Mercedes A-Class

Honda Civic

BMW 1 Series

Ford Focus

Toyota Corolla

Audi A3

Skoda Scala

Skoda Octavia

top-10-best-7-seater-cars-in-2021-and-the-one-to-avoid

But plenty of SUVs are also worth considering, especially if you won't be carrying seven on a daily basis.

Before deciding which model is best for you, it's important to consider whether you'll need a large boot on occasions when all seven seats are in use; whether you'd prefer the raised driving position of an SUV or something more saloon-like; and whether you want something that's not only practical but also fun to drive.

There's an awful lot to factor in, so here we count down the top 10 seven-seaters – and reveal the ones that are best avoided.

Slideshow story - please click right-hand arrow above to continue:

If you need a car with seven seats, an MPV may seem like the only choice.

Tesla is a US brand&nbsp;that revolutionised&nbsp;the car industry, putting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars</a> in the limelight&nbsp;for the first time – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.

Today, Tesla has a broader&nbsp;line-up than ever, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> saloon&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> SUV the company's cheapest models. For those with bigger budgets or a need for more space, there's the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a> saloon and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-x/hatchback/review/n161">Tesla&nbsp;Model X</a> SUV.&nbsp;A&nbsp;new Roadster, complete with supercar-beating acceleration, is also in the works.

&nbsp;

TESLA

MODEL X

The Model X is the only all-electric car on this list, but just because it needs to cart around a big battery pack doesn't mean it can't also seat seven people.

In fact, the Model X is well worth considering as a big load-lugger, because it offers exceptionally low running costs and astonishing performance.

10: Tesla Model X

And in terms of range, it can take you up to 314 miles between charges according to official tests.

10: Tesla Model X - interior

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition, featuring paintwork-protecting ‘Airbumps’ and eschewing the sporty looks favoured by most rivals.

Indeed, Citroën tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from small hatchbacks (such as the C1 and C3) to big, family-friendly seven-seaters (the Spacetourer and Grand C4 Spacetourer).

The C3 Aircross SUV is another of its popular models, while a larger C5 Aircross is planned.

CITROEN

BERLINGO

The Berlingo majors on offering space, and lots of it. Go for the XL version with seven seats, and nobody will feel short-changed when it comes to stretching out.

We'd go for the 128bhp 1.5-litre diesel engine, too, because you get plenty of low-down grunt, which will be ideal if all seven seats are filled.

9: Citroën Berlingo

The Berlingo is also excellent value, especially in mid-range Flair trim.

9: Citroën Berlingo - interior

GRAND C4 SPACETOURER

The second Citroën on this list is the Grand C4 Spacetourer, which feels more car-like than the Berlingo above.

Citroën has put a lot of thought into the car's interior, too – not only can its seats be manipulated easily but it offers the best visibility of any MPV, making it a doddle to manoeuvre.

8: Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer

Our main quibble is that the majority of the car's features are controlled through an unintuitive touchscreen. But if you can live with that, the Grand C4 Picasso represents great family transport.

8: Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer - interior

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

VOLVO

XC90

The original Volvo XC90 was on sale for more than a decade and, even at the end of its life, it was still a very practical seven-seater. The good news is that the latest version is just as capable and a hell of a lot classier.

7: Volvo XC90

Indeed, interior quality rivals the premium German manufacturers and, if you pick the right engine and trim combination, you’ll be getting one of the best luxury SUVs on sale today.

And if you fancy going for the plug-in hybrid T8 model, you can cruise around on electric power and still have space for seven.

7: Volvo XC90 - interior

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

GALAXY

Order a seven-seat taxi to take you to the airport and chances are a Galaxy will turn up, but there’s a reason for that: its combination of low running costs and brilliant seating flexibility makes the car a very practical choice.

6: Ford Galaxy

For a tall car, the handling is superb, too, so when it's just you on board, you can have a lot of fun driving it.

6: Ford Galaxy - interior

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

SKODA

KODIAQ

Skoda's first seven-seater, the Kodiaq, is a comfortable choice with a smart and practical interior, although you do have to be careful when speccing it because it's easy to push the price north of £30k if you start adding options.

5: Skoda Kodiaq

Fortunately, standard equipment includes automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control and an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring.

5: Skoda Kodiaq - interior

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

LAND ROVER

DISCOVERY

Much like its popular predecessor, the latest Discovery is a whopping great seven-seater. It's hugely practical and very desirable, offering a comfortable ride, large interior and holding on to its value very well.

4: Land Rover Discovery

It's also just as capable off road as on it, should you need to take the family off the beaten track.

4: Land Rover Discovery - interior

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

PEUGEOT

5008

Don't sneer at the Peugeot 5008's 1.2-litre petrol engine, because it's still got enough grunt to haul this seven-seater up to motorway speeds reasonably quickly.

3: Peugeot 5008

In fact, the 5008 is our reigning Large SUV of the Year – it's stylish, good to drive and very practical.

3: Peugeot 5008 - interior

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

VOLKSWAGEN

TOURAN

The Touran doesn't really have any major weaknesses – it's very practical and comfortable, with a high-quality interior. On top of that, the third row of seats are spacious enough to accommodate even tall adults and they stow easily into the boot floor when not in use.

2: Volkswagen Touran

All this comes at a reasonable price, too – especially when you factor in our discounts.

2: Volkswagen Touran - interior

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

AUDI

The Q7 is a luxury SUV that goes head to head with the BMW X5 and Volvo XC90.

And, like those rivals, it has four-wheel drive to gain some off-road ability, but it’s geared towards sure-footed on-road use rather than traversing muddy fields.

1: Audi Q7

It’s also an extremely practical car, thanks to a generously proportioned interior and huge boot. But what really sets the Q7 apart is its stunning interior, sensational refinement and pillowy ride.

And the seven-seater to avoid...?

1: Audi Q7 - interior

While Mitsubishi sells both the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pick-up truck in the UK, the core of its range is in SUVs – handy, since this is one of the largest markets worldwide.

There’s an SUV to suit everyone, too. If you’re a company car driver, the Outlander PHEV mixes low fuel bills with a spacious interior. The ASX, meanwhile, is attractively priced against key rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. Or, if you prefer mud to asphalt, the Shogun offers genuine off-road ability.

More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.

MITSUBISHI

OUTLANDER

Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV has been a staggering success in the UK, especially for company car drivers who value its low CO2 emissions.

Mitsubishi Outlander

Unfortunately, if you want a seven-seat Outlander, you'd have to go for the 2.2-litre diesel model, which loses these advantages while keeping the PHEV's numb steering and unsettled ride.

Mitsubishi Outlander - interior

Top 10: Best 7-seater cars in 2021 (and the one to avoid)

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

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Whether you're looking for a part-time seven-seater or a car to carry that many people on a regular basis, check out which ones to go for – and which to avoid...

Top 10: Best 7-seater cars in 2021 (and the one to avoid)        

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