Compare the best 7-seater 4x4s

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Best 7-seat 4x4s of 2024

The difference between a 7-seater 4x4 and a 7-seater SUV is a pretty subtle one, but in essence a 4x4 car will be more capable off road, and offer more rugged looks. Plus while some SUVs are two-wheel drive, all four wheels in a 4x4 vehicle will be driven by the engine, bolstering traction when the going gets tough or slippery.

And while for many people after seven seats and a raised driving position an SUV will tick all the boxes, some people need, or hanker for, both the ability to carry six passengers, and a car with the ability to venture off beaten tarmac path from time to time.

Only a 7-seater 4x4 will do at this point, and our trusted car reviewers are more than up for the challenge of finding you 10 to choose from. It's fair to say 7-seat 4x4s are a bit of a niche proposition, though, so while we have 10 options for your delectation here, there's not a huge amount more choice on the market if you require a vehicle like this - though do check out our rundown of the best 7-seat SUVs if you don't need full go-anywhere capabilities.

But without further ado, below are the 7-seat 4x4s that have impressed our road-test team for their comfort, on-road manners, interior design and much more, besides.

Land Rover Defender 110

1. Land Rover Defender

9/10
Land Rover Defender 110 review

What's good

  • Practical interior with seven seats
  • Wide range of excellent engines
  • Comfortable on-road and capable off it

What’s not so good

  • High running costs
  • Tight third row
  • Question marks over reliability
It's fair to say that Land Rover's reimagining of a Defender for the modern age has been a success. All the go-anywhere ability and rugged looks you could shake a walking pole at, together with plenty of creature comforts and refinement.

And, if you go for the longer 110 or 130 models instead of the smaller 90, you'll also get seven seats - actually in the case of the 130 you'll get eight, thanks to three seats in the rearmost row.

What's good

  • Practical interior with seven seats
  • Wide range of excellent engines
  • Comfortable on-road and capable off it

What’s not so good

  • High running costs
  • Tight third row
  • Question marks over reliability
Range Rover

2. Range Rover

9/10
Range Rover review

What's good

  • Extremely manouvrable with four-wheel steering
  • Superbly refined and comfortable
  • Looks fantastic

What’s not so good

  • Some cheap plastics inside
  • Feels wide through town and tighter roads
  • A big step to get into the cabin
The Range Rover marks the second out of three vehicles from Land Rover to feature in our rundown, but when a brand is as geared around off-road ability as this, it's hard to argue against its inclusion.

The fact the full-fat Rangie is capable of going places few other cars can manage (though a Land Cruiser probably has an edge) while showering its occupance in the utmost luxury is a testament to today's vehicle designers and engineers - though you do pay for this privilege, as a new Range Rover is a six-figure car.

What's good

  • Extremely manouvrable with four-wheel steering
  • Superbly refined and comfortable
  • Looks fantastic

What’s not so good

  • Some cheap plastics inside
  • Feels wide through town and tighter roads
  • A big step to get into the cabin

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Skoda Kodiaq (2017-2024)

What's good

  • Good value for money
  • Loads of space inside
  • Smart-looking interior

What’s not so good

  • Over-the-shoulder blindspots
  • VW Tiguan has more tech
  • A little bumpy at low speeds
Okay, so the Kodiaq is arguably more of an SUV than an outright 4x4, but it is available with four-wheel drive, and its chunky looks and properly lofty driving position make it more of an off-roader than many cars of its type.

The rearmost back seats aren't as spacious as the Discovery's, but everywhere else the Kodiaq screams practicality. Plus with just under 20cm of ground clearance, if you stick a set of mud + snow or all-terrain tyres on it, you're likely to get where you need to go.

What's good

  • Good value for money
  • Loads of space inside
  • Smart-looking interior

What’s not so good

  • Over-the-shoulder blindspots
  • VW Tiguan has more tech
  • A little bumpy at low speeds
Mercedes-Benz GLS

4. Mercedes GLS

7/10
Mercedes-Benz GLS review

What's good

  • Proper seven-seater
  • Massive boot
  • Very comfortable

What’s not so good

  • Hit and miss quality inside and out
  • Can rock back and forth over bumps
  • X7 is more fun to drive
It may be more geared around outright luxury than the rugged Defender, but with a dedicated off-road mode, four-wheel drive and a relatively assertive style compared to some of Mercedes' sleeker SUVs, the full-size, seven-seat GLS is well worth considering if you're in the market for a car of this kind.

And if you don't need all seven seats in place, dropping the rearmost row sees the boot offer an impressive 890 litres of luggage space, while those up front get some seriously impressive technology, features and plush materials; there's even a pair of grab handles on the centre console if you need need to get going in the rough stuff. Cheap, all this certainly ain't, and this becomes even more so if you opt for the super-luxe Maybach GLS - which you may be disinclined to take on off-road inclines.

What's good

  • Proper seven-seater
  • Massive boot
  • Very comfortable

What’s not so good

  • Hit and miss quality inside and out
  • Can rock back and forth over bumps
  • X7 is more fun to drive
Kia Sorento

5. Kia Sorento

9/10
Kia Sorento review

What's good

  • Roomy interior
  • Lots of standard equipment
  • Diesel still available

What’s not so good

  • Firm suspension at low speeds
  • Quite dark inside
  • Third row best for kids
While by no means a cheap car, the Kia Sotento looks a positive bargain in the compay of the GLS, and you certainly won't be slumming it inside, as Kia has come on light years recently when it comes to quality, design and overall appeal.

The Sorento is the firm's largest SUV, and it has a do-anything charm that's all of its, while torque-vectoring four-wheel drive helps the engine put its power down as effectively as possible. Diesel Sorentos are popular vehicles for caravanners, while there's a plug-in hybrid version if you'd like the advantages of both petrol and electric power.

What's good

  • Roomy interior
  • Lots of standard equipment
  • Diesel still available

What’s not so good

  • Firm suspension at low speeds
  • Quite dark inside
  • Third row best for kids
Land Rover Discovery

6. Land Rover Discovery

9/10
Land Rover Discovery review

What's good

  • Comfortable and quiet
  • Room for seven adults
  • Brilliant off-road

What’s not so good

  • Styling isn't to all tastes
  • Some rivals are better on-road
  • Small boot with seven seats in place
The Land Rover Discovery may not have been the smash-hit the newer Defender is, but it still has a huge amount to recommend it. Because while the Defender's cabin is more utilitarian than some might like, the Discovery is something of a halfway house between the Defender and the ultra-plush Range Rover.

The Discovery is also brilliantly packaged, so while the rearmost chairs in some seven-seaters are only really suitable for children, or adults on in short bursts, the Disco can genuinely fit seven adults, with some space left over for luggage, too.

What's good

  • Comfortable and quiet
  • Room for seven adults
  • Brilliant off-road

What’s not so good

  • Styling isn't to all tastes
  • Some rivals are better on-road
  • Small boot with seven seats in place
Hyundai Santa Fe (2018-2024)

7. Hyundai Santa Fe

9/10
Hyundai Santa Fe (2018-2024) review

What's good

  • Roomy cabin
  • Lots of standard kit
  • Comfortable to drive

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have bigger boots...
  • ... and cost less to run
  • Not as fancy inside as some alternatives
The Santa Fe is a sister car to the Kia Sorento, so you get the same strong attention to detail and interior space, together with a generous warranty (five years/unlimited mileage for the Hyundai, seven years/100k miles for the Kia).

The Santa Fe is also an impressively comfortable car, with a relaxing, confidend driving experience, plus plenty of equipment throughout the range.

What's good

  • Roomy cabin
  • Lots of standard kit
  • Comfortable to drive

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have bigger boots...
  • ... and cost less to run
  • Not as fancy inside as some alternatives
Nissan X-Trail

8. Nissan X-Trail

8/10
Nissan X-Trail review

What's good

  • Quiet engine in town and on motorway
  • Plenty of quality features
  • Spacious enough for five adults

What’s not so good

  • Petrol engine sounds unpleasant under harder acceleration
  • Less boot space than alternatives
  • Third-row seats are quite cramped
We squeeze the Nissan X-Trail in towards the bottom of our top 10 both because it's a little tight in the rearmost seats, and because it's not as adept in the rough stuff as some of the cars in this rundown - though it can be had with four-wheel drive, and has 10mm more ground clearance than the Skoda Kodiaq.

In addition to this, the X-Trail's interior is pretty plush and has plenty of equipment, while on-road refinement is stong, and the hybrid e-Power version has a clever petrol-electric powertrain.

What's good

  • Quiet engine in town and on motorway
  • Plenty of quality features
  • Spacious enough for five adults

What’s not so good

  • Petrol engine sounds unpleasant under harder acceleration
  • Less boot space than alternatives
  • Third-row seats are quite cramped
Toyota Land Cruiser (2018-2024)

9. Toyota Land Cruiser

6/10
Toyota Land Cruiser (2018-2024) review

What's good

  • Fantastic off-road
  • Spacious cabin
  • Proven reliability

What’s not so good

  • Not very comfortable
  • Noisier than alternatives
  • Basic entry-level models
The Land Cruiser is an old-fashioned car, and this is no bad thing (books are old fashioned these days, after all). Because while the body of most modern off-roaders is part of the vehicle's underlying structure, the iconic Toyota comprises 'body-on-frame' construction. This means it's not quite as sharp to drive as some rivals (though it's perfectly pleasant), but also means it's near enough unstoppable both in terms of its off-road competencies, and with regard to dependability and general toughness.

Buy a Land Cruiser today an it'll still be going years or decades in the future, while strong residuals make it a sound investment. Oh, yes, as well as being able to go almost anywhere, if you choose the Active or Invincible 7 Seat model, you'll be able to take half a dozen friends with you on your adventures.

What's good

  • Fantastic off-road
  • Spacious cabin
  • Proven reliability

What’s not so good

  • Not very comfortable
  • Noisier than alternatives
  • Basic entry-level models
SsangYong Rexton

10. SsangYong Rexton

5/10
SsangYong Rexton review

What's good

  • Great off-road
  • Excellent for towing
  • Plenty of space for five

What’s not so good

  • Slow
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Drives like a truck
As with the Land Cruiser, the Rexton utilises body on frame construction, meaning its on-road manners may not be as polished as some SUVs, but its off-road capabilities are more significant as a result. The Rexton also gets seven seats as standard, while equipment levels are pretty decent for the price; all versions get heated/ventillated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a 12.3-inch digital dash display, for example. Plus if you're after a tow vehicle the Rexton can pull up to 3.5 tonnes (though you'll need to upgrade your driving licence to pull this much).

There's only one engine (a 2.2-litre diesel with an eight-speed automatic gearbox), while interior quality could be better and the suspension is a little unsophisticated, with the Rexton feeling rather unsettled even on smooth roads.

What's good

  • Great off-road
  • Excellent for towing
  • Plenty of space for five

What’s not so good

  • Slow
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Drives like a truck

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Advice about 7-seater 4x4 cars

7-seat 4x4s FAQs

One of the 4s in the phrase '4x4' denotes that a vehicle has four wheels, while the other 4 means all of those wheels are powered by the engine, unlike most cars, which are two-wheel drive (most often front, but sometimes rear). Away from that fundamental definition, convention holds that 4x4 cars will be better off-road than SUVs, many of which are front-wheel-drive.

Well, the Skoda Kodiaq is a strong value proposition, but that's arguably more of an SUV than an outright 4x4. The Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento could also fit a value bill. If you need proper off-road capabilities, the Toyota Land Cruiser 7 seater is unstoppable off-road, is likely to carry on working well after some vehicles have been recycled, and is available from just under £50,000 (though do check out the offers you can get through carwow's dealers).

That'll be the Land Rover Discovery, which can carry seven adults, two 3,500kg, carry over 1,000 litres of luggage with five seats in place, and offers generous space in all three seating rows.