Best electric seven-seaters 2026: EVs for big families

Seven-seat electric cars were once a real rarity. For families with four or more children, this meant shopping for an EV was a bit of a non-starter. Our guide outlines the best seven-seat EVs available to buy new.

There were once a few obstacles to overcome for car companies looking to build an electric seven-seater. Firstly fitting seven chairs with today's safety requirements, even in a petrol or diesel car, requires very clever packaging. Squeezing a big EV battery under the car’s floor made this even more difficult.

Also, because seven-seaters tend to be heavier than five seaters, they’ll need big batteries to give them a practical amount of range on a charge. Not only does that make them even heavier, but it also increases the cost of production. But advances in battery and charging technology has meant a big increase in environmentally friendly seven-seat options on the market.

There’s now a great variety of electric seven-seaters to suit budgets big and small, from mass-market brands like Citroen and Kia to premium brands like Mercedes-Benz. From affordable electric vans, to practical electric MPVs and desirable SUVs, families with lots of kids needn’t stick with petrol or diesel anymore.

Our list of the best seven-seater EVs is made up of the most popular models according to RAC Drive readers – with cars priced from £30,000 to well over £100,000.

Best electric seven-seaters on sale 2026: the shortlist

• Kia EV9
• Hyundai IONIQ 9
• Volkswagen ID. Buzz
• Peugeot E-5008
• Mercedes-Benz EQB
• Citroen e-Berlingo
• Volvo EX90
• Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
• Mercedes-Benz EQV
• Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric

Best electric seven-seaters to buy in 2026:

Kia EV9

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 333 litres

The EV9 is the pinnacle of Kia’s electric car range, offering the highest level of technology, comfort and (most importantly for this list) practicality. You can think of it as an electric Sorento of sorts, just with added design focus and desirability.

The EV9 is no occasional seven-seater, with room for adults on all three rows, plenty of storage and comfortable seats, plus impressive levels of standard kit. Factor in strong performance. fast charging and an impressive range of up to 349 miles on a charge and - premium price aside - it’s not hard to see why the EV9 is a hit.

Hyundai IONIQ 9

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 338 litres

Like the idea of the Kia EV9 but prefer a curvier design? You'll want to check out the Hyundai IONIQ 9. It's based on the EV9 and very similar to drive, but the IONIQ 9's slipperier shape helps it achieve even more range on a charge than its sibling, at up to 372 miles.

You get similarly generous levels of space, features and technology, plus a comfortable driving experience and rapid charging. And, like the Kia, you'll be able to fit full-sized adults in all three rows of seats. Only the cost might be a barrier for some, but given what you get for your money it's far from overpriced.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 306 litres

Though the EV9 (above) and the ID. Buzz are close competitors, they’re as different as chalk and cheese. While the Kia is a futuristic SUV, the Volkswagen is effectively an MPV but with a funky retro exterior harking back to the German brand’s iconic Type 2 van/minibus.

Don’t think the ID. Buzz is all style and no substance, though. In long wheelbase, seven-seat form it’s even roomier than the EV9, with excellent passenger space, flexible seats and an enormous boot. Factor in a comfortable ride, great visibility and solid build quality and it’s a strong buy – but optional extras will easily push up the price.

Peugeot E-5008

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 348 litres

Although the E-5008’s starting price is less than half that of the most expensive seven-seaters in this list, the humble Peugeot can be specified with the longest electric range of any car here: up to 410 miles on a single charge.

That makes it perfect for families that like to road trip, and the stylish and roomy E-5008 isn’t just a numbers car. The bigger brother to the e-3008 is a good halfway house between the immense space of large models like the EV9 and the compact size of the EQB, offering great seven-seat usability combined with plenty of standard kit.

Mercedes-Benz EQB

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 130 litres

Not everyone wants to use seven seats all the time – and why be burdened with a large and heavy car just for the occasional need for a third row of seats? That’s where the Mercedes-Benz EQB comes in. At under 4.7m long it’s the smallest car here yet still offers the flexibility of two chairs that fold out of the boot floor.

Sure, those rearmost seats are tight and only suitable for smaller children, but that makes the EQB ideal for giving your children’s mates a lift home from football practice. You also get a range of up to 321 miles, a tech-laden cabin, good refinement and a prestige badge.

Citroen e-Berlingo XL

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 209 litres

Many of the electric seven-seaters on this list are loaded with gizmos and come with premium price tags. But what if you just want a simple and affordable people carrier? You’ll want the Citroen e-Berlingo, which takes seven in XL form.

With a range of up to 208 miles and just 136hp the Berlingo is better for local trips than long-distance drives, but essentially being a van with windows means oodles of space, some clever interior storage solutions and a surprisingly comfortable ride. And you won’t care about desirability when you see that it’s half the price of a Kia EV9. Also consider the very similar Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, Peugeot e-Rifter and Toyota Proace City Verso EV.

Volvo EX90

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 310 litres

Volvo claims it’s designed the EX90 to be the safest car it’s ever produced – and given the Swedish company’s excellent reputation for protecting occupants that makes it one of the safest cars on the road today. What better peace-of-mind for your loved ones?

Alright, even the cheapest EX90 is nearly £80,000, so it turns out you can put a price on safety. But the Volvo has plenty of other strings to its bow, including impressive luxury, rapid performance and a range of up to 374 miles.

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 245 litres

Are you a well-heeled parent who wants one electric car to do it all? If your budget is large enough, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV has to be considered. There is no more opulent way of transporting seven occupants in smooth and silent electric power.

Alright, with prices close to £130,000 before you even consider options, the EQS SUV is out of range of all but the wealthiest families. But you do get a seriously luxurious cabin with amazing technology, unbeatable comfort, great performance and lots of space. It’s basically an electric S-Class MPV. 

Mercedes-Benz EQV

Boot space with all seats in place: 1030 litres

Mercedes-Benz offers more choice than any other brand when it comes to electric seven-seaters. The EQB works for occasional third-row use, while the EQS SUV covers the luxury market. But what if outright space matters more than anything? You'll want the EQV.

It's a V-Class van-based MPV with an all-electric makeover, and what you lose in desirability you gain in practicality. Electric sliding doors make access easy, while once inside there's space for up to eight passengers - or six comfortable captains chairs to lounge in. The boot is simply vast, too, and while the EQV is not exactly agile it's very comfortable. The only downsides are its modest performance and so-so 213-mile range.

Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric

Boot space with all seven seats in place: 989 litres

Sometimes size is all that matters, and if you’re a larger-than-average family then getting everyone (along with pushchairs and all the other parenting detritus) into one car isn’t easy. If that’s the case, then the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric is probably for you.

It’s a large van-based MPV that offers seating for up to nine – and if you don’t need all of those, you can slide the seats around or even remove them entirely. There are options including swivelling mid-row seats and a big fold-out table, making this the perfect family wagon. Just bear in mind that it isn’t exactly luxurious and easy to park, while an EV range of just 143 miles isn’t the most practical.

The Vivaro Life Electric has siblings in the form of the Peugeot e-Traveller, Citroen e-Spacetourer and Toyota Proace Verso EV - We'd go with whichever is the best value at the time.