In association with MotorEasy
What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable 7-seaters
In our annual Reliability Survey, we ask readers to rate the dependability of cars aged up to five years old. Here we list the most and least reliable 7-seaters in the UK...
Around 1.2 million families in the UK have more than two children, and many other people regularly transport more than four children or adults, so the added versatility of a seven-seat car is extremely important to them.
Buyers can choose between large SUVs and MPVs, but when it comes to reliability survey results, they need to be rather selective because MPVs generally score lower than seven-seat SUVs.
Overall, seven-seaters are one of the lowest-scoring car classes for reliability, too, gaining a rating of 90.8% in last year's survey and 90.3% this time round. However, there are some very robust examples, such as this year's winner the 2018-2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, Mercedes GLB and diesel versions of the 2016-2024 Skoda Kodiaq.
The most common faults suffered by seven-seat vehicles are electrical issues, including faults with infotainment systems. This article lists models aged up to five years old. Reliability information for older models is in our most reliable used cars feature.
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Most reliable 7-seaters
1. Hyundai Santa Fe (2018-2024)
Reliability rating 100%
Most common faults: none
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: n/a
Results in the seven-seater category were disappointing this year. Only cars in the electric SUV category posted a lower average score, so a seven-seater that manages an unblemished 100% rating deserves a lot of praise. The Santa Fe not only does just this, but it’s also the second Hyundai model to gain a perfect score this year, alongside the much cheaper i10 city car.
The Santa Fe’s perfect score means no owners had any issues or breakdowns in their cars in the previous 24 months, so none had to contend with unwanted repair bills.
Owner’s view: “The build quality and reliability of my Santa Fe are both exemplary.”
2. Skoda Kodiaq diesel (2016-2024)
Reliability rating 97.8%
Most common faults: exhaust 6%, non-engine electrics 6%, gearbox 3%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 33% more than a week
Diesel versions of the previous generation Kodiaq gain a higher rating than the petrol models, suffering fewer faults and being repaired more quickly. Overall, 14% of diesel Kodiaqs went wrong, compared with 19% of petrols.
Of the faulty cars, 67% were in and out of the workshop in a day or less, while only 14% of petrol models were. All of the defective cars could still be driven, and 33% of diesels were out of action for more than a week, compared with 71% of petrols. Exhausts and non-engine electrics were the most common causes of problems. All issues were fixed for free.
Reliability rating 96.0%
Most common faults: non-engine electrics 10%, bodywork 5%, engine 5%, interior trim 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 33% one day to a week
Electrical issues – including problems with the infotainment system – were the main bugbear of GLB owners, who told us that 29% of their cars had gone wrong. There were also concerns about the bodywork, engine and interior trim.
More positively, Mercedes and its dealers paid for all fixes, even though many vehicles were no longer covered by the brand’s new-car warranty. In many instances, repairs were swift, too; half of the affected cars were sorted in a day or less, 33% took up to a week to put right and only 17% were in workshops for more than a week.
4. Vauxhall Combo Life Electric (2022-present)
Reliability rating 95.3%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 33% one day or less, 67% more than a week
The van-based Combo Life Electric is the highest-rated MPV for reliability. Only the longer XL version can be had with seven seats; the regular M comes with five pews. Both versions have plenty of space for passengers and luggage, though. It's a pricey option, but it is better equipped than the near-identical Citroën e-Berlingo and Peugeot e-Rifter, neither of which come with seven seats.
Only 13% of the Combo Life models we were told about had any issues, and two-thirds of the affected cars could still be driven. Remedial work was slow, taking more than a week in many instances, but Vauxhall paid for all the fixes.
Reliability rating 94.8%
Most common faults: non-engine electrics 9%, bodywork 6%, air-con 3%, engine 3%, electric battery pack 3%, sat-nav/infotainment system 3%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 36% one day or less, 64% one day to a week
The Kia Sorento has evolved from a purely diesel-powered seven-seater to one that can also be had as a regular hybrid (HEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Whichever engine you opt for, you'll get a hugely practical, roomy and well specced large SUV.
Although 29% of the Sorentos in our survey went wrong, most issues were with electrical systems and only 18% of the affected cars couldn't be driven. Two-thirds of cars were in the garage for up to a week, but Kia paid for all repairs.
6. Land Rover Defender (2020-present)
Reliability rating 92.3%
Most common faults: engine 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%, non-engine electrics 3%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 41% one day or less, 53% more than a week
If you want a family SUV with unstoppable off-road prowess, the Defender should be on your shopping list because it's roomy, practical and better than the original off the beaten track. It is available in a choice of three body styles: the three-door Defender 90, the five-door Defender 110 – available as a five, six or seven-seater – and the enormous Defender 130, which is available with up to eight seats.
The Defender's fault rate of 22% is fairly high, but 82% of cars with problems could still be driven and 41% were fixed in a day or less. Even better Land Rover picked up the tab for all necessary work.
Reliability rating 92.2%
Most common faults: non-engine electrics 8%, sat-nav/infotainment system 8%, engine 5%, gearbox 5%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 21% one day or less, 71% more than a week
The Kodiaq is one of the very best seven-seat SUVs, as well as one of the most affordable to buy used. However, if you want the most dependable one, you might want to consider a diesel model because it's proving more robust than the petrol versions.
Although only 14% of petrol Kodiaqs went wrong, a shocking 71% of them spent more than a week in the workshop having problems with their electrics, engines and gearboxes sorted out.
=8. Dacia Jogger (2022-present)
Reliability rating 91.5%
Most common faults: Gearbox/clutch 14%, bodywork 5%, fuel system 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 14% one day or less, 58% more than a week
The Dacia Jogger is the cheapest seven-seat MPV you can buy new, but it is a good option because it is a well-thought-out people mover with genuine seven-seat usability, decent driving dynamics and plenty of equipment.
Owners told us that 19% of their Joggers had a glitch, and worryingly 43% of those couldn't be driven. No wonder that more than half spent longer than a week in the garage. The good news is that all remedial work was done for free, though.
=8. Peugeot 5008 (2017-2024)
Reliability rating 91.5%
Most common faults: Engine 8%, non-engine electrics 8%,
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 52% one day or less, 29% more than a week
The 5008 has morphed from a boxy MPV into an attractively styled SUV. It still comes with seven seats as standard and offers many practical features to take the strain out of family life, including three separate sliding seats in the second row.
Although just over a third (35%) of the 5008s reported on went wrong, 90% of those cars could still be driven, and most issues were fixed the same day by dealers. Best of all, Peugeot covered the cost of all repair work.
10. Volvo XC90 (2015-2025)
Reliability rating 90.9%
Most common faults: sat-nav/infotainment 14%, interior trim 7%, bodywork 4%, exhaust 4%, non-engine electrics 4%
Average repair cost: 92% cost £0, 8% £751-£1000
Typical time off road: 20% one day or less, 20% one day to a week, 60% more than a week
The classy Volvo XC90 combines a spacious and high-quality interior with plenty of kit. It's also a great used buy. Reliability is good overall, but there have been issues with the EV battery packs on some plug-in hybrid versions.
Although 29% of the XC90s reported on went wrong, 90% of those remained drivable. Repairs were slow in many cases, but Vovlo paid for most of the necessary work.
Least reliable 7-seaters
While the latest Mercedes GLB is proving to be a robust choice so far, the same can't be said for the Audi Q7, which had a lot of faults and could be costly to repair.
1. Audi Q7 (2015-present)
Reliability rating 80.8%
Most common faults: non-engine electrics 20%, engine 7%, exhaust 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%
Average repair cost: 57% cost £0, 29% cost more than £1500
Typical time off road: 56% one day to one week, 44% more than a week
The Audi Q7 appears in this survey as both the lowest-scoring luxury car and the poorest-rated seven-seater. Owners told us that 47% of their cars had gone wrong, compared with 29% for the Mercedes-Benz GLB and Volvo XC90.
Q7 owners were also asked to pay for far more repairs than those with seven-seaters from other brands; 29% of owners received repair bills in excess of £1500, and only 57% of Q7s were fixed for free. By comparison, all faulty GLBs and 90% of XC90s were fixed for nothing, and only 10% of XC90 owners had to pay up to £1000.
Owner’s view: “Continual infotainment niggles have marred the ownership experience brought by my Q7.”
2. Land Rover Discovery Sport (2014-present)
Reliability rating 81.8%
Most common faults: bodywork 11%, engine 9%, engine electrics 7%, hybrid battery 5%, non-engine electrics 5%
Average repair cost: 87% cost £0, 8% cost more than £1500
Typical time off road: 42% one day to a week, 39% more than a week
Our data covers diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the Discovery Sport and, overall, 42% of participating owners reported at least one fault. While bodywork and electrical issues were the main areas of weakness in older petrol and diesel models, the electric motor and EV battery troubled owners of the P300e PHEV (introduced in 2021).
Repair work was slow, with 39% of cars off the road for more than a week, but Land Rover covered most costs; 87% of cars were fixed for free, 5% cost owners up to £300 and 8% brought bills that exceeded £1500.
Reliability rating 81.4%
Most common faults: sat-nav/infotainment 33%, engine electrics 20%, bodywork 7%, engine 7%, non-engine electrics 7%
Average repair cost: 80% cost £0, 20% £101-£200
Typical time off road: 36% more than a week, 55% one day or less
A combination of electrical issues and engine faults have hampered Seat’s seven-seater. A hefty 67% of Tarracos went wrong, with 33% of the glitches relating to the infotainment system and 30% to the engine. On a more positive note, 91% of the affected cars could still be driven and 55% had their issues ironed out in a day or less.
A not-insignificant 36% of faulty cars were put out of action for more than a week, but Seat stumped up for 80% of the necessary repair work, leaving 20% of owners with bills ranging from £101 to £200.
Reliability of seven-seaters aged up to five years old
| Rank | Make and model | Score |
| 1 | 2018-2024 Hyundai Santa Fe | 100% |
| 2 | 2016-2024 Skoda Kodiaq diesel | 97.8% |
| 3 | Mercedes GLB (2019-present) | 96.0% |
| 4 | Vauxhall Combo Life Electric (2022-present) | 95.3% |
| 5 | Kia Sorento (2020-present) | 94.8% |
| 6 | Land Rover Defender (2020-present) | 94.6% |
| 7 | 2016-2024 Skoda Kodiaq petrol | 92.2% |
| =8 | 2017-2024 Peugeot 5008 | 91.5% |
| =8 | Dacia Jogger (2022-present) | 91.5% |
| 10 | 2015-2025 Volvo XC90 | 90.9% |
| =11 | Land Rover Discovery (2017-present) | 84.9% |
| =11 | Seat Tarraco (2018-2024) | 84.9% |
| 13 | Land Rover Discovery Sport (2014-present) | 81.8% |
| 14 | Audi Q7 (2015-present) | 78.6% |
To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:
Most and least reliable cars overall (2025)
Most reliable car brands (2025)
Most reliable small cars (2025)
Most reliable family cars (2024)
Most reliable executive cars (2024)
Most reliable luxury cars (2024)
Most reliable small SUVs (2024)
Most reliable family SUVs (2025)
Most reliable large SUVs (2024)
Most reliable electric cars (2024)
Most reliable electric SUVs (2024)
Most reliable sports cars (2024)
Most reliable diesel cars (2024)
Most reliable petrol cars (2024)
Most reliable hybrid cars (2024)
How we compiled the survey
The latest What Car? Reliability Survey gained 29,967 responses and that enabled us to report on 199 models (up to five years old) from 31 different brands.
To compile the survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, we ask thousands of car owners to tell us how well their cars had behaved over the previous 24 months.
For every car that has suffered a fault, we ask in what area the issue occurred, plus how much it cost to repair and how long it spent in the workshop. This information is used to create a reliability rating for each model and brand where we have a large enough response rate.
About the report author
Claire Evans has been a motoring journalist for more than 30 years, and has focussed on consumer issues for much of that time. She was the advice columnist for Carweek magazine in the 1990s, helping car owners with faulty cars get the right level of reparation from car makers.
She also spent six years working on motoring content for Which?, and it is here she oversaw the running of the charity's annual used car reliability survey.
Claire launched the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2017, and since then has helped thousands of buyers choose the most reliable new cars and SUVs, as well as the most dependable used cars.
