Premium 7 seater

[b14]

What would you get that has 7 seats, with the two extra seats not being suitable only for children? Budget between £45k - £60k depending on what's out there, probably 2 or 3 years old, below 30k miles. I know there are a ton of options out there at the Peugeot / Kia / Skoda level, would prefer something more interesting but willing to be told I'm missing a trick...

So far I've found:

- Volvo XC90, perhaps somewhat boring but I'm sure right up there in terms of a good 7 seater car
- BMW X7, really not sure I can get onboard with the looks, and it is HUGE
- Audi Q7 / SQ7, probably the front-runner for me
- LR Defender, love them conceptually but concerned about reliability and generally it getting lost amongst all the other LR Defenders in the car parks round here....

Am I missing other options? Thank you!

[Countdown]

LR Disco 5
Mercedes GLS

[Sporky]

Might squeeze a Merc GLS into that budget and age. Just. Maybe

[jamesb2]

Had them all

Disco full fat is great , but reliability is a issue, 1st one needed a new engine at 251 miles (2020) and it replacement was much better,

XC 90 is good but the 2ltr is a bit underpowered and mine had numerous electrical issues

X5 40d with 7 str pack is a great car, fast and economical

Now have a Q7 , bit of a blend of all the above and got a new one for just over your budget 6 months ago (bigger 282 diesel and black edition)

[Quattr04.]

As ugly as the x7 is outside the interior is so nice and I think the big grill suits such a big car, plus there’s a V8. Discovery’s and defenders bad reliability, XC90s been around a long time and a bit boring?

GLS is a bit chintzy
Land Cruiser?

Dare I mention a Tesla model x? There s some on 2021 plates around and less chance of massive German diesel bills
Coming down the line?


Plus silly doors

Edited by Quattr04. on Monday 27th April 17:23

[b14]

Interesting, thank you all. LR Disco, love them but similar issues to the Defender as as been said above, I'm not that brave. GLE I can see, I'm not a fan of modern Mercs but will take a look. The X5 40d, interesting - will take a look

[BlackStang5point0]

Previously I've had a 40D X5 and a TDV8 RR and I thoroughly enjoyed owning both.

I now have a 2023 XC90. My needs were safe, reliable (touches wood) and economical family transport and it does all that and more. The performance is more than adequate (mild hybrid diesel) although not at X5 levels but then I just wanted something I could stick in D and go places. Depends very much on your needs case - try a few and report back.

Just a point to note in support of the Volvo (over 2 x vehicles purchased approved used) my experience with the dealers I've used over the last few years for sales/service and warranty have been utterly fantastic..... less so similar experiences with BMW.

[_Rodders_]

40 Series Alphard would be my pick.

All imports though if that's an issue but you do get an extra seat.



Although the 6 seaters are nicer if you don't need the 7th seat.

Edited by _Rodders_ on Monday 27th April 17:54

[ZX10R NIN]

Leftfield

V220d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604021...

300d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604111...

Genesis GV80, on par with a Volvo interior wise but not as nice as the X7/GLS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603291...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602029...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603100...

X7:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604221...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604231...

40d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604131...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604081...

GLS400d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604211...

[gangzoom]

An used Kia EV9 is in budget, they are very nice inside, 0-60 is under 5 seconds for the AWD version and fueling costs are minimal compared to something that needs diesel or petrol.

We are considering if we need a 6 seater again (current car is 6 seater with individual chairs in the 2nd row instead of a bench), if so, the shortlist is very short and only had the EV9 on it!!

Edited by gangzoom on Tuesday 28th April 06:01

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Looks like you've already found the obvious choices, a few leftfield choices:

Mercedes V Class
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603130...

Toyota Land Cruiser
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603130...

Kia EV9
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512048...

[AB]

X7 I think would be my choice, but when I was in the same situation and looking to spend a similar amount, as my wife was going to be driving it mainly we went for the Q7 as she preferred the looks. Interior is spot on and it's very comfortable.

We went for the 55TFSi, again if it had been my main car it'd have been the SQ7 bit would have been wasted.

[Matt_T]

You can just about get into the new Land Cruiser 300 (this is the bigger version than the 250 posted above).
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/19738231

[resolve10]

SQ7 has to be perfect for this brief surely. I looked at them but my budget was more like £30-35k so it only really opened up leggy or older ones which I didn't feel brave enough to take on, especially with the complexity of the drivetrain. Your budget would get you the facelift model and the petrol V8 if you'd prefer it, although I think they stuck with the diesel engine for a while with the facelift too.

I ended up with a Mercedes GLB35 which is a great car but for your budget/shortlist it sounds like you want something more premium or large, the GLB is more like a hot hatch with an extra row.

[GR_TVR]

b14 said:

LR Disco, love them but similar issues to the Defender as as been said above, I'm not that brave.

Beware of internet/pub hyperbole...the Defender came second in the 2023 what car seven seater reliability test - they're not at all unreliable cars!!

The Discovery is a better seven seater - it's not as reliable as the Defender but it's similar to an XC90 and more reliable than a Q7...
I've had 2 and had no issues at all - great cars.

[Uncle Meat]

I've had an X5 40d 7 seater and the 2 extra seats are definitely not suitable for any kind of adult.

The X7 would be my choice. Although you say it is massive It is only about 4 inches longer than the FFRR and Q7 but that will be noticeable in the third row.

[Jeenyus161]

We picked up a new Kia Sorrento 4 Diesel at the start of the month. Done 1,000 miles in it now and it is a great machine.

I know you're looking more left field, but it is genuinely so easy to drive, so comfortable, great at towing, the rear seats flip up and down really easily etc etc etc. It can also drive itself in and out of tight spaces which was genuinely helpful the other day in a multi-storey car park when someone had parked about an inch from the car.

It is never going to be a TVR, but no 7 seater is! Good luck with your search - watching with interest.

[AddyT.]

SQ7 diesel. All the car you will need.

[ZX10R NIN]

Any of the suggestions work for you OP?

[b14]

All huge help, thank you. Since posting the OP I've had more of a think and currently leaning towards the XC90 T8 (PHEV). Main reason for this is that this car will also have to take me to the station 3 days a week, 3 miles away.

Whilst I think the perfect choice is an SQ7 in my heart, I'm not sure it's sensible to run a big engine for such small daily mileage. The PHEV, whilst not my first choice in an ideal world, gives the ability to do electric station runs and also more regular family driving at weekends.

The other other option is an SQ7 and a cheap electric beater for the station (or getting fit and getting a bike) but four cars feels excessive...