Best of
Best seven-seat SUVs 2026 tried & tested – plus the one to avoid
The best seven-seat SUVs are practical, luxurious and good to drive, with sensible running costs. Here we count down the top 10 – and reveal the one that we'd avoid
Darren Moss
Updated: 3 November 2026
Given how many people are buying SUVs these days, it won't surprise you to learn that many of the largest models are available with seven seats – and that means that in the minds of some families, they've usurped traditional people carriers and MPVs as do-it-all transport.
We're not just looking for space here, though, because a good large SUV also needs to be good to drive, with a calm ride which will take the sting out of lumps and bumps in the road, as well as tidy handing and a power source – be it petrol, hybrid or electric – which offers peppy performance.
To find the best seven-seat SUVs, our expert team of road testers has driven every new model on the market in order to name the 10 models we recommend – and one which we suggest you avoid. We’ve also included links to help you secure the most competitive PCP and leasing deals for each recommendation.
How we chose the best seven-seat SUVs
Our rundown of the best seven-seat SUVs on sale today is the definitive list, because it’s continually updated as new models become available, based on the expert evaluation of our reviewers.
We recognise all things aren’t equal, so we interrogate the feedback provided by more than 20,000 car owners in our annual reader survey to uncover the areas of most importance to large SUV drivers. This allows us to place particularly close attention to the following areas – in addition to all parts of our rigorous testing regime.
Interior space – We take our own measurements to determine interior space, including leg, head and shoulder room. The front seat is positioned to provide a consistent datum point from which all measurements are taken. Subjective tests considering the impact of fixtures and fittings are carried out, as are the number, size and position of storage spaces.
Comfortable driving position – The relationship between the steering wheel, seat and pedals, and the adjustability to allow drivers of all sizes to get comfortable, are key factors. We also consider seat support, and for large SUVs we use laser technology to measure the distance between the road and driver’s seat base.
Interior quality – Our perceived-quality tests examine the tactility of materials, which are particularly important in large SUVs that are often more upmarket in nature. Cars with pleasing finishes and positive-feeling buttons score well. Build quality tests assess how sturdy and well assembled the interior is to ensure it’s up to the rigours of daily life.
Best seven-seat SUVs to buy now
Make and modelBest forWhy it makes our listHyundai Santa FeOur overall best seven-seat SUVOutstanding seven-seat practicality, comfortable, long warrantyBMW X7Best for long-distance comfortSupremely quiet, incredibly spacious, fabulous interiorVolvo XC90Best for space and practicalityClassy interior, seven seats as standard, cheaper than some rivalsAudi Q7Best for a comfortable rideOutstanding ride, lots of standard kit, huge bootLand Rover DiscoveryBest for off-road abilityBrilliant off road, roomy third-row seats, smooth diesel engines
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Hyundai Santa Fe
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Outstanding seven-seat practicality
- Comfortable and quiet at speed
- Long warranty
Weaknesses
- PHEV’s underwhelming electric-only range
- Not the quickest or most agile seven seater
- Some rivals are even cheaper
This practical and smart SUV looks like a far cry from the Santa Fe which came before it, but that bluff styling is all about maximising interior space – and it's worked, because there's acres of it.
Indeed, not only will middle-row passengers find that they have lots of room to stretch out, but anyone confined to the rearmost seats will find the same. The Santa Fe is more generous for rear-seat passengers than the rival Peugeot 5008 and Skoda Kodiaq. Nobody needs to pack light, either, because the hybrid version we recommend has an incredible 628 litres of storage space available.
The hybrid system mixes a 1.6-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a total of 212bhp, and can hit 62mph in 9.6sec. There's also a plug-in hybrid version if you want to make use of its extended 70-mile electric range. Still, the regular hybrid should be plenty frugal enough for most drivers – it returned close to 45mpg in our hands.
"I feel like Hyundai has taken inspiration from Land Rover for the interior of the latest Santa Fe. Both the quality of materials used and the layout reminds me of the Discovery Sport, and that's a big compliment to just how far Hyundai has come." – Darren Moss, deputy editor
Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
New car deals
Best price from £37,585
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £37,585
RRP from: £49,185
Nearly new deals
From £37,490
Leasing deals
From £454
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 36 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £453.82 Initial payment £5,445.84
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£5,691 total upfront (£5,446 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 36 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
BMW X7
Best buy: 3.0 40i MHT M Sport Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 5.8 sec
MPG/range: 29.1 mpg
C02 emissions: 220 g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 300 litres
Insurance group: 50E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Supremely quiet and comfortable
- Incredibly spacious and practical
- Fabulous interior quality
Weaknesses
- There are cheaper alternatives
- Looks won’t be to all tastes
- No plug-in hybrid or electric option
The BMW X7, is about as large as SUVs come – its huge bulk hides an equally huge interior which, in combination with a standard-fit third row of seats, provides enough space for seven six-footers. And even with that third row in place, there’s room for a couple of carry-on suitcases in the boot.
That’s not to say it’s just a big box on wheels, though; the X7 is positively sumptuous inside, remarkably hushed when on the move and very comfortable.
It’s not quite as agile as some other large SUVs – such as its smaller sibling, the BMW X5 – but that’s chiefly because the X7’s extra scale and luxury appointments add weight.
We suspect that the xDrive40d diesel engine will provide all the poke which most drivers will need, but if you don't fancy diesel power, then the entry-level xDrive40i is your best bet. This engine is quiet and refined, yet has plenty of power for when you want to press on. The range-topping M60i is incredibly potent, but isn't a very sensible choice.
"If you don't need seven seats, then you might want to have a look at the X7's six-seat configuration. It costs a bit more, but gets you two individual chairs in the second row rather than a bench seat. And trust me, those seats feel worth every penny." – Lawrence Cheung, new cars editor
Read our full BMW X7 review
New car deals
Best price from £83,290
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £83,290
RRP from: £93,280
Nearly new deals
From £69,699
Leasing deals
From £1,192
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
BMW X7
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £1,191.50 Initial payment £14,298.00
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£14,543 total upfront (£14,298 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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Volvo XC90
Best buy: 2.0 B5 MHEV Core Auto 4WD Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 7.7 sec
MPG/range: 33.6 mpg
C02 emissions: 191 g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 301 litres
Insurance group: 38E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Classy interior
- Seven seats come as standard
- Cheaper to buy than some rivals
Weaknesses
- The Audi Q7 has a smoother ride
- A Land Rover Defender has roomier third-row seating
- Expired Euro NCAP safety rating
The Volvo XC90 is the most practical SUV in Volvo's line-up, and with good reason. It's also the only model in the Swedish car maker's SUV stable to come with seven seats as standard. And those rearmost seats aren't just for show – a couple of average sized adults will be perfectly fine back there for most journeys. Larger adults might find it more of a squeeze, but in any case there's more room than in the rival BMW X5.
When you don't need seven seats, the third row folds away to reveal a boot which managed to swallow 10 carry-on suitcases in our tests, which is the same number that the Audi Q7 managed. Even with every seat filled, there's still enough room in the boot for a couple of large bags.
It's the entry-level petrol-engined X90, badged as the B5, which is our pick of the range. With 247bhp, it can cover the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 7.7 seconds. And while some diesel engines in rivals have stronger low-down pulling power, the XC90 has more than enough grunt for everyday needs.
"When a friend asked me to help move house, the XC90 was perfect. Even as a T8 PHEV we got a sofa onboard with the rear seats folded. There aren’t many cars that’ll do that” – John Howell, deputy reviews editor
Read our full Volvo XC90 review
New car deals
Best price from £58,165
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £58,165
RRP from: £66,270
Nearly new deals
From £51,450
Leasing deals
From £538
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Volvo XC90
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 36 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £538.49 Initial payment £6,461.88
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£6,707 total upfront (£6,462 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 36 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Audi Q7
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Comfortable ride
- Lots of standard equipment
- Big boot – even with third row in place
Weaknesses
- Limited engine options at launch
- Third row seats are tight for adults
- Some interior materials are disappointing
Big, luxurious seven-seaters have featured heavily on this list so far because they offer great versatility without compromising on comfort or refinement, and the Audi Q7 is another impressive example of that philosophy.
Indeed, the Q7 can almost match the more expensive BMW X7 for ride comfort, while remaining more nimble through corners than that car. And, although a Q7 fitted with a diesel engine will emit a faint clatter when cold, it’ll soon settle down as the engine warms up. However, we’d still pick the 55 TFSI petrol engine for the extra smoothness it offers.
You can have your Q7 with petrol or diesel power, but it's the 3.0-litre V6 petrol which we think will suit most drivers the best. It offers 335bhp, and delivers quite the punch when you put your foot down, but running costs are likely to be quite high.
"The Q7 is as reassuringly solid as a pillar of concrete, because no matter where you look, you'll find materials which feel well screwed together. I like the mix of glossy black veneers and soft-touch materials, and the way the ambient lighting seems to seep in from behind hidden panels." – Steve Huntingford, editor
Read our full Audi Q7 review
New car deals
Best price from £68,366
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £68,366
RRP from: £81,665
Nearly new deals
From £54,100
Leasing deals
From £780
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Audi Q7
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £780.03 Initial payment £9,360.36
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£9,605 total upfront (£9,360 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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Land Rover Discovery
Best buy: 3.0 D350 MHEV S Auto 4WD Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 6.3 sec
MPG/range: 34.4 mpg
C02 emissions: 215 g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 172 litres
Insurance group:
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Brilliant off road
- Roomy third-row seats
- Smooth, powerful diesel engine
Weaknesses
- Interior quality is nothing special
- Wallowy handling
- Poor reliability
It probably won't surprise you to learn that the Land Rover Discovery is absolutely vast inside. Its seven seats can each fit a large adult, and thanks to electric adjustment, it's easy to fold away the third row when it's not being used. And doing so reveals a boot which even the most adventurous afternoon of shopping would have a hard time filling.
What might surprise you is just how capable the Discovery is over any given terrain. On Tarmac, it feels sure-footed, with steering which makes moving this gigantic car around corners far easier than it has any right to be. And off-road, whether your route takes in muddy tracks, rocky trails or icy paths – or all of them – the Discovery will keep going long after most of its seven-seat rivals have given up.
There's only one engine option available at the moment, and it's a strong one. It's a 3.0-litre six-cylinder unit which develops a healthy 345bhp, and is teamed with a responsive eight-speed automatic gearbox. The combination offers swift performance which is about on par with the Audi Q7 or BMW X7, but keep an eye on running costs – even the official figures suggest you won't see much change from 35mpg.
"I was lucky enough to run a Land Rover Discovery for a few months as a company car, and the thing I remember most is the sheer size of it – the driving position meant I towered over most other cars on the road. Combined with the world-class comfort and technology on board, it's a seven-seat SUV I'd run again in a heartbeat." – Darren Moss, deputy editor
Read our full Land Rover Discovery review
New car deals
Best price from £63,847
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £63,847
RRP from: £69,540
Nearly new deals
From £59,145
Leasing deals
From £940
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Land Rover Discovery
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £940.27 Initial payment £11,283.24
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£11,528 total upfront (£11,283 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 48 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Land Rover Defender
Best buy: 3.0 D250 MHEV S Auto 4WD Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 8.3 sec
MPG/range: 33.4 mpg
C02 emissions: 222 g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 786 litres
Insurance group: 40E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Diesels are smooth and grunty
- Solid and quirky-looking interior
- Comfortable – if you add air suspension
Weaknesses
- Defender 90’s compromised practicality
- There are more agile SUVs
- P300e PHEV’s electric range isn’t great
The Land Rover Defender is a rugged SUV that fuses fantastic off-road ability with decent on-road manners. If that's the blend of talents you're after, it's effectively in a class of one.
Unlike the other cars on this list, it's available in a range of sizes: the Defender 90 (the shortest) is a family-sized SUV, while the 110 and vast 130 each offer a staggering amount of space.
Both the 110 and the 130 are available with up to eight seats – something no other model on this list can offer – although seat number eight is squeezed in between the driver and front passenger seats, so it’s only really usable in short bursts.
You'll spend more on the 345bhp D350 diesel engine than you would on other engines in the Defender line-up, but it pulls brilliantly and is especially useful if you plan on towing regularly.
"When I lived with a Defender 110 for a few months as a company car, I was amazed at how quickly I got used to its size – and the space it offers. My daughters had so much space to themselves on the rear bench, that there were rarely any squabbles." – Will Nightingale, reviews editor
Read our full Land Rover Defender review
New car deals
Best price from £61,450
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £61,450
RRP from: £61,845
Nearly new deals
From £62,650
Leasing deals
From £787
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Land Rover Defender
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £787.19 Initial payment £9,446.28
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£9,691 total upfront (£9,446 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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Kia EV9
Best buy: 99.8kWh Air Auto RWD 5dr
0-62 mph: 9.4 sec
Range: 349 miles
Seats: 7
Boot: 333 litres
Insurance group: 45E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Long range between charges
- Hugely spacious and practical
- Very well equipped
Weaknesses
- Rivals are better to drive
- Interior doesn’t compete with premium alternatives
- Six-seat configuration limited to top-spec trim
That an electric SUV like the Kia EV9 can mix it with the very best seven-seat SUVs on this list shows just how far electric car technology has come. But then again, the EV9 is one seriously impressive SUV.
No matter which version you choose, your EV9 will be powered by the same 96kWh (usable capacity) battery, but the range it delivers depends on which version you choose. Entry-level RWD versions officially deliver 349 miles between charges, while the AWD model drops that figure to 315 miles but brings four-wheel drive. That battery is connected to a 200bhp motor which offers decent punch for everyday driving – the 0-62mph sprint is covered off in 9.4 seconds, which is fractionally quicker than the rival Peugeot e-5008 can manage.
Inside, you'll find a comfortable and supportive driver's seat and good visibility. Your passengers will like the EV9, too, because it's vast. Indeed, no other electric SUV comes close to offering the same kind of space as the EV9, and six-footers in the third row will find that, unlike in some seven-seaters, they'll have plenty of head and knee room.
And being a Kia, the EV9 benefits from a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, which is longer than the cover offered by most rivals.
“I found the EV9 very competent at towing when testing it for our Tow Car Awards – although pulling a caravan puts a big dent in the range.” – Dan Jones, senior reviewer
Read our full Kia EV9 review
New car deals
Best price from £61,445
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £61,445
RRP from: £66,645
Nearly new deals
From £56,995
Leasing deals
From £700
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Kia EV9
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £700.36 Initial payment £8,404.32
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£8,649 total upfront (£8,404 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Skoda Kodiaq
Best buy: 1.5 TSI e-TEC MHEV SE DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr (7 Seat)
0-62 mph: 9.9 sec
MPG/range: 46.3 mpg
C02 emissions: 138 g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 340 litres
Insurance group: 18E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Comfortable ride and good to drive
- Spacious interior with a huge boot
- Good value if you stick to the cheaper trims
Weaknesses
- PHEVs not available in seven seat configuration
- Engines are a little coarse when revved
- Frustrating automatic gearbox
You'll pay less to put a Skoda Kodiaq on your driveway than you would for seven-seat rivals including the Kia Sorento and Land Rover Discovery Sport. And while the Skoda can't match the Land Rover for interior quality – some areas, such as the centre console, flex if you lean on them too hard – it's still feels pretty plush.
Our pick of the Kodiaq's engine line-up is the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol, which benefits from mild hybrid technology to help lower your fuel bills. Indeed, this version managed an impressive 41.9mpg in our hands.
The fold-out third-row seats in the Kodiaq offer more head room than the rival VW Tayron, but it's worth noting that the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Peugeot 5008 offer more room still.
"I'm not the tallest person among the What Car? team, but I like that the Kodiaq's lofty driving position places me high above the road. It's easy to see out of, too, thanks to slim pillars and big windows." – Oliver Young, reviewer
Read our full Skoda Kodiaq review
New car deals
Best price from £33,999
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £33,999
RRP from: £39,390
Nearly new deals
From £28,995
Leasing deals
From £344
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Skoda Kodiaq
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £343.84 Initial payment £4,126.08
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£4,371 total upfront (£4,126 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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Kia Sorento
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- One of the more spacious seven seaters at this price
- A massive boot
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Priced above mainstream rivals
- Hybrid engine isn't as fuel efficient as a Honda CR-V's
- Interior quality not as good as similarly priced premium rivals
Not only does every Kia Sorento come with seven seats as standard, but your rearmost passengers will find that they have more space to stretch out than in the rival Land Rover Discovery Sport and Skoda Kodiaq – only a few cars, including the Hyundai Santa Fe which tops our list, offers more.
Even better, you can still fit a couple of holiday suitcases into the Sorento's boot even when every seat is filled. When you're travelling in five-seat mode, you might as well take the kitchen sink with you.
Both hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Sorento are available, with the latter able to tow an impressive 1500kg, or you can choose good old diesel power. The hybrid Sorento feels nippy enough for most situations, and can hit 62mph in 9.7sec.
"If I was speccing up a Kia Sorento, I'd look at '3' trim, because that's where you get full leather seats which I think look better than the faux-leather alternatives which come on cheaper trims." – Dan Jones, senior reviewer
Read our full Kia Sorento review
New car deals
Best price from £43,725
What is What Car? best price?
The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.
Available now from: £43,999
RRP from: £43,725
Nearly new deals
From £39,989
Leasing deals
From £488
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Kia Sorento
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £488.35 Initial payment £5,860.20
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
In partnership with
£6,105 total upfront (£5,860 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Peugeot e-5008
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Great seven-seat usability
- Stylish, modern-feeling interior
- Long warranty available
Weaknesses
- Some petrol seven-seaters cost less
- Ride comfort isn’t as polished as in pricier rivals
Not only is the Peugeot e-5008 one of the UK's cheapest electric seven-seaters – undercutting key rivals like the Kia EV9 and Mercedes EQB by thousands of pounds – but it's also one of the best.
Entry-level single-motor versions of the e-5008 are good for 211bhp and a 0-62mph sprint time of 9.7sec, while the mid-range Electric 230 has more power and also a longer range, at 413 miles. That's more than the longest-range Kia EV9 can manage. There's also a range-topping four-wheel drive model with 321bhp.
Inside, the e-5008 offers a high-quality feel and a good driving position. But while the curved 21in screen in the middle of the car looks swish, it's fiddly to use, because some of its menus are convoluted.
"I like that you don't have to be a gymnast to gain access to the e-5008's third row of seats – the doors open nice and wide, leacing a large opening for you to clamber through." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
Read our full Peugeot e-5008 review
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What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Peugeot e-5008
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £524.60 Initial payment £6,295.20
Step-by-step
Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.
- Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
- Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
- Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end
What you get
When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:
- Full manufacturer’s warranty
- Road tax and roadside assistance included
- Free returns within 30 days*
Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.
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£6,540 total upfront (£6,295 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
And the seven-seat SUV to avoid...
KGM Rexton
It might be good off-road and well priced for its size, but the Rexton lags behind rivals when it comes to comfort, and it's not as spacious as you might think
Read our review
How to choose the best large SUV
SUVs offer the size, comfort and practicality which many families need, and these days they come in more shapes and to suit more budgets than ever before. But with so many to choose from, how can you decide which SUV is best for you?
Here, we’ll reveal the key points you should consider if you’re in the market for a large SUV. It may be that if you’re considering a car in this category, you’ve outgrown the small and family-sized SUV options and need a bigger vehicle. Among your key considerations might be how many seats you need, whether you want hybrid or electric power, and – given its size – whether you’ll be able to easily park it.
Do you need seven seats?
Plenty of large SUVs come with the option of seven seats which typically pull up out of the boot floor, to be used only when you need them. That means you can enjoy the sort of boot which you might usually find in a van in five-seat mode, then swap boot space for bum space when you need to carry two extra passengers.
It’s worth noting that the comfort offered by third-row seats differs widely across the class. Some are fairly narrow and don’t have much leg room, while others have the kind of head and leg room which means even taller adults can travel in comfort. It’s recommended that you or your passengers try them out for size before you make a purchase.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that just because a large SUV has seven seats, that doesn’t mean that all of them will come with Isofix mounting points for child car seats.
How large is too large?
Because large SUVs are, by definition, big, parking them without any driver aids could be tricky. That’s especially true if you’re not already used to driving a large SUV.
Fortunately, even the cheapest large SUVs are likely to come with front and rear parking sensors, which offer audible warnings if you’re getting too close to something behind you. Many will also come with a reversing camera, either as standard or as a low-cost option, which will display an image of what’s behind you onto the car’s infotainment screen, and is a good way to avoid embarrassing car park scrapes.
For added peace of mind, you might also want to add a bird’s eye view camera which shows a top-down view of your car.
Do you want electric power?
Your options for electric seven seaters are relatively limited at the moment, but more will come as we move towards the 2030 ban on the sale of cars powered solely by petrol or diesel.
Cars such as the Peugeot e-5008 prove that large SUVs can make good use of electric power, with their large dimensions well suited to incorporating a hefty battery pack. And thanks to the sheer size of a large SUV, you can fit a big battery inside them – giving you a good electric range.
Of course, if you are thinking of going electric with a large SUV, then as with any electric car, it’s worth thinking about how you can charge it. If you can charge up at home, then you can take advantage of super-low energy tariffs, or if you can do the same at work, then you’ll also enjoy lower running costs.
If you’ll be relying on the public charging networks, then it pays to scope out the chargers in your area beforehand, to see what network they use, and how reliable they are.
Far more large SUVs and seven-seaters are available with plug-in hybrid power, and this represents the best of both worlds if you’re not quite ready to go electric yet.
Would you be better off with an MPV?
If you’re in the market for a larger car, then chances are that you’ve looked at both a traditional people carrier (MPV) and an SUV. The two cars might be similar in that they offer plenty of space and, in a lot of cases, the option of seven seats, but the way they approach things is different.
While an MPV takes the shape of a traditional car which is longer and taller than, say, a family hatchback, an SUV is an altogether more upright vehicle. That means it places you further from the road, which helps to give you a better view out of it – something which could be a bonus when you’re trying to see out at junctions.
An SUV also offers additional versatility, having a square boot makes getting items in and out easy, and allows you to load it easily. A traditional MPV might be the more familiar option to most, but we’d suggest trying an SUV to see if it’s right for you.
Should I buy a large SUV?
Buy one if:
- You want the option of seven seats
- You want to sit high up
- You want the option of plug-in hybrid or electric power
Don’t buy one if:
- You want to sit low to the ground
- You don’t like how an SUV drives
- You want something with space that’s not too big
FAQs
What is the best seven-seat SUV in the UK?
The best seven-seat SUV you can buy is the Hyundai Santa Fe, our reigning champion in this market. Even when you're not making use of all seven seats, though, the Santa Fe impresses with its top-notch comfort, upmarket feel and sensible running costs. We recommend the 1.6-litre hybrid version for its blend of peppy performance and wallet-pleasing frugality.
What is the most spacious SUV?
In terms of sheer size, few cars can match the long-wheelbased Range Rover. Not only does this behemoth of an SUV have an interior which surrounds you with high-quality materials and the latest tech, but it also has literal acres of space for you and your passengers to stretch out. Even in the standard-wheelbase car, we managed to fit an impressive 10 carry-on suitcases into the boot – and that figure is only likely to grow in the long-wheelbase model.
Put it this way – if you're wanting to travel with any more luggage than the LWB Range Rover can manage, you'll probably need a van.
What is the best used seven-seat SUV?
The best used seven-seat SUV to buy is the Peugeot 5008. Not only does it offer seven seats, meaning you won't need to leave any of your extended family behind, but it's also plush, handles well and seems to be a reliable proposition for owners.
These days, you can pick up a used 5008 for less than £20,000, and that makes it an inredibly tempting proposition for anyone in the market for a used seven-seat SUV.
What is the most reliable SUV?
According to the results of the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, where real-world car owners tell us about any issues they've had over the past year, Britain's most reliable seven-seat SUV is the previous-generation Hyundai Santa Fe, which put in a perfect score. None of the cars we were told about experienced any issues over the past year, and owners praised the car's build quality and reliability.
Other larger SUVs which performed well include the diesel-engined Skoda Kodiaq (pre-facelift, so cars built between 2016 and 2024) and the Mercedes GLB, while at the other end of the scale, the Audi Q7 was revealed as the most unreliable large SUV, with owners reporting issues with areas including the suspension, steering, and non-engine electrics.
Top 10
Best large SUVs
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