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Best 7-seat cars 2026 – and the ones to avoid
Whether you want a part-time seven-seater or one to carry lots of people every day, this run-down of the best seven-seat cars will help you pick the right model for your family
Darren Moss
Updated: 5 September 2026
Need to fit seven people in your car? You might imagine that your only option is a family MPV – but you'd be wrong. These days, there are plenty of options if your family has swollen to include seven people, and you're just as likely to be looking at an SUV as a traditional people carrier.
The job of a good seven-seater, naturally, is to carry you and your passengers in comfort. It should be spacious, practical, and offer enough space to fit all of your luggage alongside your brood. And, of course, you should be able to fit plenty of child car seats inside, too. The best, though, will go on step further, by being good to drive, pleasant inside and, relatively speaking, cheap to buy and run. And the latter point is proven by some of the best seven-seaters being available with plug-in hybrid or electric power.
So how to choose the best seven-seater? Well, our expert road test team have done the hard work for you, driving hundreds of miles in every seven-seater car on the market. The result of their testing is this feature, where we'll reveal the 10 seven-seat cars which we think should be on your shortlist, as well as the one model you should avoid. Plus, we'll show you how you can take advantage of the best PCP and leasing deals. Just follow the links to fnd out more, or you can read more about how we test and rate cars.
Best seven-seater cars to buy now – and how to get the best deal
Make and modelList price fromRatingPCP dealsLeasing dealsHyundai Santa Fe£49,1405Best PCP dealsBest leasing dealsVolkswagen ID Buzz£59,4055Best PCP dealsBest leasing dealsBMW X7£93,2805Best PCP dealsBest leasing dealsVolvo XC90£66,2704Best PCP dealsBest leasing dealsAudi Q7£81,6654Best PCP dealsCars available now
The best seven-seater cars for you
The Hyundai Santa Fe is proof that a seven-seater doesn't have to cost a lot, because compared with some of the other seven-seaters here, it's a bit of a bargain. Not only that, but you get plenty of kit thrown in for your money, meaning that the entry-level trim is the one to go for.
If you want a seven-seater with pedigree, the Volkswagen ID Buzz is the MPV to choose. It's a former What Car? Car of the Year, and as well as acres of space inside, it's also remarkably easy to drive, with a tight turning circle and instant responses from its electric motor.
Want the last word in luxury? The BMW X7 is the SUV to choose. Not only is it every bit as spacious as you might need – including in its third row – but the quality of materials used and the technology included make you feel as though you're in a first class airplane cabin. It really does make every journey feel special.
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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
It might be big, but where the Hyundai Santa Fe impresses most is that it can fit seven people in absolute comfort, meaning there'll be no complaints from anyone relegated to the third row of seats.
Indeed, even the cavernous Skoda Kodiaq or Peugeot 5008 can't match the Santa Fe for third-row space, and getting into the third row is easier than in those rivals too, with wide doors and acres of head and leg room.
Things only get better in the middle row, where passengers have palatial space to stretch out. And even if none of your passengers wants to travel light, the Santa Fe will have room for all of their luggage. Plus, if you're travelling in five-seat mode, there's a colossal 628 litres of space available.
You might imagine that driving something so large would feel rather unwieldy, but the Santa Fe does an excellent job of hiding its bulk on the road. Its high-set driving position and well-weighted, accurate steering make threading it along tight city streets a breeze.
Although you can get four-wheel drive, we reckon the two-wheel drive hybrid version of the Santa Fe will suit most buyers the best, because it mixes performance and frugality in equal measure.
"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 Editor
Read our in-depth Hyundai Santa Fe review
New car deals
Best price from £37,399
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: £37,399
RRP from: £49,185
Nearly new deals
From £35,995
Leasing deals
From £391
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £390.69 Initial payment £4,688.28
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
£4,933 total upfront (£4,688 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Volkswagen ID Buzz
Best buy: Pro 79kWh Style Auto 5dr (SWB, 6Seat)
0-62 mph: 7.6 sec
Range: 272 miles
Seats: 6
Boot: 1121 litres
Insurance group: 40E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Surprisingly good to drive
- Hugely practical
- Strong resale values
Weaknesses
- Fiddly air-con controls and infotainment
- Efficiency could be better
- The LWB version doesn't ride as smoothly as the SWB
When the Volkswagen ID Buzz was launched, we thought it was so good that we named it as our overall Car of the Year. And now it's available with seven seats, it makes even more sense for drivers looking to go green.
Most will find the Buzz's retro looks charming, but this electric car is bang up to date, especially in long-wheelbase form. This gets you an 86kWh battery which is officially good for up to 291 miles between charges – that's more than the rival Mercedes EQV, if not quite as long-legged as the Kia EV9 or Peugeot e-5008.
Supple suspension means that you're jostled around in your seat less than you would be in a Tesla Model Y, and while the bigger battery adds weight, the Buzz still smothers most lumps and bumps well. This long-wheelbase model joins the regular Buzz in having a tight turning circle too, so you shouldn't find it difficult to weave along a tight city street.
Style is the mid-range trim level, and gets you powered side doors and an electric tailgate, as well as 20in alloy wheels.
"Don't imagine that just because the ID Buzz is a big car that it can't be hustled along a country road. I had good fun weaving it from corner to corner, where it responded more quickly to my steering inputs than some SUV rivals." – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor
Read our in-depth Volkswagen ID Buzz review
New car deals
Best price from £48,995
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: £48,995
RRP from: £59,405
Nearly new deals
From £47,990
Leasing deals
From £597
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Volkswagen ID Buzz
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £596.86 Initial payment £7,162.32
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
£7,407 total upfront (£7,162 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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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 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 xDrive40i, which offers punchy performance but which should keep your running costs sensible. It also happens to be the cheapest option in the line-up, but dont think that means you'll feel short-changed. The opposite is true, in fact – it's a peach of an engine which manages to exceptionally smooth.
If you're covering high mileages, then there's the 347bhp xDrive40d to consider, while the range-topping 4.4-litre V8 petrol in the M60i will have no trouble in rocketing you up to motorway spoeeds. Be aware, though, that it'll also cost you a lot to run.
"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 in-depth BMW X7 review
New car deals
Best price from £83,452
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: £83,452
RRP from: £93,280
Nearly new deals
From £63,911
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
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
For many people, the Volvo XC90 exemplifies the premium seven-seat SUV, and the latest version picks up exactly where the previous model left off.
Available with petrol or plug-in hybrid power, it's the latter version – badged as the T8 – which we think will suit most drivers best. Its 44-mile electric-only range isn't up there with the best in the class, but should still be enough to manage most of your daily commute on electric power. Indeed, we managed 35 miles in real-world conditions. This will also be the cheapest version to run if you're a company car driver.
While taller adults will find it a bit of a squeeze to sit in the XC90's third-row seats, a couple of smaller adults will find that they have plenty of room to get comfortable. And if you're in the second row, you'll find that three adults can sit side-by-side with no trouble. And even if you've got all seven seats in use, there's still enough space in the XC90's boot for a couple of large bags.
We'd recommend opting for at least mid-range Plus trim in the XC90, because this brings air suspension, which does a better job of ironing out uneven stretches of road. Though, it must be said, the XC90 remains comfortable on any road, no matter which version you choose.
"I appreciate a good seat, and in the XC90 I can not only them trimmed in fine Nappa leather, but also enjoy a massage as I drive along. That really helps to take the stress out of longer journeys." – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth 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 £48,768
Leasing deals
From £537
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 £537.13 Initial payment £6,445.56
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
£6,691 total upfront (£6,446 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 36 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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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
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.
You can only have your Q7 with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine at the moment, but it gets mild hybrid technology to improve efficiency, and it helps the Q7 to officially return 38mpg – that's slightly better than a diesel-engined BMW X7. And if that's not green enough for you, a plug-in hybrid will join the line-up in 2027.
So why doesn't the Q7 earn a spot higher up this list? Well, while getting into the third row is fairly easy, once you're back there space is tight. There's limited leg room, so you'll hear complaints from your adult passengers on all but the shortest journeys.
So while the Q7 can be a seven-seater, we'd suggest there are ultimately better options.
"The Q7's price tag might be pretty steep, but the amount of equipment seems really generous and you won’t need to add many options." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
Read our in-depth Audi Q7 review
New car deals
Best price from £77,500
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: £77,500
RRP from: £81,665
Nearly new deals
From £50,995
Leasing deals
From £790
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 £789.62 Initial payment £9,475.44
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
£9,720 total upfront (£9,475 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
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
The Land Rover Discovery is one of the most capable – and desirable – SUVs around, and that shows in its third-row space. Even taller passengers won't complain if they're seated back there, because they'll have more room to stretch out than they would in most rivals barring the enormous BMW X7.
We like the small touches designed to make life for your rearmost passengers as easy as possible, too, such as the soft pads under the rear side windows so they have somewhere to rest their elbows, and the small stowage areas for their odds and ends.
Life in the second row isn't quite as impressive, with both the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 offering more in the way of leg room, but at least there's plenty of head room. And as for the front, the Discovery feels vast – you and your front passenger might as well be in separate postcodes.
Like the Audi Q7 further up this list, you can only have your Discovery with diesel power, and it's a beast of a unit. With 345bhp and mountains of pulling power, the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder diesel has no trouble getting you up to motorway speeds. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox which does a good job of managing the Discovery's reserves.
It's a shame that there are still question marks over the Discovery's reliability, with the model finishing ninth out of 12 seven-seat SUVs in our 2024 Reliability Survey. Still, at least you get a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty as standard.
“I found the Discovery’s brake pedal a little grabby at low speeds, so you have to concentrate in order to come to a slow stop.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth Land Rover Discovery review
New car deals
Best price from £64,701
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: £64,701
RRP from: £69,540
Nearly new deals
From £54,950
Leasing deals
From £931
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 £931.27 Initial payment £11,175.24
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
£11,420 total upfront (£11,175 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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Volkswagen Multivan
Best buy: 2.0 TDI Life DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 11.6 sec
MPG/range: 43.5 mpg
C02 emissions: 170 g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 469 litres
Insurance group: 26E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning
Strengths
- Exceptionally good predicted residual values
- Good value against van-based MPV rivals
- Lots of safety tech
Weaknesses
- Infotainment not the best
- No rear air-con as standard
It might be a traditional people carrier, but the latest Volkswagen Multivan is a far cry from the 'van with windows' image you might associate it with. Indeed, it feels properly car-like inside, with materials which place it far above van-based MPV rivals. Plus, you sit nice and high up, which gives you a great view over the road ahead.
There's simply acres of space inside the Multivan, and that's most evident in the second row, where it beats every car-based MPV rival for head room. Even when you sit three people in the third row, adult occupants will be more comfortable than they would be in most rivals. And while we doubt anyone will complain about boot space, if you do find yourself needing more room, there's a Long variant which extends the boot overhang to give you a greater load space.
The entry-level choice in the Multivan is a 2.0-litre diesel, and it's a great choice if you'll be covering lots of miles. If you'll be spending most of your time in the city, however, we'd recommend looking at the plug-in hybrid version. Not only does this give you an electric range of around 30 miles between charges, but with 215bhp from its petrol engine and electric motor combined, performance is sprightly.
There's no getting around the fact that the Multivan is quite an expensive proposition, and is considerably pricier than, say, the Volkswagen Touran. That said, it's cheaper than the Ford Tourneo Custom or Mercedes V-Class. And thanks to rock-solid residual values, you should get a decent chunk of your money back when you come to sell it on.
“While certain bumps cause some shudder, I found the Multivan's ride generally calm, whether around town or on the motorway.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer
Read our in-depth Volkswagen Multivan review
New car deals
Best price from £43,250
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: £43,250
RRP from: £50,683
Nearly new deals
From £42,799
Leasing deals
From £621
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Volkswagen Multivan
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £621.48 Initial payment £7,457.76
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
£7,703 total upfront (£7,458 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
Dacia Jogger
Best buy: 1.0 TCe Expression Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr
0-62 mph: 11.2 sec
MPG/range: 47 mpg
C02 emissions: 136 g/km
Seats: 7
Boot: 212 litres
Insurance group: 15E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance
Strengths
- Extremely well priced
- Genuine seven-seat usability
- Easy to drive
Weaknesses
- Very poor safety rating
- Prominent wind, road and engine noise
- Build quality isn’t super solid
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. And while base models require you to use your smartphone as an infotainment screen, Expression trim adds a 10.0in colour touchscreen which has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
Plus, while the Jogger's materials are unlikely to trouble the class leaders here, we think that for the price you're paying, they're not bad at all. And it's good news that drivers of all shapes and sizes should be able to get comfortable behind the wheel.
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.
It's worth noting, however, that the Jogger scored a disappointing one star out of five for safety when it was tested by the experts at Euro NCAP, performing especially poorly for pedestrian protection and safety assistance. On the subject of safety, every Jogger comes with six airbags, an e-Call emergency call function and automatic emergency braking – but the system doesn't recognise pedestrians.
"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 Editor
Read our in-depth Dacia Jogger review
New car deals
Best price from £18,995
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: £19,990
RRP from: £18,995
Nearly new deals
From £17,830
Leasing deals
From £246
About our price indicator
What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)
Dacia Jogger
Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 48 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £245.57 Initial payment £2,946.84
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
£3,192 total upfront (£2,947 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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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
Let's not beat about the bush – the Kia EV9 is absolutely enormous. Indeed, when it comes to interior space, no other electric SUV barring the closely related Hyundai Ioniq 9 comes close. In real terms, that means no matter which seat you're sitting in, you'll be able to get comfortable. Indeed, we found that even a couple of six-footers sitting in the third row will have plenty of headroom.
Even with every seat filled, the EV9 offers more boot space than the Volkswagen ID Buzz, while in two-seat mode the EV9 is essentially an electric van. And that's before you get to all of the cubbies dotted around the interior designed to hold your odds and ends. This is a car where space is not an issue.
Regardless of which version of the EV9 you go for, you'll get the same 96kWh battery, which gives entry-level RWD models an official range of 349 miles. And in our real-world tests on a warm day, we found that 314 miles was possible. Versions with four-wheel drive get a little less range, and it's worth noting that some rivals, including the Peugeot e-5008 and BMW iX offer more range, though the latter isn't a seven-seater.
You probably won't be surprised to hear that the EV9 is best driven at a comfortable pace rather than quickly. That's because, being a big and tall SUV, it leans quite a lot through faster bends. And because the EV9 isn't available with air suspension, it doesn't do quite as good a job of sounding off lumps and bumps as, say, an iX or Land Rover Defender.
Against its electric SUV rivals, the EV9 is well priced, and there's peace of mind in Kia's seven-year warranty should anything go wrong.
“Although the EV9 has Isofix mounting points on four of its seats, I think it's a shame there isn't one one on the front passenger seat.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth 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: 46.2 mpg
C02 emissions: 139 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
If most of the cars 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. It also comes with mild hybrid techology to help keep your fuel bills in check.
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.
You sit nice and high up inside the Kodiaq, and the seats are supportive so you won't be uncomfortable on longer trips. It's also nice to see Skoda retaining physical buttons for the climate control, which are far easier to use while on the move than prodding the touchscreen.
In terms of quality inside, the Kodiaq feels just as inviting as inviting as the Peugeot 5008, with a mix of soft materials including cloth, leather and wood finishes. It isn't quite up to the standard of the Volkswagen Tayron, mind, but that car costs a fair bit more than the Skoda.
"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 in-depth Skoda Kodiaq review
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New car deals
Best price from £32,990
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: £32,990
RRP from: £39,390
Nearly new deals
From £30,990
Leasing deals
From £305
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 £304.63 Initial payment £3,655.56
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
£3,901 total upfront (£3,656 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months
- Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
- No balloon payments
- Road tax included
And the 7-seat car to avoid...
Maxus Mifa 9
It might be cheaper than other seven-seat electric MPVs, but the Mifa 9 has a poor real-world range, an unsettled ride, and an interior which doesn't feel up to standard.
Read our review
How to choose the best 7-seater
If you need space in your everyday vehicle for seven passengers, you might think that going down the people-carrier route is the way to go. But nowadays many of the best seven-seaters are actually SUVs.
But is a seven-seater right for you? Here we explain what to look for if you’re thinking of buying one.
How much interior space do you need?
Seven-seaters do very much what they say on the tin – fit up to seven people. But to do that, they need plenty of space inside to comfortably accommodate an additional row of seats instead of the usual five.
The best seven-seaters have enough head and leg room even for taller passengers to make themselves at home in each row – not just children. That third row of seats in the back can sometimes be cramped, especially if you opt for an SUV. If you’re regularly carrying around a party of six-footers, it’s crucial to test out just how comfortable those two extra seats are.
That third row should also be easily accessible, so it’s important to look for a seven-seater with features like wide doors and a sliding second row of seats. If you’re carrying lots of children, you’ll need to ensure the car you’re considering has enough Isofix child seat mounting points. It’s a very good idea to take the family – plus those child seats – along for your test drive to make sure they all fit, and can all sit comfortably.
Do you need a big boot?
Of course, most seven-seater owners won’t be using their third row of seats all the time, so boot space is also an important aspect to consider when shopping for a family vehicle.
If you’re regularly travelling with a sizeable tribe, it’s likely that you’ll need plenty of storage for luggage, the weekly shop and other everyday items. Plenty of seven-seaters come with huge amounts of cargo space once the rear row of seats are folded down, but it’s worth noting that you lose most of that space when seats six and seven are in use.
Often, to offset the space lost by the rearmost row of seats, seven-seat models will provide plenty of storage cubbies elsewhere in the car – for example, under the central armrest, in the dashboard or in the door pockets. Think about what you and your passengers take on most trips, and whether it can all be stored away safely.
Make sure you buy a safe seven-seater
Because they’re often used as family transporters, safety is one of the key aspects to consider when you’re choosing a seven-seater.
As part of our in-depth reviews of each model, we take into account the Euro NCAP ratings they achieved when undergoing standardised crash and safety testing. These tests include assessments of how well each model can detect and avoid collisions with motorcyclists and vulnerable road users, alongside front and side impact crash tests.
Unfortunately, you do sometimes have to fork out extra for additional driving aids – but most cars nowadays come with the most important assistance features as standard for maximised safety.
How does a seven-seater drive?
Most people look towards seven-seaters for their practicality and family-friendly features, as such few are what you could describe as fun to drive.
You’ll want to ensure your passengers can get comfy and have a good view out, particularly if they’re prone to travel sickness, so bring them along. And because many of these cars spend time on crowded streets on the school run or parked in cramped multi-storeys, make sure you’re able to park them easily – features such as parking sensors or cameras, or even a self-parking system can really help with larger models.
Again, make sure you trial these situations on the test drive to give you the best chance of gelling with your car over the long-term.
Should I choose a seven-seat MPV or SUV?
Seven seaters broadly fall into two camps: MPVs (often called people carriers) or SUVs. But which one you should pick depends on your individual needs.
MPVs have been somewhat usurped by SUVs in the seven-seat market, but that doesn’t mean one might not be right for you. Their boxy shapes make them extremely practical, with plenty of interior space, as well as wide doors for easy accessibility and flexible seating.
If you’re looking for something a bit more trendy, there are now a whole host of seven-seat SUV models you can choose from, from a wide range of brands and with a wide range of power options. Indeed, you can specify your seven-seater with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and even pure electric power for a greener conscience, or you can still stick with more traditional combustion fuels. And if you need more grip on muddy, wet or icy surfaces, you’re more likely to find a four-wheel drive SUV than you are an MPV.
That said, SUVs don’t always offer the same levels of practicality that MPVs do, especially in the third row of seats. Six-footers might be more comfortable in a people carrier.
Should I buy a seven-seater?
Buy one if:
- You regularly carry around more than five passengers
- You need lots of flexible cargo space
- Safety for passengers is a top priority
Don’t buy one if:
- You want to keep your running costs low
- You don’t travel often with more than five passengers – if it’s only on rare occasions, you might be better off using two cars
- Driving fun is a priority
How we choose the best 7-seaters
We assess every 7-seater available by putting it through a rigorous series of tests and comparing it with its peers. This, coupled with continual assessment, makes this the definitive guide to the best cars and SUVs with seven seats.
Our rankings are informed by our annual reader survey, through which more than 20,000 drivers provide us with unique insights into what’s really important to them when they choose a new 7-seater. And while we consider every aspect of 7-seaters during our testing, we place particular emphasis on the following factors:
Interior space – an important factor for 72% of 7-seat car and SUV buyers
With seven rather than the usual five seats to fit in, these models need plenty of space inside. We assess how passengers in the front, the middle row and the (sometimes tiny) third-row seats are treated in terms of head and leg room. We also check how many storage areas there are for your belongings, and whether a panoramic roof affects head room.
Boot space – an important factor for 72% of 7-seat car and SUV buyers
As well as comparing models’ official storage volume figures, we put cars through our carry-on suitcase test so we can assess car boots on their real-world usability. We check whether the back seats fold down easily, and whether or not that leaves an awkward step in the floor of the extended load bay. And in the case of 7-seaters, we’ll let you know how much luggage a car will take in five-seat and seven-seat mode.
Comfortable driving position – an important factor for 70% of 7-seat car and SUV buyers
Here, we ensure the steering wheel, seat and pedals align comfortably, and there’s a wide range of adjustment. Seat support is considered, and for 7-seat SUVs, we use laser technology to measure the height of the seat from the road. We also rate the ergonomics of the dashboard, including major controls for functions such as the infotainment and air-con.
Our comprehensive testing regime doesn’t end there. Our how we test cars feature outlines the dozens of tests, measurements and assessments which every car goes through before being given a What Car? rating.
FAQs
What is the best 7-seater car for families?
As an overall package, the Hyundai Santa Fe is the best 7-seater car for families. It can easily fit seven adults inside, plus accessing the third row is a doddle thanks to its sliding second row seats. Elsewhere, the Santa Fe is comfortable and refined, making it a brilliant car for doing big miles in.
What is the most spacious 7-seater car?
The BMW X7 is vast, and the result of that is masses of interior space. Front occupants have more than enough room, and there’s certainly no shortage of head, leg or shoulder room in the second-row (even three adults can sit comfortably side-by-side). The X7’s third-row seats are also more spacious than those in the Audi Q7 and Land Rover Discovery.
What is the biggest 7-seater car in the UK?
The Audi Q7, BMW X7, Land Rover Defender 130, Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover LWB, Volkswagen ID Buzz LWB and Volvo XC90 are some of the biggest 7-seater cars you can buy in the UK.
What is the cheapest 7-seater car in the UK?
The cheapest 7-seater car you can buy in the UK is the Dacia Jogger. Despite its keen pricing, it's actually a very good offering, being comfortable to drive, well equipped and practical. It did only score one star out of five for safety when it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2021, though.
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