The best seven-seater SUVs combine rugged looks, a commanding view, and all-round practicality without resorting to styling choices that are better suited to a bus. Gone are the days when buying a seven-seater car meant ending up with a boxy and deeply uncool MPV. In 2024, some of the best SUVs on the market are seven-seaters.
Not all are created equally, however. Here at Parkers, our experts have driven every seven-seat SUV on sale, combed through the fine details and decided upon this tip top list. Short-cutting your shortlist to the ideal cars to buy.
Prefer not to drive an SUV but still need to carry lots of people? Don’t despair. On another page we have a list of the best seven-seater cars of all types as well.
Best seven-seater SUVs in 2024
Improved over the old one in just about every area
Its closest rival, the Kia Sorento offers better build quality and a longer warranty, but in all other aspects, the Skoda is ahead. The Peugeot 5008 is about to be replaced, and could be a spoiler as long as it doesn’t end up being too expensive. But for now, the Kodiaq is the one to go for unless you’re on a tight budget, then you might want to look at a SEAT Tarraco (below), which often attracts cheap finance deals.
To find our more, read the full Skoda Kodiaq review
Pros
- Stylish and user-friendly cabin
- Lots of room in the back
- Hushed ambience at speed
Cons
- No driving thrills
- Less comfortable ride than before
Plug-in hybrid that's packed with kit
Inside, there’s plenty of space for seven adults, although the rearmost row of seats are unsurprisingly the snuggest. At least there’s individual air-con back there. Also worth noting there are seven USB slots – one for each seat..
To find out more, read our full Kia Sorento review
Pros
- Hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions
- Flexible interior
- Decent infotainment
Cons
- No cut-price front-wheel drive model
- Hybrid lacks pulling power
Sharp style and great value for money
Compared with all-comers on this page, the Tarraco is great value, too. It's also priced competitively versus the younger Kodiaq, but the Skoda is a slightly roomier vehicle inside. Many buyers will still prefer the sportier driving experience of the SEAT, however, and all told it represents an excellent package that can often be found on finance for a bargain monthly price.
To find out more, read our full SEAT Tarraco review
Pros
- Neatly styled inside and out
- Keen driving experience
- Often great value on finance
Cons
- Rear seat row is small
- Usual VW Group infotainment woes
A safety-conscious seven-seater design icon
Of course, what good is a safe SUV if it’s not practical to use? Thankfully, the XC90 offers seven adult-sized seats (as ever, the third row is a bit of a squeeze) and lots of practical storage solutions. The interior is a delight too, being of superb build quality and with a cool, calm, Scandinavian air to the styling. The plug-in hybrid models are also thumpingly fast. The only real sticking point is its high price – but this is a premium machine and for many, it’ll be a cost worth bearing to drive one of the safest, coolest and most desirable family SUVs on the market.
To find out more, read our full Volvo XC90 review
Pros
- Safe
- Stylish
- Spacious
Cons
- Touchscreen controls sometimes a pain
- Getting on a bit now
Classiest seven-seater SUV of them all
In addition to the space onboard and the off-road prowess, we love its powerful and smooth engines, its incredibly commanding driving position and the fact it’s inexplicably no harder to pilot than a regular-sized car - although it can feel a little big around town. The premium Land Rover badge is the icing on the cake.
To find out more, read our full Land Rover Discovery review
Pros
- Huge amount of space inside
- Smooth driving experience
- Genuine off-road capability
Cons
- Not the best reliability reputation
- Sheer size can be tricky occasionally
Stylish family MPV lacks Kodiaq's all-round appeal
At this price point, the 5008 is competitive too, and arguably more appealing than its E-5008 electric counterpart. Our main issue? The sluggish gearbox and indifferent acceleration. One to watch if you're after maximum comfort and an interior that is guaranteed to make you feel special.
To find out more, read our full Peugeot 5008 review
Pros
- Comfortable
- Flexible seating
- Premium interior
Cons
- Infotainment is clunky
- Engine lacks refinement
Compact and premium seven-seater with ultra-modern interior
Being based on the A-Class and related family of models, the GLB has a stylish dual-screen dashboard, an efficient range of 1.3-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines, slick automatic transmissions, and the option of 4Matic four-wheel drive should you want it. If performance is your thing, there’s a rorty Mercedes-AMG GLB35 model, which does the curious thing of combining hot hatch speed with seven-seater flexibility. Those more concerned about emissions might consider the all-electric Mercedes EQB variant.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes GLB review
Pros
- Seven-seats in a small package
- Classy looks inside and out
- State-of-the-art voice control
Cons
- Cramped in the third row
- Interior quality a bit patchy
BMW X7
Big, brutal and blooming impressive
Yes, there’s genuine space for seven adults to sit comfortably within the X7 – and even when you do, there’s still a reasonably useful boot at the back for a few soft luggage bags. BMW even offers the option of making it a six-seater with a pair of individual, electrically adjustable seats in the middle row replacing the three-person bench seat. Perhaps even more remarkable than the way the X7 looks is the manner in which it drives. Of course, you cannot ignore its width or its weight, but the way it handles is deeply impressive, with pace, good body control to prevent your passengers from feeling ill, and high levels of comfort.
To find out more, read our full BMW X7 review
Pros
- Plenty of room for people and luggage
- Remarkably good to drive
- We'd buy this over the Bentley
Cons
- Has a face only a mother could love
- Size not super city-friendly
Eye-catching, practical and with a big warranty
There are two powertrains to choose from. It is now a hybrid-only SUV, offering normal and plug-in versions and fuel economies around the 40mpg real-world mpg mark during our tests. Given the size of the Santa Fe, the plug-in is more than ample to give the Hyundai a decent turn of speed from the lights. It can also be capable of a three-figure mpg assuming you remember to plug in.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
Pros
- Space for adults in all three rows
- Frugal despite size
- Better than average warranty
Cons
- Pricey and not as luxurious as some
- Dynamics nothing to write home about
Audi Q7
Big, but brilliant to drive in SQ7 guise
Diesel engines remain the most popular, but it won’t be long before city dwellers and company car drivers find favour in the plug-in hybrids badged TFSI e, although this is far from the most efficient example of this type of technology. On the other hand, if you really need to ferry yourself and six others around rapidly, there’s always the flagship high-performance SQ7, which is not only stupidly fast but a real hoot to drive as well.
To find out more, read our full Audi Q7 review
Pros
- Plush and practical
- Surprisingly good to drive
- SQ7 variant very fast and fun
Cons
- Short electric range from plug-in hybrid
- By no means an off-roader
FAQs: Seven-seater SUV buyers guide
Before we get on to some more specific questions, there are few general pointers to consider when buying a seven-seater SUV.
First thing is, will you get everything and everybody inside? Not every seven-seater car has a lot of room in the final row, for example, so if you need to carry seven adults, you’ll need to make sure big people fit back there. Similarly, check out how easy it is to access the final row if mobility issues are a concern, and make sure your child’s seats are easy to fit.
On the flip side, if you need boot space more than people carrying capacity, be sure to pay attention to how much luggage room there is with the rear-most row upright and folded.
Seven-seater SUVs are typically bigger than regular five-seater models, so consider parking carefully.
Which seven-seater SUV is best for family?
All seven-seater SUVs are reasonably family-friendly, but as above, make sure they have space for the kinds of humans you’re planning to carry inside. Lots of small children? Then how difficult is to fit car seats? Older kids? Will they fit in the back row?
Which seven-seater SUV has the most boot space?
Very few seven-seaters have a lot of room in the boot with all seven seats occupied, so if that’s important, you need a particularly big example.
The BMW X7 is one of the most practical of all for this very reason, offering 326 litres of boot space with seven people on board, 750 litres with five, and a huge 2,120 litres with both rear rows folded. If space with the third row in place is less important, check out the Land Rover Discovery, as this has 1,137 litres with five seats and 2,406 litres with two.
Which is better – a seven-seater SUV or a seven-seater MPV?
This depends on how you want to use the vehicle. The MPV, though less on trend, will almost certainly have more space inside. But an SUV will have a higher driving position, giving you a better view of the road ahead, and many also have off-road capability thanks to four-wheel drive.
CJ Hubbard leads Bauer’s Digital Automotive Hub, writing and reviewing for Parkers and CAR. His Bauer career started as Associate Editor of CAR magazine in 2014, but he’s been a motoring journalist since 2006, and written for titles including Which?, the Sunday Times, Auto Express and Pistonheads.
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