Best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars 2024

For a long time, big families lacked options when it came to electric cars and hybrid cars with enough space for three or more kids and lots of luggage. Manufacturers initially focused on high-volume models like superminis and mid-size SUVs but more recently they have responded to the demand and are now producing a number of large, seven-seater cars with pure electric and hybrid powertrains. That, of course, creates a new problem for buyers; what are the best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars available today?

First, you need to decide what level of electrification is right for your next seven-seater. Fully-electric cars are an ideal choice for families looking to save money on running costs who have easy access charging facilities at home or at work. The charging network in the UK is constantly expanding so even taking longer trips around the country is getting easier and range anxiety is quickly becoming a thing of the past. 

Plug-in hybrid cars are also a solid option if you tend to do a mix of long and short trips. You can get a balance of both petrol and electric power, so if you're doing shorter trips every day then you could potentially run on electric power alone, whereas when you need to do long trips then you always have the petrol engine to fall back on.

If you don’t want to charge your car or you don’t have access to a home wallbox charger then a full-hybrid or a mild-hybrid may be for you. These don't require any plugging in at all, although they may not match the rock-bottom running costs of the equivalent electric car.

Best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars on sale now

Below you’ll find the top five best seven-seater electric cars followed by the top five hybrid and plug-in hybrid seven-seaters, all courtesy of our expert road testers. If you just want an electric car that is practical but aren’t too bothered about the seven-seats, why not check out our list of the top 10 best electric SUVs you can buy?

Take a look at the winners of the 2024 DrivingElectric Awards and remember to follow DrivingElectric on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to keep up to date with the latest news and reviews from the world of hybrid and electric cars.

Best electric seven-seaters

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1. Kia EV9

Our DrivingElectric Car of the Year for 2024, the Kia EV9, is South Korea’s answer to the upcoming Range Rover Electric and is available with up to seven seats. Entry into the third row is as simple as the press of a button and once you get back there you’ll find there’s sufficient space for all but the tallest of adults, with every passenger getting their own USB-C port and cup holders. Top-spec cars are also available in a six-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairs, while buyers can choose from either a single-motor powertrain with a range in excess of 330 miles, or a Twin–Motor version that can do 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds.

Read our full review of the Kia EV9 to find out more.

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2. Peugeot E-5008 

Peugeot really hit the nail on the head with the E-5008, the interior has plenty of space and includes a useful third row of seats. The latest version of the i-Cockpit infotainment system is striking to behold and has a set of customisable shortcut buttons that simplifies the user-interface a lot, once they are set up.

There’s a minimal amount of noise from the tires and the suspension smooths out the imperfections from the road to give you a comfortable drive. The largest battery offered for the Peugeot E-5008 is a 73kWh unit capable of a competitive range of 311 miles (WLTP) and if that's not enough, a larger 98kWh powerpack is due to land soon that should be capable of close to 410 miles of range.

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3. Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric 

Vauxhall launched the Vivaro-e in late 2020, then re-badged it as the Vivaro Life Electric in 2022. The van-based MPV offers the choice of 50kWh or 75kWh batteries for a 143 or 205-mile driving range respectively. The smaller battery is able to charge from 0-80 per-cent in 30 minutes on a 100kW charger, but the larger battery takes a slightly longer 45 minutes to perform the same 80 per-cent charge on a 100kW charger. 

The Vivaro Life Electric gives drivers the ability to carry five people as standard or seven people when you select the 350mm longer LWB format. The Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric is much quieter and more refined than its combustion siblings and just as easy to drive with its light steering making simple work of manoeuvring in tight city streets.

Read our full review of the Vauxhall Vivaro Electric to find out more.

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4. Citroen e-Berlingo XL

It may only be a ‘van with windows’, but the Citroen e-Berlingo is nonetheless the cheapest way into an electric seven-seater. Also available as part of the Motability scheme and a sister car to the Peugeot E-Rifter and Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, the Citroen e-Berlingo XL boasts a longer wheelbase over the standard model which paves the way for an additional row of seats in the rear. Tall, boxy van proportions mean there’s plenty of headroom wherever you sit, while sliding doors allow for easy access to either row. One thing worth noting is that a facelifted model is soon to arrive with several upgrades taken from the upcoming Citroen e-C3 supermini which includes an LFP battery for more range, funkier styling and the latest interior tech.

Read our full review of the Citroen e-Berlingo to find out more.

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5. Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB 

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is one of the best looking cars on our list, its funky, retro styling paying homage to the classic VW Type 2 Microbus. Beyond the looks, the ID. Buzz is a perfectly usable vehicle with a range of up to 291 miles and a rapid charging time of 30 minutes from 10 to 80 per-cent. 

After the recent release of the LWB, the huge amount of interior space has increased further to allow an additional 2 passengers with an extra row of seats. However, If you want an ID. Buzz LWB you will have to wait. Currently there aren’t any in showrooms and Volkswagen says that the first deliveries will land later in 2024.

Read our full review of the ID. Buzz to find out more.

Best hybrid seven-seaters

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1. Hyundai Santa Fe

The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe may look like a Ford Flex that’s been modernised for 2024, but look closer and you’ll find it’s a superb seven-seater SUV that’s ready to butt heads with more premium rivals when it goes on sale in the UK later this year. The interior certainly has more of a whiff of Range Rover about it, while a longer wheelbase means there’s more room inside than the old car. A hybrid and plug-in hybrid will be available at launch and, in our experience with the self-charging model, it’s a very relaxing and quiet car to drive.

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2. Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid 

Tracing its heritage back to the iconic 'split-screen' Type 2 van of the 1950s, the latest Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid is a plug-in hybrid 7-seat people carrier with a smooth ride, decent handling and attractive styling. The Multivan is fitted with a 1.4-litre petrol engine mated to a 13kWh battery, producing a quoted 215bhp and capable of achieving 157mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. If you want to do the morning commute or the school drop-off in electric mode, that shouldn’t be a problem with a pure electric range of around 30 miles with a full battery. 

Read our full review of the Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid to find out more.

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3. Skoda Kodiaq MHEV 

The Skoda Kodiaq is a great overall package with a reasonable price, inside there are plenty of creature comforts with even the base models coming as standard with heated front seats and wireless smartphone charging. Skoda has ensured that the Kodiaq is safe too, the SUV scoring the maximum 5 stars on the NCAP safety test and all models have been equipped with an autonomous emergency braking system. 

The Kodiaq’s engines have been set up for efficiency and comfort rather than performance and whether you go for the petrol or diesel mild-hybrid options, both are available in a 7-seater format. However, if you are after a Kodiaq plug-in hybrid then unfortunately you would have to compromise by losing the additional 2 seats due to the space needed for the battery. 

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4. Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140

It’s no secret that larger cars with complex hybrid and electric powertrains tend to be rather expensive. However, the Dacia Jogger bucks this trend by offering lots of space and a fuel-sipping hybrid engine for under £25,000. The Jogger’s rearmost set of seats are best-suited for children – trust us, we’ve tried them! – but the hybrid still offers a decent 212 litres of space with all three rows in place, or 699 litres in five-seat mode. Plus, with a fuel economy rating of 56.5mpg on the combined WLTP cycle, the Jogger Hybrid 140 is as cheap to run as it is to buy.

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5. Nissan X-Trail

Sitting above the best-selling Nissan Qashqai, the X-Trail is available with five or seven seats, as well as Nissan’s clever e-Power hybrid powertrain. Unlike most hybrids, the petrol engine is used here to power the electric motor which, in turn, drives the front wheels. This gives the hybrid X-Trail a driving experience that’s almost as smooth as a fully electric car, with Nissan claiming it’ll return 48.7mpg in combined town and motorway driving. It may not be the most spacious 7-seater on sale, but the X-Trail represents good value for money and is ideal for larger families with young children.

Top 10 best seven-seater cars to buy in 2024

​7 Seat Electric cars

1. Kia EV9
2. Peugeot E-5008
3. Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life
4. Citroen e-Berlingo
5. Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB

7 Seat Hybrid cars

1. Hyundai Santa Fe
2. Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid
3. Skoda Kodiaq MHEV
4. Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140
5. Nissan X-Trail