Best 7-seat cars 2024 – and the ones to avoid

Like its predecessor, the latest Hyundai Santa Fe provides many of the things a seven-seater buyer is looking for – namely, lots of space, comfort and kit, along with the potential for low running costs. 

The Santa Fe also promises outstanding practicality, a plush interior and the reassurance of a five-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. 

The latest version retains the two petrol engines from the previous models, too, and both are electrified to help you get the best fuel economy. They are a 1.6-litre petrol hybrid and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that is expected to have a longer pure electric range than the outgoing model's 36 miles. It's the regular hybrid which we recommend, which feels strong enough for the needs of most families and is available in either front or four-wheel drive forms.

A soft ride contributes to making the Santa Fe a comfortable cruiser. And while the rival Peugeot 5008 is even more settled, the Santa Fe gives your third-row passengers more room to stretch out.

"I can say with confidence that you shouldn't come close to filling the Santa Fe's boot, because not only is it larger than in the old Santa Fe, but it's larger even than that of the rival Kia Sorento" – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

Read our Hyundai Santa Fe review

The Land Rover Defender is an iconic model. However, there’s nothing old-fashioned about the latest version, which is laden with kit and sumptuously appointed inside.  

While the Defender can be had with anything from five to eight seats, it’s the mid-range Defender 110 we think makes the most sense. It is long enough for all passengers to be able to stretch their legs on longer drives and can be had with seven seats. Unlike many rival seven-seaters, its two rearmost pews have enough head and leg room for adults and access is good because the second row seats slide forwards. 

Opt for our favourite D250 model and you'll get a 3.0-litre, six cylinder diesel engine which provides plenty of power to haul a heavily-loaded vehicle around. The Defender isn’t a rough and ready off-roader, though. It’s just as refined as rival luxury SUVs, and the standard air suspension soaks up uneven surfaces better than a Volvo XC90. 

And, when you compare it to alternatives, such as the BMW X7, on price, the Defender also represents good value for money.

"No matter which version of the Defender you go for, space for rear-seat passengers is plentiful. However, I found that access to those seats is far easier in the longer Defender 110." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our Land Rover Defender review

The only thing bigger than the X7’s gigantic front grille is the car itself, so if you’ve got a big budget and a big family, it should definitely be on your shortlist. 

As a bonus, the interior is as flashy as it is sturdy, and features one of the best infotainment systems you’ll find in any new car. Plus, refinement is so impressive that someone in the third row can have a conversation with those up front without raising their voice. 

Engine options range from the powerful to mega-powerful, but our preferred choice is the 347bhp xDrive40d, which offers punchy performance but should also keep your running costs sensible. If you won't be covering enough miles to justify a diesel, though, then the xDrive40i petrol is even faster to 62mph – though it will cost you more to run.

There's also the range-topping 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine in the M60i, but it isn't the most sensible choice.

"The X7's interior is wide, so you won't be rubbing shoulders with the person sitting next to you. Plus, even passengers in the rear-most seats will find they have plenty of space to stretch out." – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our BMW X7 review

The Audi Q7 is an incredible all-rounder, combining a comfortable ride with spacious seating for seven and exceptional interior quality. 

Indeed, no matter which surface your hands touch or your eyes look at, you’ll be impressed both with the quality of materials on offer and how well screwed together it all is.

The Q7’s strongest suit of all, however, is how well it soaks up impacts from speed bumps and other road imperfections with ease, and demolishes long journeys like a luxury SUV should. 

The 55 TFSI petrol is our favoured choice among the engine options, and has a punchy V6 engine with 335bhp. There are also two V6 diesel engines on offer if you cover a lot of miles, as well as a V8 petrol in the range-topping Audi SQ7.

"You sit high up in the Audi Q7, giving you a commanding view over the road ahead. I find that the slim windscreen pillars help when you're peeking out at junctions, too." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our Audi Q7 review

The long-wheelbase Range Rover is one of the most luxurious seven-seaters you can buy, and only recently has that been the case. Previously, you could buy the Range Rover Sport with seven seats, but that car is now only available with five seats.

With the latest Range Rover, though, you can have seven seats with the LWB (long wheel-base) version. When specified, the third-row seats are comfortable enough for six-footers, and the middle row splits in a handy 40/20/40 configuration and can fold electrically.

Of course, the Range Rover LWB is wonderful to drive, with a range of punchy petrol, diesel and PHEV engine options. Refinement is also a strong point, with minimal road noise and a ride that is controlled and smooth.

"One of the Range Rover's hallmark features is retained in the long-wheebase version – a twin glovebox arrangement, with one lower down and the other at chest height. It's one of my favourite features." – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Read our Range Rover review

Only one fully electric SUV was good enough to make our list of the best seven-seaters, and that car is the Peugeot e-5008. And that's because where other electric models sacrifice passenger and boot space in order to store their large batteries, the e-5008 remains usable for seven people despite also being electric.

Like petrol versions of the regular Peugeot 5008, the e-5008 handles tidily, with light steering helping to make manoeuvring easy in the city, plus the ride is comfortable and the interior is seriously plush.

We reckon you're best off sticking with the entry-level car, which gets a 73kWh battery which officially gives the car a range of 311 miles – which is more than some rivals can manage and enough, we think, for the needs of most buyers. You only get a single motor to drive the front wheels, but the e-5008 still feels fast, with the 0-62mph sprint taking just 9.7sec.

Head and leg room for middle-row passengers is perfectly fine by the standards of the class – although it's worth noting that the Kia EV9 is even more spacious – and while the rearmost seats are only meant to be used occasionally, adults could stomach them for short trips. 

"Peugeot's i-Cockpit setup has you looking over a small steering wheel at the dials, rather than through it. And unlike in some other Peugeot models, I think it works well in the e-5008." – George Hill, Staff Writer

Read our Peugeot e-5008 review

Just because you're wearing your sensible trousers when buying a new MPV rather than a fashionable SUV, it doesn’t mean you have to slum it. 

The Touran offers the same level of plushness you get in a Volkswagen Golf family car, but with far greater practicality. All five of its rear seats feature Isofix child seat mounting points, so it’s useful for growing families, and there’s enough space for adults. 

As a bonus, the Touran drives better than the rival Dacia Jogger. It offers a comfortable ride which smooths out the worst of battered British roads, and has the kind of assured, well-weighted steering which gives you confidence to press on.

There's no hybrid, PHEV or electric option, with your sole engine choice being a 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol. At least it's fairly punchy, even if you've loaded the car to the gunwhales with people and luggage, and should be economical to run.

"Unless you continually rev it hard, the Touran's petrol engine is pretty hushed by MPV standards. Plus, relatively little wind or road noise makes its way inside the car, and I found that especially handy when I was transporting a car full of children." – Neil Winn, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our VW Touran review

If the cars so far on this list have looked a little too expensive for you, the Kodiaq could be right up your street. Like most Skodas, it represents great value for money, especially if you stick with the lower engines and trims. 

Indeed, our favourite 1.5-litre petrol option is among the cheapest in the range yet provides all the pep you could reasonably want – even if you plan on filling every seat.

Speaking of seats, front and second-row passengers get plenty of space, and while third-row passengers will be better off in the rival Peugeot 5008, most people will be fine back there for shorter trips.

Bear in mind that a new version of the Kodiaq will go on sale in the Spring, bringing plug-in hybrid power for the first time – but that version won't be available with seven seats, because of the space needed to store the battery. 

"No matter which version of the Kodiaq you choose, you'll get a seven-speed automatic gearbox which provides swift changes as you drive along, but I've found that it can be jerky at lower speeds." – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor

Read our Skoda Kodiaq review

The latest Sorento is as good an all-rounder as you'll find anywhere in the SUV class, but it makes especially good sense if you need seven seats. For one thing, you get seven seats as standard, even if you go for the plug-in hybrid model, and your rearmost passengers will find that they have more room to stretch out than they would in either the Land Rover Discovery Sport or Skoda Kodiaq.

It's the regular hybrid version of the Sorento which we think makes the most sense for most buyers, with this offering nippy acceleration – the 0-62mph sprint takes a peppy 9.7sec – but also decent fuel economy, with the hybrid model officially able to return up to 42.2mpg.

Rivals offer a plusher ride, and the BMW X5 feels keener to turn into corners, but the Sorento is a comfortable travel companion, if not an especially engaging one. Inside, the quality of materials used is about on par with the Kodiaq, but neither will stand up to more luxurious rivals.

"I'm pretty tall, so while my head brushed the Sorento's roof lining when sitting in the third row of seats, I think most people of average height will be perfectly fine." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our Kia Sorento review

Like all Dacias, the Jogger is very temptingly priced, but don't think that means you have to put up with big compromises. 

It's a well-thought-out people mover with genuine seven-seat usability, decent driving dynamics and plenty of standard equipment. Indeed, even entry-level versions come with cruise control, electric front windows and air conditioning.

You can have the Jogger with a 109bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine or a 138bhp 1.6-litre hybrid engine. We think the petrol model is punchy enough for most situations, although the hybrid does make sense if you live in an urban area.

"Despite its bargain price, the Jogger features some nice touches inside. I found that the fabric dashboard inserts and an attractive air vent design, for example, helped to lift the otherwise functional interior" – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

Read our Dacia Jogger review

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