Best seven seat hybrid named and it's not a Hyundai, Ford, or Kia

Seven-seat cars may be a bit of a rarity on the UK’s roads, and they may seem a bit overkill for those who don’t need to carry around six passengers, but they have their uses.

Some people either need the practicality to lug around children or simply have a lot of large objects to carry regularly. As well as space, people may also want a hybrid system to give them extra economy.

With that in mind, a group of motoring journalists from Auto Express have put together a list of the best seven-seat cars on sale in the UK.

After much deliberation, they came to the conclusion that the £23,330 Dacia Jogger was the standout choice, a car they praised for having space in the boot even after all of the seats were filled.

They also liked the fact that even the most expensive versions were “affordable” and that it had “strong residual values” in terms of its price.

However, the car lost marks for its one-star Euro NCAP safety rating, as well as an “inconsistent” feel through the brake pedal, and the fact it felt “cheap” inside.

They added: “We named the Dacia Jogger our Family Car of the Year in 2022 and 2023 because of its MPV-like practicality, impressive flexibility, decent driving manners and incredible value. The hybrid is great for urban driving, running mainly in electric mode at low speeds and when pulling away.”

Coming in second behind the Dacia Jogger was the £49,090 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, which was praised for also having good space inside, great levels of equipment, and being aesthetically pleasing to look at.

However, the car lost marks for being a “little bulky and ponderous to drive”, not being very economical, and being quite expensive.

Nevertheless, the reviewers said: “The Santa Fe is ideal for larger families, especially in its seven-seat configuration. Unlike rivals, the rearmost third-row seats are spacious enough to accommodate taller passengers on more than a temporary basis.”

In third behind the Hyundai and Dacia was the £44,705 Kia Sorento, which was praised for having “strong residual values” as well as being spacious and having four-wheel drive as standard.

The negatives highlighted by the reviewers included the fact it was expensive compared to rivals, its engines not being as good as others, and the fact it felt heavy on the move.

Senior news reporter for Auto Express, Alastair Crooks, remarked: “The Sorento is a hugely spacious family car that’ll happily seat seven people – or accommodate five with a huge boot. What sweetens the deal further is the Santa Fe’s low starting price.”

The top three in the list sat ahead of other cars including the Volvo XC90, the Peugeot 5008, and the Ford Tourneo Connect.