The best seven-seater hybrid cars in 2024

Wide variety of seven-seater cars compared
Rugged, roomy and even luxury alternatives all here
Our selection covers all budgets and lifestyles

The cheapest car on this list by a significant margin.

The XC90 remains the only seven-seat luxury PHEV.

Luxurious and almost unstoppable off-road.

Full and plug-in hybrid versions of the Santa Fe are available.

Mild-hybrid versions of the diesel engine offer a small efficiency boost.

Third row space in the X7 impresses, as does the luxury.

The X-Trail’s engine never directly drives the wheels.

You can have seven seats in the 110 or up to eight in the 130.

Written by Alan Taylor-Jones Updated: 1 October 2024

Hybrid family cars come in all shapes and sizes these days, including cavernous people movers. We’re not just talking about image-crushing MPVs either; these days seven-seater hybrid cars include SUVs, vans and an oversized estate, too.

You’ll also find varying degrees of electrification, from lightly assisted mild hybrids to full or self-charging hybrids that can run on electricity for short distances and longer-range plug-in hybrids. And if seven seats just aren’t enough, we’ve options that seat eight or nine.

We’ve picked ten of the best, covering all categories at a range of prices. From the seriously cheap Dacia Jogger to the opulent Range Rover and spacious Volkswagen Multivan, there’s something for everyone.

Best seven-seater hybrid cars 2024

Editor’s choice: Volkswagen Multivan

Spacious plug-in hybrid makes for ideal family wheels

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Although the Multivan looks like an evolution of the Caravelle it replaces, it’s quite different underneath. Now riding on a car rather than a van platform, it’s better to drive than before and is available with plug-in hybrid power. Some rivals on this list can go further on a charge, but even the big luxury SUVs don’t offer this much space inside.

Read our full Volkswagen Multivan review

Pros

Exceptionally spacious for all
Flexible interior
Better to drive than you’d think

Cons

Electric range below average
Fiddly infotainment system

Dacia Jogger

Seven seats for the price of a supermini

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For less than the price of a reasonably equipped supermini, you can put a seven-seat Dacia Jogger Hybrid on your drive. It’s the only way to get an automatic Jogger and while it’s not the most refined system, it posts decent economy and has a third row that can just about take an adult. Low safety scores reflect poor driver assist systems and no third row seatbelt warning, but the Jogger is actually pretty safe in a crash.

Read our full Dacia Jogger review

Pros

Cheap to buy or finance
Surprisingly spacious
Comfortable at speed

Cons

Unrefined engine
Rudimentary driver assist systems

Volvo XC90

Upgrades keep Volvo’s biggest SUV relevant

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Despite the XC90 being on sale since 2015, numerous updates over its life mean it remains competitive. A boost in battery capacity gives it an official electric range over 40 miles and a BIK rating of just 8%, yet with 455hp, it’s still quick off the mark. Just don’t expect thrills in the corners.

Read our full Volvo XC90 review

Pros

Still the only luxury seven-seat plug-in SUV
Low BIK rating
Rapid acceleration

Cons

Starting to show its age inside
Rivals are better to drive

Ford S-Max

The driver’s MPV

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The S-Max has long been the sharpest MPV to drive, and the hybrid version is no exception. It’s not particularly quick and sounds a bit thrashy when you’re flat out, but it still handles better than any direct rival. It’s also frugal, although the third row is cramped. If you do want a bit more space, the Ford Galaxy is almost as good to drive and usefully more spacious.

Read our full Ford S-Max review

Pros

The best handling MPV
Frugal
Well equipped

Cons

Unappealing interior
Tight third row

Range Rover

Luxury and off-road capability for up to seven

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While you can get a plug-in hybrid five-seat Range Rover, you’ll need one of the mild hybrid motors in the long wheelbase model if you want seven seats. That’s no great hardship, as the D350 six-cylinder diesel is our favourite engine. It’s flexible and offers plenty of pace, yet is capable of over 35mpg without trying too hard.

Read our full Range Rover review

Pros

Excellent off-road
Comfortable on it
Smooth and punchy diesel engine

Cons

No PHEV option
A BMW X7 is better built

Hyundai Santa Fe

Plug-in and self-charging versions available

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With the similar Kia Sorento now down to one pricey model, we’d recommend looking at the better-value Hyundai Santa Fe. We’d argue it makes more sense as a regular hybrid rather than a plug-in as it’s a bit cheaper and still manages economy in the 40s if you drive carefully, even with four-wheel drive.

Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review

Pros

Lots of standard kit
Four-wheel drive available
Reasonable real-world economy

Cons

Not particularly quick
Rivals feel plusher inside

Ford Tourneo Custom

A practical if unexciting option

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Yes, it’s basically a Transit with nice seats and windows, but that means plenty of room for eight or more. Mild hybrid versions of the 2.0-litre diesel engine help lower emissions and reduce fuel consumption, although not by a great deal. The lowest power version has the best figures, but we’d sacrifice a bit of economy for one of the more potent versions.

Read our full Ford Tourneo Custom review

Pros

Available in two lengths
Good to drive for a van
Plenty of space

Cons

There are more frugal options
Long and wide

BMW X7

Do you still want that Range Rover?

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BMW’s biggest SUV is a true challenger to the Range Rover, beating it in a few key areas. Third row space is truly impressive for something that didn’t start life as a van, and the six-cylinder mild-hybrid enhanced engines have impressive economy given the performance they offer. Even the six-cylinder petrol is capable of well over 30mpg.

Read our full BMW X7 review

Pros

Luxurious interior
Generous third row space
Comfortable ride

Cons

Expensive
Huge

Nissan X-Trail e-Power

Far more appealing than its predecessor

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A mild hybrid version of the X-Trail is available, but the full hybrid e-Power models promise better performance and economy. It’s relaxing when driven gently, although starts to sound a bit frantic when you’re in a hurry. The X-Trail’s third row is best left to children or short trips, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear it’s an optional extra.

Read our full Nissan X-Trail review

Pros

Refined when driven gently
Four-wheel drive versions quite capable
Interior ambiance

Cons

Cramped third row
Noisy when driven hard

Land Rover Defender

Now with seating for up to eight

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There are two flavours of Defender available with three rows of seats, 110 and the 130. They are much the same up to the rear wheels, but the 130 has a longer rear overhang to give more person and luggage space. It does turn an already massive vehicle into even more of a monster, though. Although you can’t opt for the plug-in hybrid version, the mild hybrid diesel engines are the best fit anyway.

Read our full Land Rover Defender review

Pros

Great off-road
130 has a vast boot…
…And the option of seven seats

Cons

Not the best reliability record
Only mild-hybrid available with third row seats

Seven-seater hybrid car FAQs

What is the most spacious seven-seater hybrid car?

The easy answer to that is your best bet here is a van-based MPV people carrier. Of the cars above, that means you’re looking at the Transit-based Ford Tourneo Custom, with the Volkswagen Multivan coming a distant second. Currently, there aren’t many hybrid options here, although the all-electric Citroen e-Spacetourer/Peugeot e-Traveller twins are an option, as is the more expensive Mercedes-Benz EQV.

If you’d prefer a car-shaped car, your large MPV options are disappearing. The excellent Ford Galaxy and S-Max twins are now out of production, although at the time of writing, there are still some sloshing around the dealer network. Beyond that, you’re looking at a large SUV, with the Land Rover Discovery and Defender 130 topping the desirability as well as roominess league.

How far can a seven-seater hybrid go on electric power alone?

That’ll be a plug-in hybrid, and the best seven-seater for battery-only range is currently the Mercedes-Benz GLE with a claimed 66 miles (call it 45 miles in the real world). That should cover the needs of most commuters, while doing longer journeys very effectively on fossil fuel.

Typically, though, most plug-in hybrids don’t go that far, with typical examples such as the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5 going between 20 and 40 miles.

Alan Taylor-Jones is the New Cars Editor for the Bauer Digital Automotive Hub, working on both Parkers and sister title CAR. He’s been reviewing cars for nearly a decade, so really knows his onions.