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 2025, 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 – including MPV people carriers – as well.
Best seven-seater SUVs in 2025
Improved over the old one in just about every area
Its closest rival, the Hyundai Santa Fe (below) offers better build quality and a longer warranty at a premium, but in all other aspects, the Skoda is ahead. The Peugeot 5008 (also below) offers a more glamorous interior, but there are compromises which leaving it wanting compared with the brilliant Skoda. So for now, the Kodiaq is still the one to go for if you want seven seats combined with a modicum of lifestyle attitude. Throw in some tempting finance deals, and it's almost irresistible.
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
Kia EV9
Our favourite electric seven-seater
Like all Kia EVs, the charging time is one of the quickest out there thanks to its cutting-edge charging capability. Performance is also very impressive, although efficiency isn't quite as impressive as its lower, lighter siblings thanks to its sheer bulk. But its interior is brilliant – both plush and easy to use, but with tonnes of space and adaptability for larger families. To top if off, it's also available in six and seven-seat versions, and with rear- or four-wheel drive.
To find out more, read our full Kia EV9 review
Pros
- Spacious, even in the third row
- Rapid charge times
- Tidy handling
Cons
- Unsettled ride
- Efficiency not the best
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
A brilliant, cheap, family car up against secondhand rivals
Naturally, because it’s a Dacia, the Jogger is also very affordable. Finance deals might not be super-competitive, but when the car's this cheap, it still undercuts all of its seven-seater compatriots. In addition, cash prices are low, so if you're buying to keep forever, this makes all manner of sense. Yes, the Jogger does make a couple of sacrifices in refinement and safety equipment in order to achieve its low price, so if this matters – and the latter certainly should – then you can always consider buying a more sophisticated car secondhand instead.
To find out more, read our full Dacia Jogger review
Pros
- Incredibly spacious
- Comfortable ride
- Bargain price tag
Cons
- Seats aren’t that flexible
- No diesel option
An old name for a seriously good value challenger
The Frontera is a functional, fuss-free family SUV and we like that a lot. It’s one of the most spacious cars in its class, and is very comfortable, especially around town. Standard equipment levels are comprehensive for the price and it undercuts many competitors in this respect. It's not perfect, though – its interior feels cheap and we prefer the electric version as an overall package.
To find out more, read our full Vauxhall Frontera review
Pros
- Very spacious interior
- Good value for money
- Comfortable, particularly around town
Cons
- Weak automatic gearbox
- Cheap-feeling interior
The iconic off-roader that'll carry everything you need
If you don't need something quite so long, you could also consider a Land Rover Discovery or a Range Rover, or go for one of very few rivals from a competitor brand. But the fact remains that, unless you regularly need to transport your entire extended family up a wet Cumbrian fell, the Defender 130 is probably overkill for most people’s needs. It trades on its feel-good factor – and, despite its high price tag, ridiculous proportions and atrocious fuel consumption, we can't help but love it.
To find out more, read our full Land Rover Defender 130 review
Pros
- Unbeatable on the rough stuff
- Comfortable ride
- Rugged but plush interior
Cons
- Smallest 90 variant is impractical for families
- Big, wide and heavy
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. There’s a decent amount of room in the rearmost row of seats, too. 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
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 and still 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
A safety-conscious seven-seater design icon, now updated
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 at least it's considerably less expensive than the new all-electric EX90.
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
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.
Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.
