MPVs used to be the cars of choice for those in need of seven seats. Now, though, there are even more SUVs than there are MPVs with a third row of seats. SUVs are the fashionable option, but there's still a place for people carriers, because they're hard to beat for practicality and tend to cost less than an equivalent SUV. Whether you’re looking for a seven-seater car with genuine off-road ability or just the most practical family car you can find, here's our pick of the best seven-seat cars on the used market.
Best Used 7-Seater Cars 2024
- Audi Q7
- Citroen Grand C4 Picasso/C4 Spacetourer
- Ford Galaxy
- Kia Sorento
- Land Rover Discovery
- Peugeot 5008
- Seat Alhambra
- Skoda Kodiaq
- Volkswagen Sharan
- Volvo XC90
Audi Q7 (2015-present)
While BMW and Mercedes also offer very good seven-seat SUVs, we rate the Audi Q7 above all others. Third-row space isn't quite as generous as that of the Land Rover Discovery, but otherwise, the Q7 ticks all the right boxes. The second row slides back and forth to create a little more legroom for those in the rearmost seats or more room in the second row for child seats (there are three sets of Isofix mountings across the middle row) or taller passengers. There's loads of boot space when the third row is stowed away, too.
It's not just interior space and practicality that the Q7 does well, because it's beautifully made and sets the benchmark for interior quality among premium SUVs. It appeals to the driver as much as passengers, especially if you choose one with air suspension. This makes a big difference to ride comfort, and allows the driver to firm things up for sharper handling. The 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines with Audi's smooth automatic gearbox are the most sensible buys, while the high-performance SQ7 is the speed freak’s choice. There is an e-tron plug-in hybrid model, but die to the packaging of the batteries, this Q7 is only a five-seater.
Audi Q7 review
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Citroen Grand C4 Picasso/C4 Spacetourer (2013-2022)
The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (now known as the Grand C4 Spacetourer) has been around for a good few years, but you wouldn't know to look at it. The striking styling is still fresh, and it's far more interesting than you would expect an MPV to be. Function and form go together inside the Citroen, with generous interior space and lots of clever thinking to make the most of the seven-seat layout.
There are three individual seats in the middle row that can slide back and forth or fold flat, plus two more folding seats in the third row. There's lots of storage throughout the cabin and the extra mirror to keep an eye on the kids is a neat touch. As for the driving experience, the Grand Picasso majors on comfort rather than excitement, and we're all for that in car designed to get the family from A to B. It's quiet at speed and will go a long way on a gallon if you choose one of the diesels.
Citroen Grand C4 Picasso review
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Ford Galaxy (2015-present)
It's a tough call between the Ford S-Max and the Ford Galaxy for a spot in this list. The S-Max is better to drive, but the Galaxy has one of the most practical cabins of any large MPV, so it gets the nod here. There's space for adults to travel in all three rows, although tall passengers will be happier in the standard rear seats than the two extra seats that fold out of the boot floor. There's a reasonable amount of boot space even with every seat occupied, which isn’t something you can say of many other seven-seat cars such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport or the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer.
There are three individual seats in the middle row which fold, slide and recline to balance passenger and luggage space. From the driver's seat, there aren't many big MPVs to match the Galaxy, because Ford's engineers found a near-ideal balance between ride comfort and handling. MPVs aren't as popular as SUVs, which makes the big Ford really affordable second-hand, which is even better news for used buyers.
Ford Galaxy review
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Kia Sorento (2015-2021)
The fourth-generation Kia Sorento was launched in 2021 and instantly became one of the best seven seater SUVs on the market. That said, if your budget doesn’t stretch to a brand new car, then the previous Sorento is a great used buy, as is the mechanically similar Hyundai Santa Fe. Being a Kia, even entry-level versions of the Sorento are well equipped, and the top-spec models make the likes of Audi and BMW look stingy. And forget any idea about the big Kia seeming like a budget car, because the build quality is excellent.
The seating isn't quite as flexible as that of the most versatile MPVs, but the cabin is still very practical and there's ample boot space with the rearmost seats folded flat. The Sorento is also a good choice if you have a horsebox, a caravan or a trailer to tow, because the 2.2-litre diesel engine has loads of pulling power, while the hybrid version in the latest model is smooth and frugal. You also have the bonus of a seven-year warranty from new, so many used examples will still have some cover left.
Kia Sorento review
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Land Rover Discovery (2017-present)
If you need seven seats and serious off-road ability, the Land Rover Discovery 5 is ideal, because no other car of this type will go further off-road. But even if you never stray from tarmac, the Discovery is supremely practical and enormously relaxing on long journeys.
The Discovery is a very big car, and Land Rover has made the most of the space inside. Even with all seven seats upright, there's useful boot space, and more head- and legroom in the third row than you'll find in an Audi Q7 or a Volvo XC90. The 2.0-litre diesel will be fine for most, but the 3.0-litre's greater pace and refinement make it the pick of the range if your budget stretches, unless the limited electric range of the plug-in hybrid version appeals. The only reason we’d hesitate to give the Discovery our unreserved recommendation is reliability: let’s just say that Land Rover doesn’t exactly have the impeccable record that the like of Toyota and Lexus do. Go in with your eyes open, however, and the Discovery is as luxurious as it is practical.
Land Rover Discovery review
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Peugeot 5008 (2017-present)
Renault was once the default choice if you had a penchant for French cars and wanted a stylish seven-seater, but Peugeot has changed that by creating a car that offers the style of an SUV with the practicality of an MPV: the 5008.
Despite the 5008’s SUV looks, there's no four-wheel-drive version. You can buy it with a fancy traction control system to improve the Peugeot's ability on slippery surfaces, but you're really buying an MPV that looks like an SUV, and there's nothing wrong with that. You get a modern, rugged and handsome design, but with the low running costs of a practical front-wheel-drive car.
The 5008’s cabin is stunning, with Peugeot's signature small steering wheel and digital instruments positioned above it. There's lots of space in the middle row, and no transmission tunnel in the floor to get in the way of your feet. The third row of seats has enough room for adults on short trips, but be wary of any 5008 with a panoramic sunroof, because it robs the middle row of seats of some headroom.
Peugeot 5008 review
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Seat Alhambra (2010-2020)
Proper seven-seat MPVs such as the Seat Alhambra are rare, because buyers now want SUVs, but there are good reasons to turn your back on fashion – in this case, practicality. There's good head- and legroom in all three rows, with enough space for adults to ride in seats six and seven. With every seat in place, boot space is acceptable rather than generous, but fold the back seats down and there's loads of room for bags.
There's more to the Alhambra than sheer space, too; the sliding rear doors (electrically powered on some models) are a definite plus when herding kids in and out in a tight parking space, and there's lots of storage space dotted around the cabin. During its decade on sale, Seat offered the Alhambra with a variety of TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines. Although the market has shifted away from diesel, these engines cope better with a fully-loaded car and return superior mpg figures. Whichever engine you go for, though, the Alhambra handles well for a big MPV.
Seat Alhambra review
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Skoda Kodiaq (2016-present)
The Skoda Kodiaq comes in both five- and seven-seat guises, and most buyers go for the latter. Space in the third row can't quite match the Kia Sorento or the Peugeot 5008, but kids will be fine – less so for adults. If you save seats six and seven for giving lifts at closing time, you'll find the rest of the Kodiaq is very roomy, more so than a Nissan X-Trail, for example.
There a lot of head- and legroom in the middle row, and a high, comfortable driving position up front, while the boot is huge when the third row of seats is down. Skoda offers the Kodiaq with a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines; the 148bhp 2.0 TSI is a good all-rounder, but the 148bhp 2.0 TDI is more economical. The 187bhp 2.0 TDI engine represents a worthwhile step-up in performance, especially if you have a caravan or a horsebox to tow. Whether you go petrol or diesel, the Kodiaq drives well and comes with a reassuring five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Skoda Kodiaq review
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Volkswagen Sharan (2010-2020)
The Volkswagen Sharan is one of the veterans of the MPV class, having been around since 2010. It's a testament to how good the Sharan was that it's still one of the best seven-seaters you can buy more than a decade later.
Spacious and clever, the Sharan's cabin puts versatility first. There's loads of space in the middle row, with three individual seats that slide back and forth and fold flat when they're not needed. They move out of the way so passengers can clamber into the rearmost seats, and sliding doors make getting in and out even easier, and there’s loads of boot space with the rearmost seats folded flat.
The Sharan isn't the most exciting car to drive, but the ride is comfortable over all but the worst surfaces. There's a broad choice of petrol and diesel engines, and the TSI petrols are smooth and responsive but the TDI diesels are more economical, especially with the weight of seven on board. Choosing a car with a DSG automatic gearbox will make your motoring even more relaxed, while a mid-spec trim level such as the SEL will provide plenty of luxury kit. All versions except the entry-level S trim get all-round parking sensors, but if you still find the Sharan’s size a bit cumbersome, you could always opt for the smaller Volkswagen Touran instead, which is more comparable in size to a regular family hatchback.
Volkswagen Sharan review
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Volvo XC90 (2015-present)
If you want a seven-seat SUV and you have a hearty budget, then the Volvo XC90 deserves a place on your shortlist alongside the likes of the Audi Q7 and the Land Rover Discovery. The second-generation big 4x4 marked a significant move upmarket for Volvo – and the price increased accordingly – but the XC90 justified its premium billing with a beautiful cabin. The quality is of the highest standard, and the clean and uncluttered design makes rival cabins seem fussy.
The downside to doing away with so many buttons is that lots of systems are controlled through the touchscreen system, which can be fiddly to operate on the move. The XC90 has plenty of room for those in the first two rows; seats six and seven aren't as spacious as those in a Land Rover Discovery, but they're fine for kids or short trips. For performance, the T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid is the pick of the range, although it's pricey. We'd pick the D5 or the later B5 mild hybrid for their strong performance and impressive fuel economy.
Volvo XC90 review
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