Best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars 2024

For a long time, large families had limited options when it came to seven-seater electric and hybrid cars. Models that could accommodate three or more children and plenty of luggage were in very short supply. Today, however, there’s a strong and growing lineup of these large seven-seaters with pure electric and hybrid powertrains. This brings a new challenge for buyers: which are the best seven-seater EVs and hybrids to buy?

The first decision is the level of electrification that suits your family’s needs. Fully electric cars are ideal for families who want to save on running costs and have access to charging facilities at home or work. The UK's public charging network is expanding rapidly, making longer trips easier and easing concerns about range. 

If going pure-EV is still a worry, Plug-in hybrids are a good alternative for those who do a mix of short and long journeys, offering electric-only driving for daily trips and a petrol engine for longer distances. Meanwhile, full or mild-hybrids, which don’t require plugging in at all, are an option if charging isn't convenient - though their running costs might not be as low as for pure-electric models.

Best seven-seater electric and hybrid cars on sale now

Below you’ll find the best seven-seater electric cars followed by the best hybrid and plug-in hybrid seven-seaters, all courtesy of our expert road testers. If you need a car to take you off the beaten track and you don’t need seven-seats, take a look at our list of the best 4x4 electric cars.

Best electric seven-seaters

1. Kia EV9

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• Prices from £65,025
• Maximum WLTP combined range: 349 miles

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.

2. Peugeot E-5008 

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• Prices from £48,650
• Maximum WLTP combined range: 410 miles

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. Peugeot offers two large batteries for the E-5008 - the first is a 73kWh unit capable of a competitive range of 311 miles (WLTP) and if that's not enough, a larger 98kWh powerpack is available that is capable of 410 miles.

Read all the information on the Peugeot E-5008 to find out more.

3. Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric 

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• Prices from £50,466
• Maximum WLTP combined range: 217 miles

Vauxhall launched the Vivaro-e in late 2020, then re-badged it as the Vivaro Life Electric in 2022 and received a refresh in November 2023. The van-based MPV offers the choice of 50kWh or 75kWh batteries for a 143 or 217 miles 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.

4. Citroen e-Berlingo XL

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• Prices from £27,521
• Maximum WLTP combined range: 220 miles

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.

5. Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB 

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• Prices from £59,545
• Maximum WLTP combined range: 293 miles

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 293 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. Despite the increased amount of space over the standard model, it only costs £510 more. So unless you are limited in space, we would recommend going for the ID. Buzz LWB over the standard version.

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

6. Mercedes EQV

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• Prices from £92,255
• Maximum WLTP combined range: 222 miles

The Mercedes EQV is the German brand’s first all-electric MPV, available in three variations, all offering seven seats and a good level of equipment. Standard features include electrically-folding door mirrors, heated front seats, and LED lights. The driving experience is smooth and relaxing, with the EQV gliding along motorways in near silence.

The 90kWh battery is mounted under the floor and can charge from 0 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes, thanks to its 110kW DC rapid charging capability. While not the fastest, its performance is respectable for a vehicle of this size. The electric motor produces 201bhp and takes the EQV from 0-62mph in 12.1 seconds.

Read our full review of the Mercedes-Benz EQV to find out more.

Best hybrid seven-seaters

1. Hyundai Santa Fe

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• Prices from £51,885
• Maximum WLTP electric range: 36 miles

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 full review of the Hyundai Santa Fe to find out more

2. Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid 

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• Prices from £59,083
• Maximum WLTP electric range: 30 miles

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 latest Multivan is fitted with a 1.5-litre petrol engine mated to a 19.7kWh battery which produces a combined 241bhp. 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.

3. Skoda Kodiaq MHEV 

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• Prices from £37,505
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 46.3mpg

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. 

4. Dacia Jogger Hybrid 140

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• Prices from £22,995
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 58.8mpg

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.

5. Nissan X-Trail

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• Prices from £35,175
• Maximum WLTP combined mpg: 48.7mpg

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.

Click here to read all the information on the Nissan X-Trail

6. Kia Sorento PHEV

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• Prices from £47,295
• Maximum WLTP electric range: 35 miles

The Kia Sorento is the largest SUV in the brand’s stable, offering good space for seven people, with even the rear seats comfortably able to accommodate adults, though we wouldn't recommend them for long journeys. Its electric range of 35 miles is ideal for school runs or the daily commute, but for longer trips, the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine provides reliable backup. 

The engine and the 13.8kWh battery combine to deliver an impressive 261bhp, and with a fully charged battery, Kia claims the Sorento PHEV can achieve up to 176.6mpg. Boot space is also generous. With all five rear seats folded flat, you get 1,988 litres of space. With the middle row in place, this reduces to 809 litres, and even when all seven seats are in use, there’s still 179 litres of storage.

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

The 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
6. Mercedes EQV

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
6. Kia Sorento PHEV