If you have more than a regular car-load of people to carry, you’re well catered for these days. Seven-seaters have seen a huge upswing in popularity as families cotton on to the idea that having room for two more might be useful for play dates, days out with friends or longer trips with extended family.
It might seem strange, then, that against this backdrop the market for seven-seat MPVs (also known as people carriers) has dwindled. But that’s because the seven-seaters of choice now take the form of the SUV, whose rugged looks hold more appeal for buyers than the van-like silhouette of the traditional seven-seater.
However, both body styles have their merits – which is why we’ve included both in our countdown of the best new seven-seaters your money can buy this year.
Best seven-seaters
10. Volvo XC90
The big Swedish SUV is getting on a bit, but it’s as popular as ever and it doesn’t take long to work out why. On the outside it is more subtle than many of its large SUV rivals, while the lavish interior blends Scandinavian cool with serious comfort. On the road, the XC90’s smooth-riding suspension makes it a lovely place to waft away a long journey, while the mild hybrid engines are powerful and reasonably fuel-efficient. In fact, the only real downside is that the XC90’s rearmost seats are a little cramped compared with those of similarly sized rivals – but if you’re in the market for a large, luxury seven-seater, it should still be on your list to test-drive.
Price from: £62,140
Our favourite version: XC90 Plus B5 AWD Mild Hybrid, £65,065
Need to know: Avoid models with 21-inch wheels – they do the ride quality no favours
9. Skoda Kodiaq
It’s never going to win any prizes for excitement, but the Kodiaq is one of the most popular seven-seat SUVs for a reason. It’s sensibly sized, sensibly priced, sensibly equipped and, yes, pretty sensible to drive, too. It rides comfortably, handles tidily (if uneventfully) and also cruises pretty quietly. There’s nothing that will set bales of hay alight, in other words, but for many large families the Kodiaq’s unassuming way of doing business is greatly appreciated. A diesel version with an automatic gearbox will, for most people, be all the car they ever need.
Price from: £35,840 (seven seat versions)
Our favourite version: Kodiaq 1.5 TDI 150 SE Drive DSG, £35,840
Need to know: This first-generation Kodiaq is due for replacement soon, which means Skoda will only sell you one from stock at the moment – but that also means there are some good deals around
8. Kia Sorento
One of the biggest problems with buying a big SUV to haul around your family is the environmental footprint it leaves. Happily, Kia has found a way to minimise this effect, because it’s equipped its latest Sorento with both hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. As a result, the Sorento’s emissions are less onerous than most of its SUV rivals’. And because Kia’s hybrid setup is snappy and smart, the Sorento is good to drive, too. What’s more, it’s clever inside – all three rows of seats get their own individual ventilation controls, while there are enough USB sockets for every occupant, so everyone can charge a device while they’re on the move. There’s a huge boot, too – big enough that even with all seven seats in place, there’s a usable amount of luggage space. And the Sorento is even a decent tow car, with enough capacity in hybrid form to pull a medium-sized caravan. Need more? Well, there’s a diesel version, too – and that has a whopping rating of 2,500kg.
Price from: £45,025
Our favourite version: Sorento 1.6 T-GDI Hybrid Vision, £46,525
Need to know: Like all Kias, the Sorento benefits from a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty – one of the best in the business
7. Dacia Jogger8
This is the most affordable seven-seaters around at the moment – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cheap. The Jogger is incredibly clever, with nifty rear seats that are light enough to remove easily, enabling you to convert the rear to a huge, van-like luggage bay. It drives decently enough, too; it’s at its best with the hybrid powertrain, which costs a little more than the pure petrol turbo, but will mitigate that cost with its fuel savings – and the extra weight of the battery means it rides bumps more smoothly. Indeed, the only downside to the Jogger is its fairly uninspiring crash test results – were it not for that, this would be one of our top three seven-seaters.
Price from: £18,295
Our favourite version: Jogger TCe Expression Hybrid 140, £22,995
Need to know: The low Euro NCAP crash test score is partly a result of its lack of electronic driver aids, which might not worry you too much – but look past that and you’ll find its structural rigidity in crash tests isn’t as good as pricier seven-seat rivals either
6. BMW X7
The X7’s huge grille won’t be beloved by everyone, but if you can see past its looks, you’ll find a luxury SUV of immense talent. Yes, it’s a vast car, but that means proper seating for seven inside, with plenty of space even in the third row. The interior is as smart and slick as you’d expect from a modern BMW, but what really sets the X7 apart is the way it drives. At motorway speeds it’s as hushed and cosseting as any luxury saloon, which means it’s a joy to cover long distances in, even seven-up. The only catch is that a car this large and luxurious isn’t cheap – so it goes with the territory that the X7 is hugely expensive, both to buy and to run.
Price from: £88,145
Our favourite version: X7 xDrive40d Excellence, £88,145
Need to know: Avoid the top-spec M50i – it might be fast, but its big petrol engine will struggle to hit 20mpg even when driven carefully
5. Kia EV9
Kia’s first electric seven-seater isn’t cheap, while to provide any sort of decent range it has to have a huge battery, which makes it extremely heavy and not particularly efficient. However, the upshot of this is a real-world range of about 300 miles; what’s more, the EV9 makes up for its flaws by offering genuine space for seven in a fashionable large SUV format with a smart, easy-to-use interior and a smooth, well-resolved ride. In other words, if you want to move lots of people using electric power – and if you can afford it – the EV9 is the car to have.
Price from: £65,025
Our favourite version: EV9 Air, £65,025
Need to know: The EV9 comes in both rear-drive and all-wheel-drive variants; we reckon the former is the one to have, given it’s the lightest and least complex version
4. Audi Q7
It might be getting on a bit, but this second-generation Audi Q7 is still one of our favourite family cars. And while it’s quite expensive, we don’t think there’s a better way of carrying seven people at once. For one thing, it’s immensely comfortable thanks to the standard air suspension; then there’s the fact that all five rear seats have Isofix child seat mountings. And if you need to carry adults, even the rearmost row has enough room. The mild hybrid engines are impressively economical given the amount of power they kick out, while the comfortable, quiet interior is beautifully finished. What’s not to like?
Price from: £670,400
Our favourite version: Q7 S-Line 45 TDI Quattro, £72,255
Need to know: Don’t be tempted to upgrade beyond the S-Line; the pricier Black Edition and Vorsprung’s huge wheels mean they don’t ride quite as nicely, and the latter in particular is very costly to buy.
3. Ford S-Max
Like most other MPVs, the S-Max is on borrowed time, but that’s a shame, as it’s roomier and more versatile than most seven-seat SUVs, with five rear seats that all fold flat to leave a van-like load bay. It’s more fuel efficient too; indeed, now that the S-Max comes only as a hybrid, it’s one of the most economical ways of moving this many people. And while the extra weight of the electronic gubbins have dampened the S-Max’s famously sharp handling a little, it’s still surprisingly composed and engaging to drive – and as comfortable as ever on a long journey.
Price from: £38,565
Our favourite version: S-Max 2.5 Duratec FHEV 190 Titanium, £38,565
Need to know: The S-Max’s price hasn’t risen anywhere near as much as most of its rivals’ recently – leaving it looking like rather good value by comparison
2. Volkswagen Touran
This is surely the zenith of head-over-heart car buying? The Touran is about as sensible as motoring gets, squeezing space for seven into a relatively compact MPV body whose superior aerodynamics make it more fuel-efficient than a seven-seat SUV. Granted, it’s dull to look at and not very exciting to drive, either. But it is comfortable, spacious and incredibly versatile – all five rear seats have Isofix mountings and all can fold flat to leave a cavernous load bay for trips to the tip. So while it probably won’t make your heart leap, the Touran offers an easy, fuss-free life – and when you’re travelling with a large family in tow, that’s what you need.
Price from: £37,405
Our favourite version: Touran 1.5 TSI SE Family 150PS, £37,405
Need to know: Versatile it may be, but with all seven seats upright, the Touran’s boot is rather small – so be prepared to fork out for a roof box if you also need to carry luggage
1. Peugeot 5008
The secret to the 5008’s success is clever disguise. For while it might be dressed up to look like an SUV, look a little closer and you’ll see its low ground clearance and boxy tail give it away as an MPV wearing an SUV costume. That’s no bad thing, because it means the 5008 is better packaged than most seven-seat SUVs, with greater space inside and a much more versatile interior. All three of its middle-row seats can be slid and folded individually, for example, while the rearmost row can be folded into the floor or removed entirely. And with Isofix connections in all three middle-row seats and enough room to fit three child seats side by side, it’s no wonder it’s become a family favourite.
It just so happens that the 5008 is rather good to drive, too. And with frugal petrol engines (including a mild hybrid option), it’s cheap to run. Also in its favour is its rather swish-looking interior, which makes you feel like you’re driving something rather more interesting than simply a big family wagon.
Price from: £36,795
Our favourite version: 5008 Hybrid 136 Allure, £40,605
Need to know: The new mild hybrid version is based on the 1.2-litre petrol that’s also available, but provides a little extra fuel economy, which makes it the one to have
And the seven-seater to avoid…
KGM Rexton
Never heard of KGM? Well, you might have heard of SsangYong, as this Korean brand used to be known. Its Rexton large off-roader is feeling rather long in the tooth, particularly since it was never the most sophisticated beast in the first place. Granted, it’s cheap, but while the Rexton’s rugged ladder-frame chassis makes it pretty handy off-road, it also makes it rather lumpen on it. With its dated infotainment, noisy engines and sloppy handling, it’s probably worth giving it a swerve – unless you absolutely must have seven seats, along with decent ability in the rough stuff, for not very much outlay.
This article has been updated with the latest information.
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