Best 7-seaters of 2026 in the UK
If you’ve got a lot of passengers to haul around, a seven-seater is going to be your preferred choice of car. Fear not, though, as the very best of the class are far from the boring, van-based MPVs that once dominated this segment.
Some are genuinely desirable, too. Not just for the space they offer, but for their quality and looks, such as the Land Rover Defender.
Other compelling choices, like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Peugeot 5008, aren’t quite as posh but do serve as excellent all-rounders with eye-catching designs that’ll stand out on the school run - while you offload six children at once.
Our expert reviews team has thoroughly tested every seven-seater on the market for an extended period of time. After extensive road trips, supermarket runs, school duties, and threading them around city streets, these are the ten we’ve settled on as the best on sale:
2026
Car of the Year Award
1. Chery Tiggo 8
Chery Tiggo 8 review
Best for: seven-seat value
Bursting onto the scene in 2025, the Chery Tiggo 8 immediately cemented itself as one of the most attractive value-for-money seven-seaters on the market. It even took the prize of 2026 Carwow Car of the Year, it impressed us that much.
For the price of a family hatchback, you can have a plug-in hybrid SUV capable of seating seven in comfort.
It isn’t just a master of one trade either, offering interior design and quality that competes with cars well above its price bracket. Its synthetic leather upholstery feels good, and the 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment that dominates the dashboard is slick and responsive to use.
Space in the middle row is impressive, with plenty of head and legroom for those who called shotgun on not sitting furthest back. Not that it’ll be a major issue for those who drew the relative short straw, though, as there is a respectable amount of space to stretch out, plus the middle row can be slid forward to create more space. Headroom is a little tight, though this can be alleviated a little thanks to reclining seats.
That room does come with a compromise; a tiny boot with all seats in place, at a measly 117 litres. That won’t even rival sports cars, let alone other cars in the seven-seater segment.
Its overall driving experience is a bit of a let-down too, with lots of road and wind noise coming into the cabin, plus harsh-set suspension which can make high-speed driving on country lanes an uncomfortable experience.
Given the level of equipment on offer (adaptive cruise control is a standard-fit feature, for a start) for the price the Chery Tiggo 8 is listed at, though, those are compromises that can be justified if you need something with lots of seats and with a pleasant interior. We’d recommend the plug-in hybrid to really get the most from it, balancing the comfort of electric-only driving with extra efficiency gains on longer drivers and without the need to worry about stopping to charge.
Bursting onto the scene in 2025, the Chery Tiggo 8 immediately cemented itself as one of the most attractive value-for-money seven-seaters on the market. It even took the prize of 2026 Carwow Car of the Year, it impressed us that much.
For the price of a family hatchback, you can have a plug-in hybrid SUV capable of seating seven in comfort.
It isn’t just a master of one trade either, offering interior design and quality that competes with cars well above its price bracket. Its synthetic leather upholstery feels good, and the 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment that dominates the dashboard is slick and responsive to use.
Space in the middle row is impressive, with plenty of head and legroom for those who called shotgun on not sitting furthest back. Not that it’ll be a major issue for those who drew the relative short straw, though, as there is a respectable amount of space to stretch out, plus the middle row can be slid forward to create more space. Headroom is a little tight, though this can be alleviated a little thanks to reclining seats.
That room does come with a compromise; a tiny boot with all seats in place, at a measly 117 litres. That won’t even rival sports cars, let alone other cars in the seven-seater segment.
Its overall driving experience is a bit of a let-down too, with lots of road and wind noise coming into the cabin, plus harsh-set suspension which can make high-speed driving on country lanes an uncomfortable experience.
Given the level of equipment on offer (adaptive cruise control is a standard-fit feature, for a start) for the price the Chery Tiggo 8 is listed at, though, those are compromises that can be justified if you need something with lots of seats and with a pleasant interior. We’d recommend the plug-in hybrid to really get the most from it, balancing the comfort of electric-only driving with extra efficiency gains on longer drivers and without the need to worry about stopping to charge.
2026
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Winner
2. Hyundai Ioniq 9
Hyundai Ioniq 9 review
Battery range up to 385 miles
Best for: long, comfortable drives
Electric seven-seaters are a pretty limited market at the moment, but there are some incredibly appealing battery-powered options despite little choice. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a standout among them, both for its impressive practicality and comfort, along with its polarising styling.
If the UFO vibe is one you’re happy to try and pull off at the school gates, you’ll be delighted to hear the Ioniq 9 offers bags of space inside to keep the crew onboard happy en route to breakfast club, where they can tell their friends that their parents have bought the winner of the Comfortable Cruiser Award at the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
While there is a six-seat option for more room, the seven-seat configuration of the Ioniq 9 will allow for passengers over six feet tall to easily get comfortable without rubbing shoulders too hard. It’s easy to get into the back row with the middle bench folded forward, too, where even adults will find enough space to ride comfortably. With all seats in place, an impressive 338 litres should comfortably swallow a few suitcases.
It’s not just about sheer practicality inside the Ioniq 9, either. The cabin is sensibly laid out, features a good balance between a responsive infotainment setup and a sensible amount of physical controls for key functions. It all looks very cool, too, particularly with the now-trademark Ioniq touch of four pixels dotted across the steering wheel in place of the usual Hyundai logo.
As a town car, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 probably isn’t going to be the vehicle of choice owing to its sheer size. It measures over five metres long and just under two metres wide, so it will be quite the boat to navigate through most UK city streets. However, visibility is impressive.
Where the Ioniq 9 shines is at a cruise. It’s near-silent and does a sensational job of isolating wind and road noise, with little more than a whirr from its electric motors. Its suspension is supple, too, and standard-fit adaptive cruise control helps knock an element of stress off.
Electric seven-seaters are a pretty limited market at the moment, but there are some incredibly appealing battery-powered options despite little choice. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a standout among them, both for its impressive practicality and comfort, along with its polarising styling.
If the UFO vibe is one you’re happy to try and pull off at the school gates, you’ll be delighted to hear the Ioniq 9 offers bags of space inside to keep the crew onboard happy en route to breakfast club, where they can tell their friends that their parents have bought the winner of the Comfortable Cruiser Award at the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
While there is a six-seat option for more room, the seven-seat configuration of the Ioniq 9 will allow for passengers over six feet tall to easily get comfortable without rubbing shoulders too hard. It’s easy to get into the back row with the middle bench folded forward, too, where even adults will find enough space to ride comfortably. With all seats in place, an impressive 338 litres should comfortably swallow a few suitcases.
It’s not just about sheer practicality inside the Ioniq 9, either. The cabin is sensibly laid out, features a good balance between a responsive infotainment setup and a sensible amount of physical controls for key functions. It all looks very cool, too, particularly with the now-trademark Ioniq touch of four pixels dotted across the steering wheel in place of the usual Hyundai logo.
As a town car, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 probably isn’t going to be the vehicle of choice owing to its sheer size. It measures over five metres long and just under two metres wide, so it will be quite the boat to navigate through most UK city streets. However, visibility is impressive.
Where the Ioniq 9 shines is at a cruise. It’s near-silent and does a sensational job of isolating wind and road noise, with little more than a whirr from its electric motors. Its suspension is supple, too, and standard-fit adaptive cruise control helps knock an element of stress off.
3. Peugeot 5008
Peugeot 5008 review
Best for: seven-seat style
The Peugeot 5008 is something we can all look up to. It started life as a quite boring, functional, (rather ugly) MPV for its first generation, but underwent a huge transformation for its more SUV-like second iteration without losing the practicality.
Now, in its third generation, the 5008 is sleek, spacious and something you’d genuinely aspire to own. If it were on a dating app, the contrast in the number of matches between 2016 and today would be incredible. Although we’d be confused as to why a French seven-seater is swiping away…
Despite the major glow-up, though, this isn’t some form-first, function-second vehicle. The 5008 is just as practical as it is stylish, comfortably seating seven. Middle row space is its real highlight with lots of head and legroom, while the rear-most rows are more than adequate if you’re carrying children. Adults can squeeze in back here, but it probably wouldn’t be wise for anything more than a taxi run on a night out.
It feels a posh place to be sat in as well. Its design is certainly eye-catching, and material quality is really impressive throughout. There’s a unique edge to the 5008 as well, with its top-mounted double display serving as infotainment and instrument cluster, along with the near-square steering wheel. We do wish the software were more responsive and easier to use, though.
Driving the 5008 is a pretty serene experience. It rides comfortably over lumps and bumps, while light steering and a standard-fit reversing camera make it a doddle to manoeuvre and park. Hybrid engines are louder (and not in the good way) than we’d like from this type of car, and its adaptive cruise control system is A) only standard on high-spec cars and B) temperamental. It’s also not all that fun when pushing on, but very few seven-seat vehicles are.
That said, for the level of space, comfort and style on offer, those are forgivable. It’s quite pricey relative to its direct rivals, but we think the extra outlay for the Peugeot 5008 is worth considering if you can afford it. You can have it as an EV, too.
The Peugeot 5008 is something we can all look up to. It started life as a quite boring, functional, (rather ugly) MPV for its first generation, but underwent a huge transformation for its more SUV-like second iteration without losing the practicality.
Now, in its third generation, the 5008 is sleek, spacious and something you’d genuinely aspire to own. If it were on a dating app, the contrast in the number of matches between 2016 and today would be incredible. Although we’d be confused as to why a French seven-seater is swiping away…
Despite the major glow-up, though, this isn’t some form-first, function-second vehicle. The 5008 is just as practical as it is stylish, comfortably seating seven. Middle row space is its real highlight with lots of head and legroom, while the rear-most rows are more than adequate if you’re carrying children. Adults can squeeze in back here, but it probably wouldn’t be wise for anything more than a taxi run on a night out.
It feels a posh place to be sat in as well. Its design is certainly eye-catching, and material quality is really impressive throughout. There’s a unique edge to the 5008 as well, with its top-mounted double display serving as infotainment and instrument cluster, along with the near-square steering wheel. We do wish the software were more responsive and easier to use, though.
Driving the 5008 is a pretty serene experience. It rides comfortably over lumps and bumps, while light steering and a standard-fit reversing camera make it a doddle to manoeuvre and park. Hybrid engines are louder (and not in the good way) than we’d like from this type of car, and its adaptive cruise control system is A) only standard on high-spec cars and B) temperamental. It’s also not all that fun when pushing on, but very few seven-seat vehicles are.
That said, for the level of space, comfort and style on offer, those are forgivable. It’s quite pricey relative to its direct rivals, but we think the extra outlay for the Peugeot 5008 is worth considering if you can afford it. You can have it as an EV, too.
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4. Land Rover Defender 110
Land Rover Defender 110 review
Best for: off-road ability
Given how many examples of the Land Rover Defender 110 will never tackle anything tougher than Birmingham’s Bullring, it’s easy to forget just how capable the machinery is. For something that can go off-road effortlessly, while seating seven people, you simply cannot beat it.
Granted, that impressive engineering and the levels of technology to achieve it do reflect in the price and running costs of the Defender 110, making it an expensive way to ferry six passengers around. There are also lingering question marks over the recent reliability of Land Rover vehicles, which apply to the Defender, too.
It rides comfortably both on and off-road, however, making light work of pothole-filled roads and lacing you in a premium interior, despite the model’s rugged roots. Passengers sitting in the middle have plenty of space in the 110, although those in the rear-most row may struggle to get comfortable on longer journeys.
Unless the alternative is to stay stranded in the Sahara, that is, at which point getting into the back of the Defender 110 sounds very appealing - and something you could manage with ease. Shoutout to the gigantic eight-seat 130 as well, if you need even more interior space. Oh, and you can have it with a petrol V8, which is always welcome in this day and age.
Given how many examples of the Land Rover Defender 110 will never tackle anything tougher than Birmingham’s Bullring, it’s easy to forget just how capable the machinery is. For something that can go off-road effortlessly, while seating seven people, you simply cannot beat it.
Granted, that impressive engineering and the levels of technology to achieve it do reflect in the price and running costs of the Defender 110, making it an expensive way to ferry six passengers around. There are also lingering question marks over the recent reliability of Land Rover vehicles, which apply to the Defender, too.
It rides comfortably both on and off-road, however, making light work of pothole-filled roads and lacing you in a premium interior, despite the model’s rugged roots. Passengers sitting in the middle have plenty of space in the 110, although those in the rear-most row may struggle to get comfortable on longer journeys.
Unless the alternative is to stay stranded in the Sahara, that is, at which point getting into the back of the Defender 110 sounds very appealing - and something you could manage with ease. Shoutout to the gigantic eight-seat 130 as well, if you need even more interior space. Oh, and you can have it with a petrol V8, which is always welcome in this day and age.
5. Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Santa Fe review
Best for: cyberpunk style
Once an ugly and laughable attempt at a 4x4, the Hyundai Santa Fe has transformed into a sci-fi styled, seriously cool SUV. You could have told us it was designed for Ryan Gosling to drive in Blade Runner 2049, and we’d have believed it.
Its capabilities are not the work of fiction, though. Space inside the Hyundai Santa Fe for all passengers is something to be commended, offering plenty of leg and headroom for passengers in the middle, while access to the rearmost is easily achievable at the push of a button, electronically sliding the middle row forward.
Sitting in the back is comfortable for even tall adults, while anyone in the third row has their own A/C controls to play with, plus a pair of USB-C ports to alleviate any arguments over whose turn it is to charge a smartphone.
Boot space is impressive with all seats upright, offering room for three or four carry-on suitcases. Dropping the rear row makes it cavernous, and the optional digital rear-view mirror allows you to fill it to the brim without compromising on visibility out the back.
A limited range of engines does restrict the appeal of the Hyundai Santa Fe, with the lack of a diesel option surely putting caravaners off, and no electric versions seem amiss given its futuristic styling.
Once an ugly and laughable attempt at a 4x4, the Hyundai Santa Fe has transformed into a sci-fi styled, seriously cool SUV. You could have told us it was designed for Ryan Gosling to drive in Blade Runner 2049, and we’d have believed it.
Its capabilities are not the work of fiction, though. Space inside the Hyundai Santa Fe for all passengers is something to be commended, offering plenty of leg and headroom for passengers in the middle, while access to the rearmost is easily achievable at the push of a button, electronically sliding the middle row forward.
Sitting in the back is comfortable for even tall adults, while anyone in the third row has their own A/C controls to play with, plus a pair of USB-C ports to alleviate any arguments over whose turn it is to charge a smartphone.
Boot space is impressive with all seats upright, offering room for three or four carry-on suitcases. Dropping the rear row makes it cavernous, and the optional digital rear-view mirror allows you to fill it to the brim without compromising on visibility out the back.
A limited range of engines does restrict the appeal of the Hyundai Santa Fe, with the lack of a diesel option surely putting caravaners off, and no electric versions seem amiss given its futuristic styling.
6. Kia EV9
Kia EV9 review
Battery range up to 349 miles
Best for: EV luxury and a long warranty
If you’re not keen on the styling of the Hyundai Ioniq 9, the perfect alternative exists. Welcome to the Kia EV9, which is in effect the same car, but with a different skin on it.
Like the Ioniq 9, the EV9 is available as a six- or seven-seater, offering impressive amounts of space for the middle row in both configurations as well as lots of room in the back. Its electric-only design leads to a completely flat floor as well, offering plenty of space to stretch out.
Interior quality is of the same level as the Ioniq, albeit with arguably much more conventional styling traits, yet still trendy at the same time. It runs the same infotainment hardware, though, so it’s incredibly responsive and easy to use, without over relying on it as so many modern cars do.
Again, it’s a very big car that won’t be the easiest to live with around town, and it’s quite expensive. It rides comfortably, however, and does an exceptional job of isolating its many occupants from road and wind noise despite the near-silent electric motors. Front visibility is just as good, and we think it looks pretty cool in its own right, if not quite as outlandish as the Hyundai.
If you’re not keen on the styling of the Hyundai Ioniq 9, the perfect alternative exists. Welcome to the Kia EV9, which is in effect the same car, but with a different skin on it.
Like the Ioniq 9, the EV9 is available as a six- or seven-seater, offering impressive amounts of space for the middle row in both configurations as well as lots of room in the back. Its electric-only design leads to a completely flat floor as well, offering plenty of space to stretch out.
Interior quality is of the same level as the Ioniq, albeit with arguably much more conventional styling traits, yet still trendy at the same time. It runs the same infotainment hardware, though, so it’s incredibly responsive and easy to use, without over relying on it as so many modern cars do.
Again, it’s a very big car that won’t be the easiest to live with around town, and it’s quite expensive. It rides comfortably, however, and does an exceptional job of isolating its many occupants from road and wind noise despite the near-silent electric motors. Front visibility is just as good, and we think it looks pretty cool in its own right, if not quite as outlandish as the Hyundai.
Best for: adventurers
Although the Volvo XC90 has been around for ages, it remains at the very top of the game thanks to a welcome facelift in 2025.
Along with updated looks, the latest version of the XC90 gained a new Google-based infotainment system, which sits among the best and contributed to its worthy awarding of the Carwow 2026 Adventurer’s Choice Award.
One thing that didn’t change is its remarkable seating layout. The middle row offers plenty of leg and headroom, along with the ability to be slid forward and recline. That’s handy if you’re carrying five and your passengers behind you fancy some more room, but also for accessing the rear-most row while making it comfortable for anyone to ride in.
Engine choices are now limited, compared to the XC90 of yesteryear, with no diesel on offer and the choice of just one mild hybrid petrol or a plug-in hybrid. The XC90 sits on the expensive end of the scale, too, pushing it beyond many family budgets. If you can afford it, you’ll know where the money has been spent, as material quality is exceptional and the interior is chicly styled.
It’s a pleasant thing to drive, too, if not overly exceptional in any one area. It’s slightly firmer over rough roads than we’d like, but performance is good, and it's a comfortable place to be over a long distance.
Although the Volvo XC90 has been around for ages, it remains at the very top of the game thanks to a welcome facelift in 2025.
Along with updated looks, the latest version of the XC90 gained a new Google-based infotainment system, which sits among the best and contributed to its worthy awarding of the Carwow 2026 Adventurer’s Choice Award.
One thing that didn’t change is its remarkable seating layout. The middle row offers plenty of leg and headroom, along with the ability to be slid forward and recline. That’s handy if you’re carrying five and your passengers behind you fancy some more room, but also for accessing the rear-most row while making it comfortable for anyone to ride in.
Engine choices are now limited, compared to the XC90 of yesteryear, with no diesel on offer and the choice of just one mild hybrid petrol or a plug-in hybrid. The XC90 sits on the expensive end of the scale, too, pushing it beyond many family budgets. If you can afford it, you’ll know where the money has been spent, as material quality is exceptional and the interior is chicly styled.
It’s a pleasant thing to drive, too, if not overly exceptional in any one area. It’s slightly firmer over rough roads than we’d like, but performance is good, and it's a comfortable place to be over a long distance.
8. Dacia Jogger
Dacia Jogger review
Best for: spending the absolute minimum
Some people are fascinated with high levels of equipment, fancy interior materials and lots of performance from an engine. That’s all valid. Some people just want a car that goes from A to B, while carrying a full family cohort, and doing it reliably. That’s also valid, and we have just the thing.
An image of the Dacia Jogger could sit under the Oxford definition of no-nonsense. This seven-seater has been designed to carry people with a good amount of room, to do it comfortably and to have just enough amenities to make it effortless.
We wouldn’t describe it as the most desirable thing to own, with lots of hard-wearing interior materials and subdued styling, but it is an incredibly sensible car. It's easy to drive, offers a big boot when you don’t have six passengers riding onboard, plenty of head and legroom for them when you are and a driving experience that can be summed up by ‘easy’.
It’s pretty slow when fully laden. No surprise, given your engine options are a 109hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine or a 140hp hybrid at most. It will at least be affordable to run, and it’s certainly affordable to buy.
We do have to knock a mark off for the Jogger, scoring just one star out of five in Euro NCAP crash testing. Don’t fear it being a dangerous car, though, as that score comes as a result of the Jogger missing out on expensive active electronic systems, which would push the price up, rather than how it would hold up in the event of a crash.
Some people are fascinated with high levels of equipment, fancy interior materials and lots of performance from an engine. That’s all valid. Some people just want a car that goes from A to B, while carrying a full family cohort, and doing it reliably. That’s also valid, and we have just the thing.
An image of the Dacia Jogger could sit under the Oxford definition of no-nonsense. This seven-seater has been designed to carry people with a good amount of room, to do it comfortably and to have just enough amenities to make it effortless.
We wouldn’t describe it as the most desirable thing to own, with lots of hard-wearing interior materials and subdued styling, but it is an incredibly sensible car. It's easy to drive, offers a big boot when you don’t have six passengers riding onboard, plenty of head and legroom for them when you are and a driving experience that can be summed up by ‘easy’.
It’s pretty slow when fully laden. No surprise, given your engine options are a 109hp turbocharged three-cylinder engine or a 140hp hybrid at most. It will at least be affordable to run, and it’s certainly affordable to buy.
We do have to knock a mark off for the Jogger, scoring just one star out of five in Euro NCAP crash testing. Don’t fear it being a dangerous car, though, as that score comes as a result of the Jogger missing out on expensive active electronic systems, which would push the price up, rather than how it would hold up in the event of a crash.
9. Range Rover
Range Rover review
Best for: ultimate seven-seat luxury
If you’ve got pockets deep enough, the Range Rover is the ultimate seven-seat car. Barring a Rolls-Royce or Bentley, no model of which could seat as many as the Range Rover, you won’t find a more luxurious or comfortable option on the market.
There is a caveat. Not all versions of the Range Rover are seven-seaters. Instead, you’ll need to opt for the even more expensive and absolutely gigantic long-wheelbase model for that. At least if you do, everyone will be riding in supreme luxury.
Material quality is absolutely sensational, with a beautiful fit and finish throughout the cabin. Passengers sitting on the outside of the middle row will have a full-size seat, though those in the middle may have to rub shoulders a bit. The best compromise here might be to run the Range Rover as a six-seater, folding the armrest in the middle to add to the business-class feel of the model.
You can have the Range Rover with a wide range of engines, ranging from six-cylinder petrol and diesel options, a high-powered V8 and a few plug-in hybrids. An electric version has been in development for a few years, but it’s unclear when this will finally come to the market.
Downsides? Parking it can be daunting, given the sheer size of the car, and repairing kerbed alloys (they’re very blingy) could be tricky. Oh, and high running costs, plus the ever-looming threat of poor Land Rover reliability striking. Worth it, though.
If you’ve got pockets deep enough, the Range Rover is the ultimate seven-seat car. Barring a Rolls-Royce or Bentley, no model of which could seat as many as the Range Rover, you won’t find a more luxurious or comfortable option on the market.
There is a caveat. Not all versions of the Range Rover are seven-seaters. Instead, you’ll need to opt for the even more expensive and absolutely gigantic long-wheelbase model for that. At least if you do, everyone will be riding in supreme luxury.
Material quality is absolutely sensational, with a beautiful fit and finish throughout the cabin. Passengers sitting on the outside of the middle row will have a full-size seat, though those in the middle may have to rub shoulders a bit. The best compromise here might be to run the Range Rover as a six-seater, folding the armrest in the middle to add to the business-class feel of the model.
You can have the Range Rover with a wide range of engines, ranging from six-cylinder petrol and diesel options, a high-powered V8 and a few plug-in hybrids. An electric version has been in development for a few years, but it’s unclear when this will finally come to the market.
Downsides? Parking it can be daunting, given the sheer size of the car, and repairing kerbed alloys (they’re very blingy) could be tricky. Oh, and high running costs, plus the ever-looming threat of poor Land Rover reliability striking. Worth it, though.
10. BMW X7
BMW X7 review
Best for: a great-driving seven-seater
Hot on the heels of the Range Rover is the almost-as-luxurious BMW X7, sitting at the very top of the BMW SUV tree. Its looks may be divisive, but the level of quality isn’t, and it’s a rare seven-seater that’s genuinely engaging to drive too.
Something would be amiss if a 5.2-metre-long car were anything other than spacious and practical, but it’s worth us reporting that the BMW X7 is indeed both of those things. The middle row room is fantastic, while even the third row is pretty spacious for tall adults. The middle seats can be moved back and forth electrically, too, giving your passengers the option of how generous (or not) they’re feeling in giving each other enough space.
You can have some real fun behind the wheel of the BMW X7 as well. Sure, it’s heavy and big, and there’s no disguising that fact. Nobody is going to confuse this for a Z4, but its steering is sharp, pedals well weighted, and you can even have it with a fire-breathing V8 which sounds absolutely brilliant.
Running costs are high across the board, as is the asking price, but the money is justified once you’re sat inside the X7.
Hot on the heels of the Range Rover is the almost-as-luxurious BMW X7, sitting at the very top of the BMW SUV tree. Its looks may be divisive, but the level of quality isn’t, and it’s a rare seven-seater that’s genuinely engaging to drive too.
Something would be amiss if a 5.2-metre-long car were anything other than spacious and practical, but it’s worth us reporting that the BMW X7 is indeed both of those things. The middle row room is fantastic, while even the third row is pretty spacious for tall adults. The middle seats can be moved back and forth electrically, too, giving your passengers the option of how generous (or not) they’re feeling in giving each other enough space.
You can have some real fun behind the wheel of the BMW X7 as well. Sure, it’s heavy and big, and there’s no disguising that fact. Nobody is going to confuse this for a Z4, but its steering is sharp, pedals well weighted, and you can even have it with a fire-breathing V8 which sounds absolutely brilliant.
Running costs are high across the board, as is the asking price, but the money is justified once you’re sat inside the X7.
Factors to consider when buying a seven-seater car
SUV or van-based?
SUVs are widely seen as more desirable and tend to be more interesting to drive than van-based options. Usually with better ground clearance, too, which makes them a no-brainer if you need something that can go off-road occasionally. However, if utmost interior space is your priority, boxy van-based MPVs tend to offer plenty more room compared with SUVs.
Petrol, diesel or electric?
If you’re frequently taking long-distance road trips, a petrol or diesel-powered car is more likely to appeal, given the convenience of filling up and better efficiency at higher speeds. That said, electric cars in this segment are proving themselves as handy, as the Kia EV9 and Peugeot 5008 show.
Spenny or sensible?
While the BMW X7 and Range Rover wouldn’t look out of place on a driveway alongside Ferraris, Porsche and Lamborghinis, the price reflects that fact. It may be tempting to stretch to one of those, but if you don’t need that extra luxury or simply can’t afford it, there are plenty of options which are just as adept. The Dacia Jogger proves you don’t need to spend lots of money if you simply need capability.
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