Compare the best 8-seater cars
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Last updated November 14, 2024 by
Tom Wiltshire
Best 8-seater cars of 2024
Sometimes, a regular five-seat family car just isn’t enough. Sometimes, even a seven-seater SUV or MPV isn’t enough either. Enter the eight-seater car - a small but important niche for people who just need to carry as many passengers as they can.
Unsurprisingly, most eight-seater cars for sale in the UK are based on panel vans. While eight-seater SUVs are very popular in the US, they’re just too big for UK roads for the most part. However, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with driving a van - they’re not exactly glamorous, but they’re super-practical with no wasted space, and the latest models feel very car-like to drive. There are a few exceptions to this van rule, though.
Read on for our expert reviews team's roundup of the best eight-seater family cars on sale today.
What's good
What’s not so good
This is the sole vehicle in this list which isn’t based on a van. The Defender 130 is a stretched version of the Defender 110, and crams up to eight seats into its beefy body. Access to the third row isn’t very easy, and it’s quite narrow for three adults back there, but there’s a shocking amount of legroom and a great view out of the big side windows. As with all Defenders, the 130 is fabulous to drive - you can get it with sensible diesel engines or a ballistic 5.0-litre V8 petrol, which uses approximately fifty litres of petrol to get down the driveway. It’s not cheap to buy, either. But it’s supremely comfortable on road, utterly unflappable off-road, and remarkably practical.
Luxury people-carriers don’t come with much more prestige than a Mercedes V-Class, which can be had in specifications right up to a hyper-luxurious four-seater. However, it’s also available as a slightly more lowly eight-seat model, with two rows of three comfortable seats in the back. It may share a lot with the Mercedes Vito van but you get a totally different dashboard as well as a different grille treatment, so nobody’s going to mistake you for a roofer. The V-Class feels rather more commercial to drive than the Tourneo Custom, but it’s still quiet and comfortable.
Battery range up to 214 miles
The next four vehicles are going to feel a bit like deja vu… because they’re basically the same van. Diesel versions of all of these were previously available, so you’ll be able to find them on the used market, but at the time of writing they’re only available as electric variants. A big 75kWh battery gives you over 200 miles of range in official testing, which is impressive for a vehicle this big. The driving experience is more mixed - the smooth and silent nature of an electric powertrain is great for nipping around town, but you do feel more like you’re driving a converted van than the cars higher up on this list. Incidentally, we’ve positioned the Toyota first on this list because of its aftercare - not only do you get up to 10 years of warranty cover, but Toyota dealers are very highly-rated by owners, so if you do have issues they should be painless to deal with.
Battery range up to 214 miles
The Citroen comes next on our list because it’s the cheapest of the remaining vans to buy. You still get most of the features you’d expect, though entry-level You! Models do look rather Spartan with their uncovered steel wheels, halogen headlights and black plastic bumpers and door handles. Unlike the Toyota you can get the e-Spacetourer with a smaller, 50kWh battery, which is good for an official range of 136 miles and usefully cheaper than the big-battery model. Ideal if you need lots of seats but don’t travel far.
Battery range up to 217 miles
The E-Traveller is the most expensive of these mechanically-identical vans to buy, but that’s mostly explained by its higher standard specification. All E-Travellers get alloy wheels and body-coloured bumpers, and Peugeot styles the front end with a smart look and distinctive headlights. The 75kWh battery is the only option here, but you can get two trim levels and Standard or Long body lengths.
Battery range up to 141 miles
The Vivaro isn’t really any worse than its siblings - it’s just slightly more expensive than the Citroen, and not as plush as the Peugeot, so it lacks a USP. There are more trim levels, though - you can get a Combi model, which is the full-on white van spec with black plastic trim, right up to a luxurious Ultimate model. Official range is a little lower, at 199 miles, but since the batteries and motors are identical it’s not likely that you’d see any difference in the real world.