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 2024
Editor’s choice: Volkswagen Multivan
Spacious plug-in hybrid makes for ideal family wheels
Pros:
✅ Exceptionally spacious for all
✅ Flexible interior
✅ Better to drive than you’d think
Cons:
❌ Electric range below average
❌ Fiddly infotainment system
Although the Multivan looks like an evolution of the Caravelle it replaces, it’s quite different underneath. Now riding on a car rather than a van platform, it’s better to drive than before and is available with plug-in hybrid power. Some rivals on this list can go further on a charge, but even the big luxury SUVs don’t offer this much space inside.
Read our full Volkswagen Multivan review
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Dacia Jogger
Seven seats for the price of a supermini
Pros:
✅ Cheap to buy or finance
✅ Surprisingly spacious
✅ Comfortable at speed
Cons:
❌ Unrefined engine
❌ Rudimentary driver assist systems
For less than the price of a reasonably equipped supermini, you can put a seven-seat Dacia Jogger Hybrid on your drive. It’s the only way to get an automatic Jogger and while it’s not the most refined system, it posts decent economy and has a third row that can just about take an adult. Low safety scores reflect poor driver assist systems and no third row seatbelt warning, but the Jogger is actually pretty safe in a crash.
Read our full Dacia Jogger review
Volvo XC90
Upgrades keep Volvo’s biggest SUV relevant
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
Despite the XC90 being on sale since 2015, numerous updates over its life mean it remains competitive. A boost in battery capacity gives it an official electric range over 40 miles and a BIK rating of just 8%, yet with 455hp, it’s still quick off the mark. Just don’t expect thrills in the corners.
Read our full Volvo XC90 review
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Ford S-Max
The driver’s MPV
Pros
✅ The best handling MPV
✅ Frugal
✅ Well equipped
Cons
❌ Unappealing interior
❌ Tight third row
The S-Max has long been the sharpest MPV to drive, and the hybrid version is no exception. It’s not particularly quick and sounds a bit thrashy when you’re flat out, but it still handles better than any direct rival. It’s also frugal, although the third row is cramped. If you do want a bit more space, the Ford Galaxy is almost as good to drive and usefully more spacious.
Read our full Ford S-Max review
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Range Rover
Luxury and off-road capability for up to seven
Pros:
✅ Excellent off-road
✅ Comfortable on it
✅ Smooth and punchy diesel engine
Cons:
❌ No PHEV option
❌ A BMW X7 is better built
While you can get a plug-in hybrid five-seat Range Rover, you’ll need one of the mild hybrid motors in the long wheelbase model if you want seven seats. That’s no great hardship, as the D350 six-cylinder diesel is our favourite engine. It’s flexible and offers plenty of pace, yet is capable of over 35mpg without trying too hard.
Read our full Range Rover review
Hyundai Santa Fe
Plug-in and self-charging versions available
Pros
✅ Lots of standard kit
✅ Four-wheel drive available
✅ Reasonable real-world economy
Cons
❌ Not particularly quick
❌ Rivals feel plusher inside
With the similar Kia Sorento now down to one pricey model, we’d recommend looking at the better-value Hyundai Santa Fe. We’d argue it makes more sense as a regular hybrid rather than a plug-in as it’s a bit cheaper and still manages economy in the 40s if you drive carefully, even with four-wheel drive.
Read our full Hyundai Santa Fe review
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Ford Tourneo Custom
A practical if unexciting option
Pros:
✅ Available in two lengths
✅ Good to drive for a van
✅ Plenty of space
Cons:
❌ There are more frugal options
❌ Long and wide
Yes, it’s basically a Transit with nice seats and windows, but that means plenty of room for eight or more. Mild hybrid versions of the 2.0-litre diesel engine help lower emissions and reduce fuel consumption, although not by a great deal. The lowest power version has the best figures, but we’d sacrifice a bit of economy for one of the more potent versions.
Read our full Ford Tourneo Custom review
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BMW X7
Do you still want that Range Rover?
Pros:
✅ Luxurious interior
✅ Generous third row space
✅ Comfortable ride
Cons:
❌ Expensive
❌ Huge
BMW’s biggest SUV is a true challenger to the Range Rover, beating it in a few key areas. Third row space is truly impressive for something that didn’t start life as a van, and the six-cylinder mild-hybrid enhanced engines have impressive economy given the performance they offer. Even the six-cylinder petrol is capable of well over 30mpg.
Read our full BMW X7 review
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Nissan X-Trail e-Power
Far more appealing than its predecessor
Pros:
✅ Refined when driven gently
✅ Four-wheel drive versions quite capable
✅ Interior ambiance
Cons:
❌ Cramped third row
❌ Noisy when driven hard
A mild hybrid version of the X-Trail is available, but the full hybrid e-Power models promise better performance and economy. It’s relaxing when driven gently, although starts to sound a bit frantic when you’re in a hurry. The X-Trail’s third row is best left to children or short trips, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear it’s an optional extra.
Read our full Nissan X-Trail review
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Land Rover Defender
Now with seating for up to eight
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
There are two flavours of Defender available with three rows of seats, 110 and the 130. They are much the same up to the rear wheels, but the 130 has a longer rear overhang to give more person and luggage space. It does turn an already massive vehicle into even more of a monster, though. Although you can’t opt for the plug-in hybrid version, the mild hybrid diesel engines are the best fit anyway.
Read our full Land Rover Defender review
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Seven-seater hybrid car FAQs
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.
Alan Taylor-Jones is the New Cars Editor for the Bauer Digital Automotive Hub, working on both Parkers and sister title CAR. He’s been reviewing cars for nearly a decade, so really knows his onions.
