Best 7-seater cars 2025
When it comes to the ultimate in practical flexibility, seven-seater cars are hard to beat. There's space for the largest loads with enough seats for family and friends, many taking up no more parking space than a five-seater estate. While you don't have to fill all three rows with people, you'll be amazed how useful it is having that option.
There's nothing new about seven-seater cars — many American station wagons and European estates had the option of a couple of seats (often rear-facing) in the boot almost from Day 1. Safety and spaciousness meant MPVs made a single-box, three-row layout more popular, but now you're more likely to get a large SUV if you want three rows of seats that can be folded away or removed for flexible load carrying.
While the SUV genre's tough, off-roader looks are undeniably trendy they don't provide the most efficient use of space. Their high ground-clearance and chunky adornments often means more difficult access and a greater chance of muddied-up clothes when clambering aboard, so there's still a strong argument for van-like sliding doors and low floors of today's MPVs.
Electric drive systems mean new underpinnings and new ideas ensuring that seven-seaters are here to stay — our list of the latest and best shows they now come in many shapes and sizes.
Best 7-seater cars
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Peugeot 5008 and E-5008
- Choice of electric, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid
- Seven-seater isn't compromised by EV version's battery
- Entry-level models aim for a premium feel — and price
A new era of Peugeots means a new 5008 and it leans into the seven-seat prowess of the previous generation without compromising when buyers want electric or all-wheel-drive options.
Every Peugeot 5008 has seven seats as standard and the interior space of this 4.8-metre long SUV has been optimised to work around the three-row layout. The electric Peugeot E-5008 line-up includes a two-motor, 325PS setup with 289-mile range 73kWh battery, though most buyers will want to get in line for the 231PS 97kWh version — that has a WLTP Combined cycle range of up to 414 miles.
Fold all the seats down and the 5008 offers an immense 2232 litres of cargo space. With all seats occupied you still have 348 litres available and as a five seater there's a huge 916-litre load capacity, enough for any family outing.
The range begins just under £40,000 for the Peugeot 5008 mild hybrid up to around £59,000 for the four-wheel drive dual-motor E-5008.
Volkswagen Multivan
- VW's van-based Caravelle has been replaced by the car-based Multivan
- Classic MPV, rebooted for the 21st Century — with eHybrid 4Motion
- Not cheap but a masterful people-mover
After the demise of the Volkswagen Sharan VW dealers positioned the Transporter-based Caravelle as a seven-seater car, in a return to the early-1980s 'if you need more than five seats you need a minibus' attitude.
It was a blip, fortunately, as the Volkswagen Multivan is a purpose-made MPV with excellent road manners, a retro-futuristic dashboard and a slim windscreen-pillared spaceship view out, all wrapped in a refined, convenient package.
It retains sliding rear doors which are great for busy car parks while the latest version of the PHEV Multivan eHybrid introduces four-wheel drive with a rear-wheel electric motor for a simpler solution compared with other 4Motion VWs.
The range starts just below £50,000 for the 150PS TDI diesel with the 1.5-litre eHybrid 4Motion plug-in hybrid available from around £65,000. For buyers looking for a more affordable Sharan replacement, the Volkswagen Touran offers a cheaper route to seven seats but with more compromises.
Dacia Jogger
- Old-school approach to seven seats in a budget-focused package
- Modern style for a budget brand with impressive comfort levels
- Remarkable load capacity when you don't need all of the seats
Once the hallmark of expensive family estates, such as the Citroen CX Familiale and Peugeot 505 Family, the Dacia Jogger reprises the relatively low estate car with three forward-facing rows of seats approach.
Unlike those classics the Jogger's not based on a high-end luxury model, rather it's stretched-out from the compact Dacia Sandero hatchback. Its long wheelbase, together with its Sandero Stepway-inspired extra ground clearance and long-travel suspension, results in a car that's comfortable, has plenty of legroom and doesn't feel cramped.
It's not as spartan as you might expect, either — the solid, well-assembled but no-nonsense plastic and fabric trim is very similar in feel to the upmarket estates of the past, free of rattles and built to last. That theme continues with the price — at almost £19,000 you're figuratively paying the same in 2025 as seven-seater Mercedes and Volvo buyers were 35 years ago, plus you're also getting better tech, better economy and greater flexibility. The Dacia Jogger really is a bargain.
Skoda Kodiaq
- Seven-seater SUV offers good value for money
- Entry-level SE seven-seater is less than £40,000
- Higher specificiation 4x4 versions remain below £50,000
The latest Skoda Kodiaq is one of the best seven-seater cars on sale building upon the established, upmarket-feeling family SUV credentials of the original.
This Mk2 Kodiaq launched in 2024 brings more distinctive styling and even higher quality detailing for the interior. The first and second rows of seats are very accommodating and the third row is useful for ferrying younger children. Even with all seven seats in use the 340-litre boot is a reasonable size — in five-seater mode it’s a capacious 910 litres.
Various economical petrol and diesel engines are available but note that the TSI iV plug-in hybrid versions aren't available with seven seats. If performance is more your thing, the sporty four-wheel drive Skoda Kodiaq vRS, with its turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 265PS is a seven-seater.
Citroen C3 Aircross
- C3 Aircross offers seven-seat option for petrol and mild hybrid models
- At 4395mm long it's one of the most compact three-row cars
- It's also one of the most affordable, second only to Dacia
Stellantis offers a few seven-seater options but the Mk2 Citroen C3 Aircross stands out for its affordability and compact design.
The £765 option for a third row of seats is only for petrol or mild hybrid models only, with the electric Citroen e-C3 Aircross restricted to five seats. Mind you, getting seven seats and the mild hybrid's compact battery into a car that's under 4.4 metres long is impressive.
It's also really affordable with the least expensive C3 Aircross seven-seater weighing in at under £22,000. While the price is reasonable there's a heavier cost to pay when it comes to luggage space — the 130-litre sub-boot floor space of five-seater versions is used to fold the seven-seater's rearmost row into when not required. Plus when the third row is in use the C3 Aircross has just 40 litres of boot volume remaining, making it a good option for family day trips but less than ideal for longer breaks away.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz Long
- Stretched ID.Buzz means seven people can enjoy electric nostalgia
- Van-like proportions mean van-like space, likeable classic aesthetic
- Makes more sense than long-overhang Multivan
It's amazing that the ID.Buzz didn't leap to the top of the best seven-seater guides when launched but that's because the original version was just a five-seater.
Though it looks a bit like the Volkswagen Multivan which is also available in two lengths, this wholly-electric VW MPV puts the extra stretch between the wheels rather than the curious long rear overhang of the of its showroom sibling. That means it's a truly spacious seven-seater with easy access and loads of legroom for all passengers.
Choose the 340PS VW ID.Buzz GTX 4Motion at just under £70,000 and you get four-wheel-drive and a 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds alongside a potential 280-mile driving range. The price premium for the seven-seat is just £510 over the shorter five-seater version, though with little change from £60,000 for any new ID.Buzz you'll be glad of the finance options and strong residuals.
Hyundai Santa Fe
- Large SUV designed to work every day as a seven-seater
- Boxy exterior translates into a lot of interior space
- Good blend of price and equipment, capable 4x4 plug-in hybrid
It's a traditional choice for buyers wanting a large SUV but the latest Hyundai Santa Fe is also an excellent option if you want seven seats and all-wheel drive grip.
Where the Mk5 generation excels is in details such as access to the third row with additional handles and three-zone air conditioning to make all passengers equal and comfortable. It's easy to drive and relaxing, with an upmarket ambience a long way removed from the first Santa Fe models offered in the UK.
Not every bit of progress is welcome as long-time repeat customers could well be disappointed to find the towing capacity is just 1100kg for all models. Less of a workhorse, more of a luxury large family car, the Hyundai Santa Fe is now a very strong competitor among premium seven-seat SUVs while still offering good value for money.
Citroen e-Berlingo XL
- Car-derived electric van becomes a car again — and it's very practical
- Available under various brand names so shop around for the best deal
- Multiple Isofix points and versatile interior
Returning to the van-with-seats style of seven-seater, the Citroen e-Berlingo is one of a cluster of sub-£40,000 electric family cars with impressive people-carrying ability all sharing near-identical bodywork and electric drive systems.
Built by Stellantis and also sold as the Peugeot E-Rifter and Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, a commercial arrangement means you can also by a slightly tweaked version as the Toyota Proace City Verso Electric. It's worth checking all of them out before you buy since there are only relatively minor trim and price differences so dealers may offer a strong deal for your custom. None of the Stellantis brands offers Toyota's 10-year warranty package but overall the e-Berlingo has the most appealling balance of price, interesting trim and personality.
Seven-seater versions don't get the wide array of standard and optional equipment but key to the e-Berlingo XL's family-friendly skillset is a layout that offers three Isofix child seat mounting points in the second row. With a generous boot, handy storage options throughout the interior and a 206-mile WLTP Combined cycle driving range it's the best electric seven-seater choice under £40,000.
Kia EV9
- Large electric SUV makes good use of all the space it takes up
- At home on a short school run or a long-distance holiday
- For the size, it's efficient and quick — but plan charging carefully
Kia's EV9 is a glimpse into the future of practical family cars. It's a future that feels very current in Asia, where high-spec luxury MPVs and SUVs such as the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM are seen as the pinnacle of quiet aspiration. Move quietly, enjoy your comfort and don't shout about your success.
In the UK the Kia EV9 is still a rare sight. It stands out but at a whisker over five metres long, it fits in the same spaces as many large five-seater estates. You need to go up the range to a GT-Line get dual-motor AWD but the entry-level Air specification at almost £66,000 features seven seats with electric folding of the rearmost rows, a 99.8kWh battery and 200PS from the rear-mounted electric motor.
As long as you can find the fastest of public chargers en route the Kia EV9's one of the best electric seven-seater cars on sale.
Land Rover Defender 110
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- An enormous 4x4 that offers plenty of passenger room
- 3500kg towing ability and a variety of seating configurations
- Strong residuals, classic, rugged appeal
A long way removed from the crude original Land Rover Defender — and so far unchallenged by the Ineos Grenadier – the reimagined Defender 110 is like a Land Rover Discovery without its gawky styling or a more affordable Range Rover without the chilling terror of what a muddy field plus passengers will do to your eye-wateringly expensive soft leather interior.
Prices for a seven-seater Land Rover Defender start around £66,000, which is remarkably close to many rather average family SUVs. Whether you can resist the options list to bump the price up much higher is another matter. Though the Defender 110's wheelbase is the same as the longer overall Land Rover Defender 130's, the latter's massive interior is at the expensive of its towing capacity.
It's a proper 4x4 but many buyers just want one because they love what it is — and that's arguably the best reason of all if you want to be happy with your car when spending this much money.
Which is the most affordable seven-seater car?
The most affordable new seven-seater, by a clear margin, is the Dacia Jogger. An innovative type of car, it's a mix of traditional estate and modern SUV. This liberates impressive interior space and an appearance that’s different to the norm. If you need a roomy five-seater with a third row of occasional seats to squeeze in seven people, all for a bargain price starting from less than £20,000, look no further.
Which is the best 4x4 seven-seater SUV?
For taking people deep into the rough stuff, there is no better all-wheel-drive seven-seater than the Land Rover Defender 110. It is virtually unstoppable, and will take on everything from slippery slopes to rushing rivers. That it offers so much space and comfort for seven people makes it a great contender for best 4x4 seven-seater status. That said, if you want a more affordable 4x4 seven-seater and are happy to sacrifice the Defender's go-anywhere agility, then head towards the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Can you buy an electric seven-seater car?
Electric seven-seaters are rare, because these big, heavy vehicles need large batteries to offer sufficient range. One cost-effective option is the Citroen e-Berlingo XL while at the other end of the spectrum is the Volkswagen ID.Buzz Long. There are more seven-seaters available in plug-in hybrid guise which provide sufficient pure electric range for most daily commutes, along with a petrol engine as back-up for longer distances — removing the need to charge away from home.
Full Electric, petrol or a Hybrid but twith 7 seats
