The 6 Best 7-Seaters for 2020

Built on the ‘MQB’ platform which is shared by a most of the SUVs in the Volkswagen Audi Group, this new Kodiaq is a 7 seater to be taken seriously, and it offers really good value considering the pedigree of its underpinnings. It hits a real sweet spot. The Kodiaq looks like a real premium car, it is built to an exceptionally high standard, it comes absolutely loaded with equipment, but it’s also quite reasonably priced. The entry-level SE model starts from £26,485 and although it is entry-level, keyless entry, stop-start technology, cruise control, LED running lights and so on are all included free of charge. 

Buyers who are looking around the market have previously been restricted the not-so premium manufacturers, but that just isn’t the case any more. A fine example of this is the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, which is available with 7 seats from the very reasonable price of just £28,995. This gets you a 218i petrol model which is fairly economical, with a WLTP economy figure of 42.8 mpg. Inside, the cabin is smartly dressed with plenty of hard-wearing materials and a sophisticated dashboard tying everything together.

 The Gran Tourer has 560 litres of boot space when the rear two seats are folded down and this swells to a massive 1,820 litres with the middle row flat too. We can’t think of too many situations where that won’t be enough for most buyers…

The Ford S-Max has almost become an obvious choice for families who need a 7 seater. It’s a car that just makes an awful lot of sense and it has continued to sell well as an ‘MPV’ while most of the market has largely shown favour towards SUVs.

The S-Max makes the most of its space with configurable seating and smart space-saving solutions within the cabin, such as shaped seats which provide more legroom to the passenger behind. The S-Max has always been one of sportiest MPVs to drive, and buyers will like that there’s now an ST-Line spec, so it can look quite sporty too, but practicality is where this car really shines. The S-Max comes a 280-litre boot, which isn’t great in all honesty, less than a Volkswagen Golf in fact. You can, however, fold those rear seats down and you get a Transit-like 2,020 litres of luggage capacity to play with.

The S-Max is on sale now and prices start from £31,150

The Outlander is a car that we are constantly singing the praises of, but most typically in its plug-in hybrid form as the Outlander PHEV. That hybrid model is only (currently) available as a 5 seater, but large families needn’t worry because the traditionally powered version is available with that extra rear row of seats and it’s also a car worth considering. The Outlander has an extremely spacious cabin and the driving position is nice and tall. Families will also appreciate just how safe the Outlander is, scoring a full 5 stars on the Euro NCAP safety tests. The Outlander is on sale from £29,410 and comes with equipment such as Apple Car Play, Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB radio, 4-wheel-drive technology, cruise control and much more all as standard. 

The 5008 was given a whole new lease of life when it was revived as an SUV back in 2017 alongside its 3008 sibling. It’s a car that immediately caught everyone’s attention, largely because it was completely different from the somewhat drab 5008 MPV that it replaced. In SUV form, the 5008 has never been a more promising car. The design, as you can see, is really rather impressive, and the engines are beautifully refined too. You can have a 1.2 or 1.6-litre petrol, or if you’d prefer diesel there is a 1.6 and a 2.0-litre model. Take your pick, they’re all really rather frugal and have plenty of power to get this big SUV moving. In terms of specification, the mid-spec GT-Line ticks the right boxes in terms of equipment and value. This starts from £32,605 and has attractive exterior styling, such as the diamond black roof, 18-inch alloys, twin exhausts and full LED lights at both the front and back. As non-german-built SUVs go, this is one of the best looking on the market for sure. The 5008 is on sale now and prices start from £28,980 for the ‘Active’ trim line and go all the way up to £40,835 for the GT spec.   
 

And right at the top of the list is one of the best looking, best performing and most efficient 7 seaters you’ll find on the market… but it comes at a price. Volvo’s new XC90 is a monster of a car. It weighs well over 2 tonnes and is particularly wideset, demanding respect out on the roads. The XC90 is also extremely safe, which is a priority for large families. Children will appreciate the creature comforts inside the XC90 too, such as the optional screens for rear passengers and the ergonomic seats. The XC90 can be selected with the T8 Hybrid engine, which can return up to a maximum of 134.5 mpg when driven correctly. That sort of economy makes a lot of sense throughout ownership. The XC90 is on sale right now and prices start from a reasonable £54,275