If you needed seven seats, MPVs used to be the cars to choose. Now, though, there are just as many SUVs as MPVs with a third row of seats. SUVs are the more fashionable option, but there's still a place for people carriers: they're hard to beat for practicality, and tend to cost less to buy used than the equivalent SUV. Whether you are looking for a seven-seater car with genuine off-road ability or simply the most practical family car, here's our pick of the best 7-seater cars on the market. And to make life even easier, you can search for great deals on all our best seven-seater cars, all at once, right here.
Best 7-Seater Cars 2024
- Audi Q7
- Mercedes-Benz GLB
- Ford Galaxy
- Kia Sorento
- Land Rover Discovery
- Peugeot 5008
- Dacia Jogger
- Skoda Kodiaq
- Citroen Berlingo
- Volvo XC90
Audi Q7 (2015-present)
While BMW and Mercedes also offer very good seven-seat SUVs (such as the massive BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS), it's the Audi Q7 that we rate above all others. First of all, it makes a fine seven-seater: third-row space isn't quite as generous as that of the Land Rover Discovery, but otherwise the Q7 ticks all the right boxes. The second row of seats slides back and forth to create a little more legroom for those in the rearmost seats, or more space in the second row for child seats or the tallest of passengers. There's loads of boot space when the third row is stowed away, too. It's not just interior space and practicality that really sell the Q7 as a seven-seater, either. It's beautifully made, and sets the benchmark for interior quality among luxury SUVs. The Q7 appeals to the driver as much as passengers, especially if you choose one with air suspension. This makes a big difference to ride comfort, and also allows the driver to firm things up for a sportier drive, so you can tailor the driving experience to the situation at hand. The 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines with Audi's smooth-shifting automatic gearbox are the most sensible buys, although the e-tron plug-in hybrid model can be surprisingly cheap to run if you have a low daily mileage, and it can make the most of the electric range to increase overall fuel efficiency. The high-performance SQ7 is the one to choose if you don't mind giving your passengers a fright.
Audi Q7 review
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Mercedes-Benz GLB (2019-present)
Normally, going for a seven-seat SUV means you've got to opt for a gargantuan car that you might struggle to park or thread through busy city streets. Not so with the Mercedes GLB, which manages to squeeze a seven-seat layout into a compact SUV body shell, with a similar footprint to a family hatchback. There's not much in the way of legroom in those third-row seats, but they do fold conveniently into the boot floor when they're not in use. The GLB is suitably macho-looking, with its boxy design (which of course also helps with interior space), and you can even opt for a full four-wheel-drive model. If you value the premium brand image that the three-pointed star brings, but also don't have all that much driveway or parking space, a GLB could be the ideal solution.
Mercedes-Benz GLB review
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Ford Galaxy (2015-2020)
It's a tight call between the Ford S-Max and Ford Galaxy for a spot in this top 10 list. The S-Max is better to drive, but the Galaxy is a better seven-seater, so it gets the nod here. The Galaxy has one of the most practical cabins of any large MPV. There's room for adults to travel in all three rows, although tall people will be happier in the standard rear seats than the two extra seats that fold out of the boot floor. Even with every place occupied there's a reasonable amount of boot space, something you can't say of some other seven-seat cars such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport or the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. There are three individual seats in the middle row, each with its own Isofix child seat mounting point, and you can fold, slide and recline the seats to strike the right balance between passenger and luggage space. From the driver's seat, there aren't many big MPVs to match the Galaxy. Ford's engineers have found a near-ideal balance between ride comfort and handling. This is a relaxing car to travel in, but fun to drive when the road starts to twist and turn. If you are looking for a used Galaxy, there's good news: MPVs aren't as popular as SUVs, which makes the big Ford a comparatively affordable buy.
Ford Galaxy review
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Kia Sorento (2015-2019)
The fourth-generation Kia Sorento went on sale in 2021 and instantly became one of the best seven-seater SUVs on the market. That said, if your budget does not stretch to a brand new car, the previous mk3 Sorento is a great used buy in its own right, as is the mechanically similar Hyundai Santa Fe. Being a Kia, even entry-level versions of the Sorento are well equipped, and the top-spec models make the likes of Audi and BMW look stingy. And you forget any idea about the big Kia seeming like a budget car; it's well put together and the build quality is excellent. The seating isn't quite as flexible as you'll find in the best MPVs, but the cabin is still very practical and there's ample load space with the rearmost seats folded flat. What's more, if you have a horsebox, a caravan or a trailer to tow, the Sorento is a good choice. The 2.2-litre diesel has loads of pulling power, while the hybrid version of the latest model is smooth and frugal, and the Sorento's bulk helps to make it a stable tow car. You don't need to be a caravanner to appreciate the Sorento, though. This is a very comfortable and capable car, keenly priced, and with the bonus of a seven-year warranty from new.
Kia Sorento review
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Land Rover Discovery (2017-present)
If you need seven seats and the ability to go far into the wilderness, the Land Rover Discovery 5 is close to ideal. Even if you don't ever stray far from Tarmac, the Discovery is supremely practical and enormously relaxing to drive on long journeys, and as long as you avoid the entry-level model, the Land Rover has plenty of standard equipment. Make no mistake, the Discovery is a very big car, and Land Rover has made the most of the space inside. Even with all seven seats upright, there's still a useful 172 litres of boot space, and there's more head- and legroom in the third row than you'll find in an Audi Q7 or a Volvo XC90. The 2.0-litre diesel performs strongly, but the 3.0-litre's greater pace and refinement make it the pick of the range if your budget stretches far enough, unless the limited electric car range of the plug-in hybrid version appeals. So far so good, but there is one reason we hesitate to give the Discovery our unreserved recommendation, and that's reliability. Land Rover still struggles to build consistently trouble-free cars. But go in with your eyes open, and the Discovery is as luxurious as it is practical.
Land Rover Discovery review
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Peugeot 5008 (2017-present)
Renault's largest cars were once the default choice if you wanted a stylish seven seater and loved French cars. However, Peugeot has since taken over that crown by creating a car that offers the style of an SUV with the practicality of an MPV: the latest generation 5008. Peugeot may market the 5008 as an SUV, but there's no four-wheel-drive version. You can buy the 5008 with a fancy traction control system to improve the Peugeot's ability on slippery surfaces, but you're really buying an MPV with SUV styling, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. You get a modern, rugged and handsome design, but with the low running costs of a practical front-wheel-drive car. Inside, the 5008 looks stunning, with Peugeot's signature small steering wheel and digital instruments that you view over the steering wheel, rather than through it. There's lots of space in the middle row, and there's no transmission tunnel in the floor to get in the way of your feet. The third row of seats has enough room for adults on short trips. Just be wary of any 5008 with a panoramic sunroof, because it makes headroom rather tight in the middle row of seats.
Peugeot 5008 review
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Dacia Jogger (2021-present)
The headline for the Jogger is that it's the cheapest seven-seat car you can buy in the UK, but it's actually got a real depth to its talents that makes it an extremely capable family car, meaning it delivers true value for money. For a start it's pretty well equipped, with even the most basic models getting air-conditioning, cruise control, parking sensors and a DAB radio. That being said, you can't get dual-zone climate control, the basic version has no touchscreen infotainment system and some of the active safety features aren't as cutting-edge as you'll find on more expensive alternatives: the automatic emergency braking function doesn't feature pedestrian detection, for example. But if you're after value-for-money motoring, it's hard to argue against the Jogger. There’s no diesel version offered, so you’ll choose between a hybrid and a turbocharged petrol engine.
Dacia Jogger review
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Skoda Kodiaq (2016-present)
The Skoda Kodiaq comes in both five-seat and seven-seat versions, and most buyers go for the seven-seater. Space in the third row can't quite match the Kia Sorento or the Peugeot 5008, but kids will be fine. Adults? Well, it'll be cheaper than an Uber. If you save seats six and seven for giving lifts at closing-time, you'll find the rest of the Kodiaq is very roomy, more so than a Nissan X-Trail, for example. There's lots of head- and legroom in the middle row, and a commanding and comfortable driving position up front. Boot space is huge as long as the third row is in the floor. Skoda has offered the Kodiaq with a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines. The 148bhp 2.0 TSI is a good all-rounder, although the 148bhp 2.0 TDI will be more economical. The 187bhp 2.0 TDI offers a worthwhile step-up in performance, especially if you have a big caravan or horsebox to tow. Whether you go petrol or diesel, the Kodiaq drives well and comes with a reassuring five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. If you’re not a fan of the Kodiaq’s styling meanwhile, you can get a different look and all the same attributes from its sister car, the Seat Tarraco, which is mechanically identical.
Skoda Kodiaq review
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Citroen Berlingo (2018-present)
A van-based MPV isn't necessarily the most glamorous way to go seven-seat motoring, but using a boxy commercial vehicle as a basis has one distinct advantage – interior space. The Citroen Berlingo, being based on a humble delivery van, therefore offers acres of interior room. It also offers some very clever and thoughtful storage solutions: there are cubbies and storage lockers simply everywhere. And while the Berlingo looks like a van, it doesn't drive like one, with comfortable seats and a smooth ride, and quiet, muscular engines. There's even an electric version.
Citroen Berlingo review
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Volvo XC90 (2015-present)
If you want a seven-seat SUV and you have a healthy budget, the Volvo XC90 deserves a place on your shortlist alongside the likes of the Audi Q7 and the Land Rover Discovery. The second-generation big 4x4 marked a significant move upmarket for Volvo – and the price was hiked to go with it – but the XC90 justified its premium billing with a beautiful cabin that wouldn’t look out of place in a Range Rover. The quality is of the highest standard, and the clean and uncluttered design makes rival cabins seem fussy. The downside to doing away with so many buttons is that lots of systems are controlled through the Sensus touchscreen, which can be fiddly to operate on the move. The XC90 has lots of room for those in the first two rows. Seats six and seven aren't as spacious as those in a Land Rover Discovery, but they're fine for kids or short trips. For performance, the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid is the pick of the range. It's pricey, though. We'd pick the D5 (or later B5 mild hybrid) as the best buy for most buyers, with strong performance and impressive fuel economy.
Volvo XC90 review
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