Top 10 best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars 2024
If the regular crop of electrified SUVs and family cars don’t provide enough practicality for you, then take a closer look at the range of electric and hybrid seven-seaters on the market today...
In 2024 buyers have more choice than ever when it comes to partly and fully electrified cars. While manufacturers initially focused on high-volume models like superminis and family SUVs, there are now several seven-seater models with pure electric and hybrid powertrains trickling onto the market, offering extra practicality for larger families and those wishing to ferry lots of people around. Of course, that only makes the task of finding the best seven-seat electric and hybrid cars more difficult.
So how do you decide if your seven-seater should be a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric? EVs are an ideal choice if you mainly do shorter journeys, while a PHEV is a solid bet if you tend to do a mix of long and short trips as there’s a petrol engine to fall back on. If you don’t have access to a home wallbox, a full hybrid doesn't require plugging in at all, although it can’t match the rock-bottom running costs of the equivalent plug-in hybrid or electric car.
It’s worth mentioning, though, that while there are plenty of seven-seater hybrid cars on sale, there are very few fully electric models. More are on the way, with high-end models like the Volvo EX90, as well as facelifted versions of the Citroen e-SpaceTourer, Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric and Peugeot E-Traveller minibuses in the pipeline. There’s also a seven-seat version of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz arriving in 2024.
With all that mind, here are our top picks for the best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars…
Best electric seven-seaters
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 versions that can do 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds.
Read our full review of the Kia EV9 to find out more.
2. Mercedes EQB
Derived from the combustion-engined Mercedes GLB and sitting between the smaller EQA and larger EQC in the brand's EV line-up, the EQB was the first electric SUV from Mercedes to be offered with seven seats. Its boxy styling ensures no shortage of passenger space inside, although the manufacturer does admit that the third-row seats "can be used by people up to 5ft 4in tall" – boosted by the fact that it’s one of only a handful of cars with ISOFIX child seat mounts in the third row. Buyers can choose from single and dual-motor powertrains, with facelifted cars getting a range of up to 321 miles.
Read our full review of the Mercedes EQB to find out more.
3. 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.
4. Tesla Model X
The Model X is one of the most well-known electric seven-seaters on the road, thanks in no small part to its novel ‘falcon wing’ rear doors. But it also boasts semi-autonomous driving capabilities, impressive charging speeds and loads of technology. What's more, Tesla updated the Model X recently to bring it in line with the latest Model S. The Long Range is the version capable of 360 miles on a charge, while the Plaid gets a 340-mile range, but pumps out over 1,000bhp and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.5 seconds. However, as it stands, Tesla is only offering its range-topping SUV in left-hand drive form, so if you really must have something with a steering wheel on the (ahem) ‘correct’ side, it’s best to hunt out a good-value second-hand model.
Read our full review of the Tesla Model X to find out more.
5. Mercedes EQS SUV
The Mercedes EQS SUV is the German brand's flagship EV, sitting above the smaller five-seater EQE SUV in the lineup. All models sold in the UK come with all-wheel-drive, an official range of up to 365 miles (depending on trim level and wheel size) and a maximum charging speed of 200kW, so a 10-80% top-up of the enormous battery takes just 31 minutes. Interior quality is exquisite, as you’d hope from an electric SUV that starts from around £130,000, and the technology on-board is among the best in the business, too. The over 2.6-tonne SUV is a bit underwhelming to drive, but it's comfortable and very refined. There's also loads of cabin space, though seats six and seven are best reserved for kids.
Read our full review of the Mercedes EQS SUV to find out more.
Best hybrid seven-seaters
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.
Read our sister publication Auto Express' review of the Hyundai Santa Fe.
2. 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.
Read our sister publication Auto Express’ full review of the Nissan X-Trail.
3. Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento is a stalwart of the hybrid seven-seater class and for good reason; this chunky family SUV has sufficient space for even adults in the third row or, if you fold the rearmost seats down, boasts a cavernous 600-litre boot. A facelifted model is on the way with design traits and interior tech from the fully-electric EV9, although Kia’s hybrid seven-seater will continue to be available with self-charging and plug-in power, the latter offering over 35 miles of range on a single charge.
Read our sister publication Auto Express’ full review of the Kia Sorento.
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.
Read our sister publication Auto Express’ full review of the Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140.
5. Land Rover Defender P400e
If you’re only familiar with the old Land Rover Defender and its ‘back-to-basics’ approach to off-roading, then you might be surprised to find that the new one is available with a thoroughly modern, plug-in hybrid engine – a full-electric model is also on the way, too! For now, the hybrid Defender is available with up to eight seats in the long-wheelbase 130 model, and seven in the 110. It's the former you’ll want if you’re after maximum space, though, as the luxuriously-outfitted Defender still boasts 389 litres of boot space behind the rearmost row – similar to what you’d get in many smaller electric SUVs like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric.
Read our sister publication Auto Express’ full review of the Land Rover Defender 130.
Top 10 best seven-seater cars to buy in 2024
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