Best 7-seater cars 2024

Kia's flagship electric seven-seater SUV is on the pricey side, but it's also a very accomplished machine that ticks just about every box you're likely to need a mark in. Large, very well-equipped and exceedingly comfortable, the Kia EV9 takes on premium opposition like the Mercedes-Benz EQB and Volvo EX90 Electric, as well as MPVs like the Volkswagen ID Buzz, and it makes a very compelling case for itself.

Even the base model has loads of features and technology, from driving assistance galore to heated- and ventilated seats on two of the three rows. Then there's the choice of battery, with either 313 miles or 348 miles available from a single charge, depending on which model you go for.

The interior is beautifully finished and has loads of space for seven. Or, if you go for the top-spec GT-Line S model, you can replace the three-person second row with two individual seats, which can rotate to face the third-row passengers, rather like an executive jet. As if that wasn't enough, Kia also offers an industry-leading seven-year warranty from new. There's very little not to like here.

The Kia Sorento is one of the best, most affordable seven-seater SUVs on the market. All are well-equipped, spacious, practical and get four-wheel drive as standard. The seven-year, 100,000-mile transferable warranty, also means it’ll be hassle-free to live with for a good while, even if you pick up a used model with some warranty left.

Aside from being one of the best cars in its class for space and convenience, all versions are comfortable and nicely designed. Even the most basic car in KX-1 trim gets 17-inch alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment, DAB audio, rear parking sensors and all-wheel drive. 

The Sorento is available with a smooth 'self-charging' hybrid system using a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine, but there's also Kia's tried-and-tested 2.2 CRDi diesel. Due to its size, power, four-wheel drive and trailer stability system, the Sorento is popular with caravan owners, and it's the latter engine choice they'll prefer. Even if you don't tow, though, the Sorento is a great all-round large SUV. 

Remember when 7-seater cars were predominantly MPVs? Van-like machines that said 'I've had children and my days of enjoyment are over' clearer than anything else you could buy? Well the Land Rover Defender is certainly not one of those.

This is a car that says 'I've had children, but I still know how to have fun', or words to that effect, and it does that straight off the bat with its chunky, take-no-prisoners looks. It's not all about appearances though; clever electronics, a deep wading depth and huge suspension travel means the Defender is, according to Land Rover, the toughest off-roader it has ever built.

Quite aside from that, it's also an excellent family car. You can choose from five-, six-, seven- and eight-seater configurations, and whichever version you go for, you'll find a car with a hugely practical cabin that's loaded with handy storage spaces and has a big boot, especially when you're not using all the chairs. It's also comfortable, refined and comes with a range of punchy engines, while the quality and technology inside is on a different planet to the super-basic old Defender.  

BMW has a knack for making SUVs that are impressive to drive, and despite the X7's sheer size and heft, it's another success story. 

Although it's hardly agile (no 2.5-tonne SUV is), the way the BMW X7 manages to stay composed in the bends and yet feel like a proper luxury car over bumps shows off the brand's incredible depth of engineering. It's also available with four-wheel steering, which is perfect for navigating such a big car through city streets. 

The excellent 3.0-litre diesel will be more than quick enough for most buyers. It has impressive pulling power despite not being the most powerful (or expensive) engine on offer. The base-level trim also has everything you need spec-wise, so you can use the cash you save to stump up for a few extras.

All of the seats behind the front ones can be raised or lowered, while the middle ones can electrically slide and recline. With all seven seats in place, the boot is big enough for a few shopping bags or a couple of carry-on cases, but in five-seat mode, the load area is immense. Turn your X7 into a two-seater, and there’s enough room - and totally flat floor - to carry a moderately sized sofa (along with the house it used to sit in).

Let's get it out of the way: the Volkswagen Touran isn't exciting, desirable or stylish, whether you're outside it or in it. But that's okay: sometimes, families don't want outlandish looks or dazzling gimmicks, they just want a car that does everything well and doesn't shout about it. 

The Touran is that car. Yes, the Tayron is VW's more on-trend seven-seat SUV, but the humble Touran MPV has more room, even if it's about as visually arresting as a van. Look past that, though, and it really is impressive.

For starters, there's plenty of room in every row of seats. Unlike most seven-seat SUVs, adults can sit fairly comfortably in the third row, while six-footers will have no complaints in the middle row. Certainly your kids will have more space than they know what to do with, and five ISOFIX points are standard. Sure, the boot is pretty tight with all seats up, but the 957-litre boot with the third row folded is plenty, while the space is van-like with both rows folded. 

What's so remarkable is that all that space comes in a footprint that's one of the smallest here. Being relatively compact and based on a Golf  (the previous one), that means the Touran is really good to drive: comfortable, refined and composed in the bends. It's also easy to thread through town thanks to its compact size and excellent visibility. 

There's a wide range of engines, too. We'd avoid the base 1.2-litre petrol which struggles when loaded, and go with either the 1.4- or 1.5-litre petrols or one of the diesels. All of those engines are efficient and punchy enough, while the Touran's excellent build quality and decent standard kit means even base models don't feel basic. And yes, it's been around for several years, but that means the used market is brimming with temptingly priced examples.

The new Volvo EX90 takes the brilliant work done by the XC90 SUV over the last two decades, and reimagines the same formula for the impending all-electric future: and does so rather convincingly, may we say.

Yes, the XC90 continues on sale in a heavily revised plug-in hybrid form, but the all-electric EX90 really feels like an evolutionary step on. The twin-motor powertrain delivers exceptional performance and refinement, while a comfortable ride and surprisingly tidy handling make the big electric Volvo a joy to drive in all situations. A generous range means you can go a fair old way before you need to recharge it, too.

Perhaps the thing you'll like most, though, it the sheer style it delivers. It looks good from the outside, while the inside has serious wow-factor, with gorgeous materials and effortlessly stylish design. The EX90 feels even roomier than the XC90, too, so seven adults sit comfortably, and there's room for a decent slice of luggage at the same time.

The first Skoda Kodiaq was always one of our favourite family cars due to its impressive mix of abilities, and happily, the latest version builds on those even further to provide even more appeal. 

First of all, it looks better, with a less frumpy design, but at the same time, it's not too flashy. The second-generation car is also slightly bigger, which means even more interior space. Okay, so the third-row seats (where fitted, as the Kodiaq can also be had as a five-seater) are probably still best left to children, but things are less cramped than before. The (already large) boot has increased slightly in capacity, too, making the Kodiaq even more practical and even more versatile.

The interior also presents you with a nicely finished and substantially built environment, and all versions come generously equipped as standard. What's more, the Kodiaq comes with Skoda's trademark 'Simply Clever' features, which are little design touches aimed at making everyday family life that little bit easier. And they really work. 

We think the Mercedes-Benz GLB is one of the most desirable 7-seater SUVs on the market, but it definitely isn’t the most practical: it's a bit too small for that. What it has got going for it, though, is a superb interior and decent running costs. Based on the latest Mercedes A-Class and Mercedes B-Class, it gets heaps of style and premium touches, as well as being genuinely usable.

Really, the rugged design and plush interior are the biggest selling points of the GLB. That third row of seats (standard on most but not all models) is unusable for adults, but children will fit for short journeys. The seats pop out of the boot floor, too, leaving basically no luggage space with them in use. But for occasional use, they are fine, and when folded the boot is a good size. 

Diesels suit the GLB well, with the 200 d being our engine of choice. The more powerful 220 d is tempting but isn’t available with seven seats, sadly. A focus on comfort means the GLB rides very well and feels composed in the corners, while being practical enough for a lot of buyers. The biggest issue is the price, even as a used model, because it's desirable and in demand. 

The Dacia Jogger is an antidote to the increasingly expensive world we live in. While your energy bills may be rocketing, fuel prices increasing and the weekly food shop now costing well into three figures, the Dacia Jogger is a brand new seven-seater you can buy for a little over £18,000, less than an entry-level Vauxhall Corsa.

It might be, dare we say it, cheap, but it's jam-packed with value. As basically an estate version of the Dacia Sandero, the Jogger is a potential rival for all manner of cars from the Skoda Octavia Estate to the electric MG5 EV. But the Dacia is actually a refreshingly simple car, with three trims to choose from and a choice of engines: an efficient petrol unit or a more powerful, automatic hybrid that promises up to 57.7mpg.

Sure, it's not particularly plush inside, but it is spacious and it covers the basics, with features like air conditioning and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all available. It's more of a five-seat car with two seats added on at the back than a genuine, full-time seven seater, so if you need all five rear seats on an everyday basis then it might not be the best choice. But at this price, it's very hard to criticise too much.

Offering a huge interior space, bags of tech and a 7-seat layout, the Peugeot 5008 is a great choice for those who want style without sacrificing practicality. All versions get three rows of seats as standard, and the third row can be folded away into the floor (or removed entirely) to provide a van-like load space. Although the third row of seats are best used by children, small adults could fit in there for emergency journeys. 

You'll be surprised to hear that the entry-level 130PS 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine doesn't feel underpowered in the Peugeot. The higher powered units feel more urgent, though, while the diesels combine low-end punch with strong fuel economy. The attractively designed interior feels well put together, while it's very well equipped even at the lower end of the range. 

The ride quality is good, with decent comfort levels even on bumpy road surfaces. Severe potholes do send a bit of a thump into the cabin, though.