There are plenty of seven-seaters to choose from, and hybrids are ten-a-penny. But if you want both space for seven and hybrid power, your options are a lot more limited. The trouble is, the batteries and electric motor need to go somewhere, and the third-row seats are often what makes way.
However, some manufacturers have found space for three rows of seats and hybrid power in their SUVs and MPVs, and these are our pick of the best.
Best 7-Seater Hybrid Cars 2024
- Audi Q7
- BMW X7
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Kia Sorento
- Land Rover Discovery
- Lexus RX L
- Mercedes-AMG GLE 53
- Toyota Highlander
- Toyota Prius+
- Volvo XC90 T8
Audi Q7 (2019-)
All of the brands included in the Volkswagen Group have really embraced both electric cars and plug-in hybrids, and Audi is no different. However, while there is a plug-in hybrid version (or PHEV) of the Q7 called the e-tron, it only has five seats rather than seven. If you want hybrid power and three rows of seats in your Audi, you'll need to find a Q7 built after the 2019 facelift, when Audi introduced 48-volt mild-hybrid technology across the range.
As a mild hybrid, the Q7 can't run on electricity alone, but electric power can assist the engine and improve economy and emissions. The car can coast for up to 40 seconds with the engine off to save fuel, and the engine will restart when the driver presses the accelerator.
The facelift improved the Q7's styling and refreshed the interior, making the Audi's cabin even more luxurious than before. The cockpit is now fully digital, with two large screens and no conventional dials. Anyone travelling in the front or the middle of the car has lots of room to stretch out. However, leg- and headroom are not so plentiful in the third row. Even so, as a new car or a used car, the Q7 is one of the best seven-seaters with a hybrid powertrain.
Audi Q7 review
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BMW X7 (2020-)
The BMW X7 arrived in 2019, but from the summer of 2020, it's been available with mild-hybrid drivetrains, and all versions except the range-topping M50i model now have them.
Not that any of the engines need much help. The xDrive 40i petrol has 328bhp, and the xDrive 40d diesel has 335bhp, so for a car weighing close to two-and-a-half tonnes, the X7 is extremely quick. Its real selling point isn't speed, but the roomy and luxurious cabin with the flexibility of an MPV that’s delivered by its massive wheelbase and clever seating. Even in the third row, there's enough space for adults to be comfortable, and the finish is of the highest quality. Perhaps a Mercedes-Benz GLS is smarter inside, but it's a close-run thing.
To drive, the X7 feels as much like a limousine as an SUV. Air suspension smothers bumpy tarmac and, aside from some road noise, the big BMW is hushed and refined at speed. It’s a thirsty car by hybrid standards, though, especially if you choose the petrol; expect fuel economy of below 30mpg.
BMW X7 review
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Hyundai Santa Fe (2021-)
Hyundai must have given its designers free rein with the new Santa Fe, because it's one of the most striking SUVs around. Like its predecessor, the new Santa Fe offers seven seats, but unlike its predecessor, it's offered with hybrid power.
The 1.6-litre T-GDi hybrid powertrain is shared with the Kia Sorento, and combines petrol power with a 59bhp electric motor for a combined output of 227bhp.
A plug-in hybrid version is also available, which uses the same petrol engine but a more powerful electric motor for a combined output of 261bhp. In either form, the latest Santa Fe is a very impressive family car. It’s well built, extremely well equipped and the hybrid powertrains work seamlessly – a real contender.
Hyundai Santa Fe review
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Kia Sorento (2020-)
Until the launch of the fourth-generation model in 2020, the Kia Sorento relied on diesel power and you can still buy a new diesel Sorento, but most buyers now go for the hybrid. A plug-in hybrid is also available, but the regular hybrid is the mainstay of the range. The official combined economy figure is 38.2-40.9mpg, depending on the exact specification.
You don't need to spend big to get a decent specification. The entry-level 2 model has 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, smartphone connectivity, dual-zone climate control, digital instruments, a DAB radio, a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, and more. Because it was designed from the start to be a hybrid, the Sorento's cabin hasn't been compromised by the need to find space for the batteries, so there's just as much head- and legroom in the hybrid as the diesel.
Anyone travelling in the first two rows has loads of space, and the third row is comfortable enough for adults on short trips. It's certainly better at carrying seven than a Nissan X-Trail ePower, for example. If you want a practical, well equipped seven-seat hybrid, take a good look at the Kia Sorento, because it’s one of the company’s best cars.
Kia Sorento review
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Land Rover Discovery (2020-)
Land Rover facelifted the Discovery in late 2020, when it made the styling more purposeful and improved the infotainment system. Mild-hybrid powertrains were also introduced to improve economy and reduce emissions and plug-in hybrid cars followed later on.
It’s a big seven-seat SUV, but its size means its thirsty in any guise: even the most efficient diesel emits 220g/km of CO2. Rivals may be cleaner, but they struggle to beat the Discovery off road. It really is superb to drive if you leave tarmac behind, with a host of driver aids to make any driver feel like an expert off-roader. It drives well on the road, too, with a smooth ride and decent performance from the petrol and diesel engines. That said, if you're looking for a sportier drive, then the Audi Q7 or a Mercedes-AMG may suit you better.
Inside, the Discovery is exceptionally spacious, with the versatility to rival any MPV, and room for adults to travel in comfort in all three rows of seats. There’s a lot of boot space with the rear seats folded away, too.
Land Rover Discovery review
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Lexus RX L (2018-2022)
Lexus was a little slow to offer a seven-seater, but it plugged that gap in the range with the RX L in 2018. Based on the five-seat RX, the RX L is only available with hybrid power. The 259bhp 3.5-litre petrol engine is assisted by two electric motors, one for each axle, giving four-wheel drive. Together, they propel the big Lexus from 0-62mph in eight seconds.
Measuring 110mm longer than the RX, with all of that added length behind the rear axle, allows for a third row of seats. However, anyone expecting practicality on a par with the Land Rover Discovery is going to be disappointed; seats six and seven are suitable for occasional use rather than regular trips, especially with adult passengers.
What you do get with the RX L is reliability. Lexus thoroughly deserves its reputation for building almost fault-free cars, and its dealers could teach most others a thing or two about customer service. You also get an industry-leading warranty that could last for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles, provided you get you car serviced according to schedule at a main dealer.
Lexus RX L review
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Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 (2020-)
Think hybrid, and you think of miserly fuel economy and eco-friendly emissions. You don't necessarily think of supercharged performance SUVs. But Mercedes has chosen to go down the mild-hybrid route to make some of its AMG performance cars that bit more efficient.
Take the AMG GLE 53, which arrived in 2020, two years after the regular GLE. In performance terms, it takes second billing to the outlandish GLE 63 S, but with its 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds, the 53 is more than quick enough for most tastes, while delivering better MPG and CO2 emissions than the range-topper. That said, 25.9mpg isn’t what you’d call frugal in terms of running costs. There's room for seven to enjoy the ride in a superbly made cabin, though, and while adults might find the third row a tight squeeze, children should be happy.
For all its performance, Mercedes-AMG has tuned the GLE's suspension for everyday comfort as well as control. However, the result is a car that feels slightly aloof, and while there's no denying its speed and capability, it doesn't really involve the driver.
Mercedes-Benz GLE review
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Toyota Highlander (2021-)
The Toyota Land Cruiser has been the Japanese brand's seven-seat SUV for many years, but there are no hybrid models in the range. The latest Toyota Highlander arrived in 2021, offering a softer but more sophisticated take on what a seven-seat SUV should be. It also comes with a hybrid system.
It's powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine working with front- and rear electric motors to deliver a total of 241bhp. The official combined economy is 42.8mpg and CO2 emissions are 146g/km. The second row of seats is mounted on runners with 180mm of travel, which means there should be enough space for adults in seats six and seven.
Of course, the Highlander gets a pretty high specification, and Toyota includes a comprehensive list of safety systems and driver aids, including autonomous emergency braking. And being a Toyota, it gets the same incredible warranty as sister brand Lexus that we mentioned earlier.
Toyota Highlander review
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Toyota Prius+ (2016-2020)
It’s not the best looking car around, but if you can live with the quirky styling, the Toyota Prius+ makes a thoroughly sensible hybrid family car. The regular Prius is probably the best known hybrid on sale, and the '+' part of the name tells you that this one has seven seats and is an MPV rather than a hatchback. Think of it as a rival to the likes of the Renault Grand Scenic.
Despite being a people carrier, the rear seats in the Prius+ are best kept for occasional use. If you carry seven regularly, especially adults, then a larger MPV such as the Ford Galaxy or S-Max - or a seven-seat SUV - may suit you better.
However, even a hybrid SUV will struggle to match the fuel economy of the Prius+. Depending on the exact spec, it achieves 64.2-68.9mpg and emits as little as 96g/km of CO2; those figures are from the old and often unrealistic NEDC test, but the Prius+ should still be very economical around town. The driving experience is rather bland and performance is nothing to get excited about, while the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) automatic gearbox makes for noisy acceleration. The Prius+ has other virtues, though, not least a deserved reputation for reliability.
Toyota Prius review
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Volvo XC90 T8 (2016-)
The rear seats are sometimes lost when manufacturers build hybrid versions of their SUVs, but Volvo still has space for seven in the XC90 T8. Instead of putting the batteries under the boot floor, they sit between the front seats in what's usually the transmission tunnel. This clever bit of thinking means the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid is just as practical as any other XC90.
Which is to say, very practical indeed. It's not quite as roomy in the third row as a Land Rover Discovery, but there's lots of space up front and in the second row. The standard of finish is very high, and the uncluttered cabin design is easy on the eye.
You should be able to coax more than 20 miles of pure electric range out of a full battery, which is enough for an emission-free commute for some. When electrical and petrol power combine, the XC90 T8 proves itself a very rapid car, but it's not as rewarding to drive as the equivalent BMW X5 or as quick as a Tesla Model X.
Volvo XC90 review
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