Best used 7-seaters

The seven-seat Peugeot 5008 steals victory here over all the MPVs and even its premium-badged SUV rivals.

Why? Well, for starters, it's stylish, practical and good to drive. In fact, it's the ideal used car for large families. 

Those rugged good looks cover an interior that's impressively flexible and will seat seven in comfort. The interior features a pleasing mixture of high-quality, tactile materials for a more upmarket ambience than you’ll find in a Seat Tarraco or a Skoda Kodiaq. What’s more, it provides a very civilised and flexible travelling environment for up to seven occupants.

Our preferred 1.2-litre Puretech 130 petrol engine is not only smooth but also has enough oomph for most owners’ needs, even when the car is fully loaded. It’s capable of impressive fuel economy, so there’s really no need to go chasing the more expensive engine options. 

Used 5008s are slightly more affordable than Kodiaqs of the same age and much cheaper than Hyundai Santa Fes. If you can stretch to one, post-2020 cars are worth the extra; they added LED headlights, a bigger infotainment screen and a clearer instrument panel

"Whenever I've driven a 5008, I've always been impressed by the interior. It's wonderfully plush for a car of this price as well as being impressively stylish and more than spacious for a family of four or more." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2021 Peugeot 5008 1.2 PureTech Allure, 45,000 miles, £16,990

Read our full used Peugeot 5008 review

Search for a used Peugeot 5008 for sale

A consummate all-rounder like this seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq may not stand out from the crowd, especially when compared with the distinctive Peugeot 5008, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put one on your driveway.

It's a classy and highly capable car that's good to drive and comfortable to ride in. Buy one used and you can make big savings, which only adds to the appeal of this likeable and practical Skoda. 

"This is one big bear of a car, highly practical and one that has enough character that your kids will probably give it a name." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2020 Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI SE (7 Seat), 38,000 miles, £17,270

Read our full used Skoda Kodiaq review

Search for a used Skoda Kodiaq for sale

The Hyundai Santa Fe is large, practical and excellent value, and it's a really decent alternative to its premium-badged rivals.

Its interior space is the show's real star, with plenty of space up front and a positively huge amount in the middle and third-row seats, as well as the potential for a mammoth boot if you fold all of those rear seats down. It's more impressive in this regard than the very similar Kia Sorento. 

A facelift in 2021 brought a new grille and minor improvements, including hybrid engine options. Reliability is strong, too.

"I think this is one of the most competent seven-seat cars here because it can cope with people and clutter and luggage and not get too fazed." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 CRDi Premium, 47,000 miles, £22,695

Read our full used Hyundai Santa Fe review

Search for a used Hyundai Santa Fe for sale

Unlike previous Sorentos, this fourth-generation model is especially eye-catching inside and out – yet, despite that, it doesn’t compromise on its more sensible attributes. 

It excels in so many areas, including practicality, economy and equipment. The interior space is incredible, and there’s lots of space for passengers in the front and middle row. True, the Santa Fe feels more upmarket and is a fraction more spacious inside, but the Sorento is still pretty impressive. 

When it comes to boot space, 10 carry-on-sized suitcases can fit below its tonneau covers in five-seat mode.

All in, it’s a compelling package and a desirable used buy. 

"For my money the equal of the Santa Fe in many ways, the Sorento comes from new with a transferable seven-year warranty.' – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2021 Kia Sorento 1.6h T-GDi 3, 27,000 miles, £28,690

Read our full used Kia Sorento review

Search for a used Kia Sorento for sale

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

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

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

Used prices now look very attractive, making the Jogger one of our favourite used seven-seaters. 

"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

 

We found: 2021 Dacia Jogger 1.0 TCe 110 Expression, 42,000 miles, £14,895

Read our full used Dacia Jogger review

Search for a used Dacia Jogger for sale

While previous versions of the Land Rover Defender were as luxurious as an apple at a state banquet, this latest version really upped the ante, mixing premium materials and cossetting on-road manners with the off-road prowess which has made the Defender name famous.

You can have your Defender in a variety of lengths, ranging from the shortest '90' models to the enormous '130' version with up to eight seats, but it's the middle-ground seven-seat '110' models which we think make the most sense.

Opting for the D250 diesel engine means effortless progress, even with every seat filled – indeed, Land Rover says the 0-62mph sprint can be cracked in around 7.0sec.

Your rear passengers will find they have a palatial amount of leg and head room – although both the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 have slightly lower floors, so the rear seats in those models are likely to be more comfortable over big distances.

Used prices now look very attractive, and its reliability has been good so far, with the Defender finishing in fourth place out of 16 cars in the luxury car class in our most recent reliability survey. 

“When I tested the Land Rover Defender 110 against its Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 rivals, I found that I could fit seven carry-on suitcases into its boot below the load cover – but both of its rivals could take more.” – George Hill, used cars writer

We found: 2021 Land Rover Defender 110, 40,000 miles, £28,995

Read our full used Land Rover Defender review

Search for a used Land Rover Defender for sale

 

Fancy an MPV with a little panache? The Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer is well-equipped, stylish and one of the most comfortable MPVs around.

It's blessed with versatile seating for seven, and you get a huge boot when the third row is folded into the floor. 

The engine range is strong and fuel-efficient, plus it rides and handles well for a car of this size. Refinement is good, too, making long trips with the family just that bit more bearable. 

"I know that the idea of a seven-seat MPV might not appeal in this day and age, but the Spacetourer is a really smart-looking thing and highly competent." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2021 Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer 1.5 BlueHDi Shine, 47,000 miles, £14,306

Read our full used Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer review

Search for a used Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer for sale

You want luxury, the BMW X7 really does let you have it all – big space, big comfort, and a big personality.

Indeed, the only thing bigger than the X7’s gigantic front grille is the car itself, so if you’ve got a big budget for a used seven-seat car and a big family and you want to impress the neighbours, this is the one for you.

Yet despite its size, the X7 doesn't feel like the big SUV it is. Indeed, threading an X7 down a congested urban street is no harder than in a much smaller car. Plus, if you go for our favourite engine – the 3.0-litre (whisper it) diesel-fuelled xDrive40d – then you'll always have plenty of power without sacrificing fuel economy.

As a bonus, the interior is as flashy as it is sturdy, and refinement is so impressive that someone in the third row can have a conversation with those up front without raising their voice. It's wonderfully refined, has an amazing ride and an upmarket interior second to none.

Obviously not cheap new, but used prices are really good value. Reliability's looking good, too. 

"Now, if you've never seen an X7 before in the flesh, don't be surprised when you do - it's huge. A great statement and a really great car." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor

We found: 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40d MHT, 55,000 miles, £51,950

Read our full used BMW X7 review

Search for a used BMW X7 for sale

 

The Mercedes GLB is similar to the Land Rover Discovery Sport in lots of ways, but gutsier and more efficient if you opt for our favoured 220d model.

It will work well as a used buy for many families, because it seats seven in surprising comfort inside, despite it not being a huge and unwieldy SUV outside. It's practical, and the interior is well-designed and well-equipped. 

It's punchy and frugal, too. Indeed, its only dynamic drawback is a rather firm ride.

Used prices look competitive now, and reliability is top-notch, making the GLB well worth a look. 

"A few years ago, any family worth its salt drove a Mercedes of some kind, didn't matter how old, and there's an echo of this about the GLB. It feels like it will last a long time." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2021 Mercedes GLB 220d SE, 49,000 miles, £15,799

Read our full used Mercedes GLB review

Search for a used Mercedes GLB for sale

The Volvo XC90 is a luxury SUV that combines everyday practicality with top-tier safety tech and a very luxurious interior.

It's comfortable, too, and spacious, with plenty of room for seven. It doesn’t matter all that much which trim you go for, because all of them are very well equipped.

We would recommend going for one of the D5 or B5 diesels, though; we've heard reports of poor reliability (and big repair bills) on early T8 plug-in hybrid cars. That's one of the reasons it finished near the bottom of our list rather than up at the top. 

"If you love that Volvo feel, and I do, you'll love the XC90. It's like spending the afternoon driving round in the World of Leather showroom." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

We found: 2019 Volvo XC90 D5 Momentum Pro, 51,000 miles, £28,063

Read our full used Volvo XC90 review

Search for a used Volvo XC90 for sale