Compare the best large 7-seater cars
High-quality big 7-seater cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Best big 7-seater family cars of 2024
The best 7-seaters are the multi-tools of the car world. They’re ready for just about anything, from the school run to the daily commute to taking the whole family to the pub for Sunday lunch.
If you’re in the market for a great seven-seater car then there are several fantastic vehicles out there to pick from. Some are luxurious, others sporty, while the best can pack in the extended family and all their luggage.
Because even if you don't regularly drive with seven passengers, having a third row of seats is a great feature in a car. How many of us, after all, have at one point had to take two cars when heading out on a trip with friends or extended family because there simply aren't enough seats to spare? These moments may not come up every day but, when they do, having a seven-seater car is a real boon.
Even if the third row is a little tight, having that extra capacity can be a fantastic resource. Seven-seaters are especially handy for parents, who can take their kids' friends home from school or on outings, earning brownie points from everyone involved.
And for parents with more than one child, having a third row in the back of a car can be a great way of resolving bickering sessions between offspring, or can give older kids a break from their younger siblings, or vice-versa.
These are the very best seven-seater cars on the market today.
What's good
What’s not so good
If you need to maximise interior space and minimise spending, then the Skoda Kodiaq should be high on your list. It has tonnes of passenger and boot space, with a sharp-looking interior. It's not the most tech-heavy cabin, though, while the suspension can be a bit bumpy at lower speeds. But above all, the Kodiaq is cracking value.
True, its interior may not be as posh as the Audi Q7's, but it's still a very nice place indeed, especially if you choose a higher trim level. The Kodiaq also has a pleasingly commanding driving position, and there's a reason you see so many out and about on the roads: it's a brilliant, well-priced car.
True, its interior may not be as posh as the Audi Q7's, but it's still a very nice place indeed, especially if you choose a higher trim level. The Kodiaq also has a pleasingly commanding driving position, and there's a reason you see so many out and about on the roads: it's a brilliant, well-priced car.
Few large seven-seaters have an interior as well built and practical as the Audi Q7. At any price. It offers a comfortable ride whether you’re sat right up front or back in the third row.
Sure, you will get a more enjoyable driving experience from more dynamically capable rivals, but the Q7 is still an extremely refined and luxurious car. Besides, how much handling dynamism do you need from a seven-seater? We'd argue a plush, comfortable and spacious cabin is more important for most people, and the Q7 certainly has that to offer.
Sure, you will get a more enjoyable driving experience from more dynamically capable rivals, but the Q7 is still an extremely refined and luxurious car. Besides, how much handling dynamism do you need from a seven-seater? We'd argue a plush, comfortable and spacious cabin is more important for most people, and the Q7 certainly has that to offer.
What's good
What’s not so good
Yes, it’s a van but it’s also not really a van — VW’s uber-practical Multivan is actually based on a car chassis, and it gets a much more comfy and refined interior than the bigger Transporter (which is actually, really a van). You can have it with petrol, diesel, or plug-in hybrid power but they’re all pretty thirsty on long runs as this is a bluff, tall vehicle. Loses points because you have to take the seats out rather than folding them flat when you don’t need them, but this is a wildly practical vehicle for people who like sensible cars.
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Hi-tech, luxurious and imbued with that inimitable Scandinavian style, the XC90 stands out amongst its rivals. The third row is a bit cramped, and some rivals are a bit more comfortable, but the boot is huge and you get a lot of safety equipment as standard.
Interestingly, crash-data research shows no XC90 occupants have ever died in a collision, and it is this impressive safety record that is likely to be a big selling point for families.
Interestingly, crash-data research shows no XC90 occupants have ever died in a collision, and it is this impressive safety record that is likely to be a big selling point for families.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Dacia Jogger SUV looks like a mix of an estate car and MPV which makes it a rather practical seven-seater. It’s functional rather than plush inside, and it isn’t particularly powerful, but it offers amazing value for money and higher trims have pretty much all the tech you could need.
Plus, six-foot-tall adults can sit in the third row with decent knee and headroom, which is hugely impressive. Do be aware that the Jogger isn't a quick car, though, and if you regularly travel seven-up, you'll need to rev the engine quite hard and change gear a fair bit when going up hills. The hybrid version improves things slightly, but whichever way you look at it, the Jogger's not much of a sprinter.
Plus, six-foot-tall adults can sit in the third row with decent knee and headroom, which is hugely impressive. Do be aware that the Jogger isn't a quick car, though, and if you regularly travel seven-up, you'll need to rev the engine quite hard and change gear a fair bit when going up hills. The hybrid version improves things slightly, but whichever way you look at it, the Jogger's not much of a sprinter.
What's good
What’s not so good
Topping BMW’s SUV range is the huge X7. It will comfortably take seven occupants – even adults can fit in the rearmost seats – and it still feels sharp and engaging to drive. It isn’t cheap though, and its sheer size can make parking manoeuvres a nerve-wracking affair. The big diesel engines are surprisingly economical, but there’s no plug-in hybrid option.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Discovery is comfortable and spacious for passengers and can venture further off the beaten path than most rivals. The boot isn’t huge with all seven seats in place and some alternatives are better to drive on-road, but the Discovery is still a very compelling choice in its class.
It's also a seriously comfortable car, both in terms of the suspension and handling and in terms of passenger space. Most seven-seaters, after all, have a rearmost row of seats that's either best for children or occasional use by adults, but the Discovery manages to offer enough room for seven adults, without those in the back having to feel hard done by.
It's also a seriously comfortable car, both in terms of the suspension and handling and in terms of passenger space. Most seven-seaters, after all, have a rearmost row of seats that's either best for children or occasional use by adults, but the Discovery manages to offer enough room for seven adults, without those in the back having to feel hard done by.
What's good
What’s not so good
The Sorento offers a lot of kit as standard, and the interior is very spacious and filled with practical touches. The engine choice is decent if limited, and the hybrid can get a bit loud under acceleration.
Kia has moved a fair bit upmarket in recent years, so while you may find the Sorento isn't quite as affordable as previous generations have been, it's a lot posher than Kias of old. Plus, it still represents good value compared to big SUVs from Audi and BMW.
Kia has moved a fair bit upmarket in recent years, so while you may find the Sorento isn't quite as affordable as previous generations have been, it's a lot posher than Kias of old. Plus, it still represents good value compared to big SUVs from Audi and BMW.
What's good
What’s not so good
The GLB’s relatively compact dimensions limit space in the third row and the boot is a bit tight, but it’s comfortable to drive and has a luxurious interior. Be aware though that it isn’t cheap and base models don’t come with much standard equipment.
But if you spec it up to the right level, the GLB offers a lot for buyers. The twin-screen dashboard looks nice and modern, for one thing, while the exterior styling is pleasingly chunky, and gives the GLB proper character.
But if you spec it up to the right level, the GLB offers a lot for buyers. The twin-screen dashboard looks nice and modern, for one thing, while the exterior styling is pleasingly chunky, and gives the GLB proper character.
What's good
What’s not so good
There are some fantastic cars on this list, but the SEAT Tarraco is one of the best all-rounders, combining stylish looks, a spacious interior and a reasonable price tag, perhaps only beaten to this title by the Skoda Kodiaq. It has a hi-tech, hard-wearing interior that feels a bit more plush than similarly-priced alternatives.
The rearmost seats are best-suited to kids, or adults for short trips, but what it loses here in practicality it makes up for with a big boot. The back row even folds down into the boot floor so you have loads of space in five-seat mode.
The rearmost seats are best-suited to kids, or adults for short trips, but what it loses here in practicality it makes up for with a big boot. The back row even folds down into the boot floor so you have loads of space in five-seat mode.
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