum family practicality in a relatively small footprint.

Where the Touran really shines is in how it doesn’t feel that different to drive to the previous-generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">VW Golf</a> it’s based on. It also has more compact dimensions than bulkier seven-seat SUVs (such as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a>) – which is something you’ll appreciate when you're trying to squeeze it into a tight parking space.

And crucially&nbsp;for such a relatively small MPV, it's a genuine seven-seater. This is not a van with windows – it’s more like a spacious and incredibly flexible hatchback, with handy sixth and seventh seats that pop out of the boot floor when you need them.

So where does the VW Touran rank against <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">best seven-seaters</a>&nbsp;you might be considering as your next family car? Read on to find out...

TOURAN

The VW Touran seven-seat MPV is roomy, practical, well built and good to drive

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