Hybrid family cars come in all shapes and sizes these days, including cavernous people movers. We’re not just talking about image-crushing MPVs either; these days seven-seater hybrid cars include SUVs, vans and an oversized estate, too.
You’ll also find varying degrees of electrification, from lightly assisted mild hybrids to full or self-charging hybrids that can run on electricity for short distances and longer-range plug-in hybrids. And if seven seats just aren’t enough, we’ve options that seat eight or nine.
We’ve picked ten of the best, covering all categories at a range of prices. From the seriously cheap Dacia Jogger to the opulent Range Rover and spacious Volkswagen Multivan, there’s something for everyone.
Best seven-seater hybrid cars 2025
Spacious plug-in hybrid makes for ideal family wheels
Read our full Volkswagen Multivan review
Pros
- Exceptionally spacious for all
- Flexible interior
- Better to drive than you’d think
Cons
- Electric range below average
- Fiddly infotainment system
Seven seats for the price of a supermini
Read our full Dacia Jogger review
Pros
- Cheap to buy or finance
- Surprisingly spacious
- Comfortable at speed
Cons
- Unrefined engine
- Rudimentary driver assist systems
Upgrades keep Volvo’s biggest SUV relevant
Read our full Volvo XC90 review
Pros
- Still the only luxury seven-seat plug-in SUV
- Low BIK rating
- Rapid acceleration
Cons
- Starting to show its age inside
- Rivals are better to drive
The driver’s MPV
Read our full Ford S-Max review
Pros
- The best handling MPV
- Frugal
- Well equipped
Cons
- Unappealing interior
- Tight third row
Luxury and off-road capability for up to seven
Read our full Range Rover review
Pros
- Excellent off-road
- Comfortable on it
- Smooth and punchy diesel engine
Cons
- No PHEV option
- A BMW X7 is better built
Plug-in and self-charging versions available
Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
Pros
- Lots of standard kit
- Four-wheel drive available
- Reasonable real-world economy
Cons
- Not particularly quick
- Rivals feel plusher inside
A practical if unexciting option
Read our full Ford Tourneo Custom review
Pros
- Available in two lengths
- Good to drive for a van
- Plenty of space
Cons
- There are more frugal options
- Long and wide
Do you still want that Range Rover?
Read our full BMW X7 review
Pros
- Luxurious interior
- Generous third row space
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- Expensive
- Huge
Far more appealing than its predecessor
Read our full Nissan X-Trail review
Pros
- Refined when driven gently
- Four-wheel drive versions quite capable
- Interior ambiance
Cons
- Cramped third row
- Noisy when driven hard
Now with seating for up to eight
Read our full Land Rover Defender review
Pros
- Great off-road
- 130 has a vast boot…
- …And the option of seven seats
Cons
- Not the best reliability record
- Only mild-hybrid available with third row seats
Seven-seater hybrid car FAQs
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What is the most spacious seven-seater hybrid car?
The easy answer to that is your best bet here is a van-based MPV people carrier. Of the cars above, that means you're looking at the Transit-based Ford Tourneo Custom, with the Volkswagen Multivan coming a distant second. Currently, there aren't many hybrid options here, although the all-electric Citroen e-Spacetourer/Peugeot e-Traveller twins are an option, as is the more expensive Mercedes-Benz EQV.
If you'd prefer a car-shaped car, your large MPV options are disappearing. The excellent Ford Galaxy and S-Max twins are now out of production, although at the time of writing, there are still some sloshing around the dealer network. Beyond that, you're looking at a large SUV, with the Land Rover Discovery and Defender 130 topping the desirability as well as roominess league. -
How far can a seven-seater hybrid go on electric power alone?
That'll be a plug-in hybrid, and the best seven-seater for battery-only range is currently the Mercedes-Benz GLE with a claimed 66 miles (call it 45 miles in the real world). That should cover the needs of most commuters, while doing longer journeys very effectively on fossil fuel. Typically, though, most plug-in hybrids don't go that far, with typical examples such as the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5 going between 20 and 40 miles.
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