The best seven-seat cars for Motability users
Whether a practical MPV or stylish SUV, here are our favourite seven-seaters available through the Motability Scheme...
One of the main things Motability users look for in a Motability car is space. Whether that’s to carry equipment such as wheelchairs or mobility scooters, or to pack the car with the family, friends or carers and assistants, a seven-seat SUV or MPV offers the option of seating or space simply by folding the rear bench.
Options available through Motability Scheme include the more traditional family MPVs, often with sliding doors and expansive boots, as well as more modern and high-riding SUVs with a wealth of technology and style.
You can find out more about the Motability Scheme by reading What Car?’s full guide or heading to the scheme's website. Here are 10 of our favourite seven-seat options available through the scheme.
As a former What Car? MPV of the Year, the Citroën Berlingo is the very definition of a ‘multi-purpose vehicle’, and you won’t find anything this spacious for less money.
Despite being smaller in stature and considerably cheaper than some large SUVs on the market, the Berlingo has both a bigger boot and an airier interior. That’s because it was designed with family life as the overriding priority. A huge boot of up to 3500 – yes, thousand – litres with the rear seats down and 1050 litres with the seats up, makes this exceptional for hauling luggage and equipment. By the same token, a lofty ceiling means loading children into car seats will be no bother, while sliding rear doors offer easy access and make light work of tight car parks.
The second Citroën we recommend is the Grand C4 Spacetourer, which is smaller than the Berlingo and feels more car-like on the road. There’s still plenty of space and storage options and flexible seating that allows lots of room for seven to sit comfortably. A practical interior with lots of tech features across the board, although some might find the fiddly touchscreen difficult to operate.
Read our full Citroën C4 Spacetourer review >>
Ford Galaxy
Another winner in our MPV Awards, the Ford Galaxy is impressive as a large, practical MPV that drives and handles like a much smaller car. It’s well balanced and doesn’t lean about too much when taking on windy roads. It also has a smooth and composed ride to aid relaxing and comfortable journeys. Even 6ft-tall adults will have no issues when sitting in the third row, while a middle bench of three individually folding and reclining seats allows for plenty of seating and packing configurations. There’s even a cupholder for every passenger, and more boot space than its main rival, the Volkswagen Sharan.
All versions of the Ford S-Max come with seven seats, plus a large, low boot opening for easy access. There are plenty of practical options inside, too, with lots of cubbies and storage options. The engines aren’t the most frugal on the market, though, so if you regularly do long motorway journeys, rivals such as the Citroën Grand C4 Spacetourer will be better for fuel efficiency. Still, the S-Max is well composed especially at higher speeds, so you’ll always feel safe and secure on the road.
Read our full Ford S-Max review >>
Peugeot 5008
The Peugeot 5008 was our 2020 Large SUV of the Year, and with seven seats, a sliding middle row and a big, well thought out boot, it offers more than some SUVs costing nearly twice as much. A small 1.2-litre petrol engine might not seem like a lot of power, but don’t let that put you off; it’s still got enough grunt to haul a car full of things up to speed reasonably quickly. It’s also got a plush, comfortable interior for all passengers, but it’s worth noting the optional panoramic sunroof restricts space for those in the back.
Read our full Peugeot 5008 review >>
Seat Tarraco
If you want the flexibility of a seven-seater but don’t necessarily need three rows of seats all the time, the Seat Tarraco could be the answer. It’s a large, practical and well-equipped SUV with a third row that can be folded into the boot. Those two rearmost seats aren’t spacious enough for taller adults, but the driveability and comfort of the Tarraco as a whole could easily make up for that if the seating arrangement works for you. It also gets plenty of equipment as standard and is rated one of the safest cars in its class by Euro NCAP.
The largest of Skoda’s range, the Kodiaq is another example of a large SUV offering the space and practicality of MPVs of old, with 270 litres of space even with the rear seats up. A high-set driving position means it’s easier for occupants to get in and out and have a raised view of the road ahead. There’s also plenty of standard equipment, including rear parking sensors and a touchscreen infotainment system, but be wary that adding extras can push the price up considerably.
Read our full Skoda Kodiaq review >>
Vauxhall Combo Life
The Vauxhall Combo Life is actually very similar underneath to the Peugeot Rifter and Citroën Berlingo, although you might not be quite as convinced with its general appearance. But don’t write it off just yet, because the Combo Life fulfils its duties as a seven-seat MPV expertly. It’s cheaper than the more fashionable Berlingo, and although it doesn’t offer quite as much boot space, the high roofline and practical interior make up for it. The Combo Life also has a comfortable ride and composed handling, making for relaxing journeys.
Read our full Vauxhall Combo Life review >>
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
Another SUV offering both style and substance, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is a large seven-seater with an upmarket interior, lots of technology and plenty of space. It takes all of the success of the regular five-seater version and adds those extra two rear seats, more space between the front and rear wheels and more practical interior. That said, like the Kodiaq, those two rearmost seats aren’t roomy or comfortable enough for adults on long trips.
The Volkswagen Touran doesn't really have any major weaknesses, being a w in our MPV of the Year 2020 award. Three independently sliding and reclining chairs in the rear mean no one should have any trouble getting comfy, and even the third row is roomy enough for the average adult. These seats fold flat into the boot floor when not in use for extra practicality, too.
It wouldn’t even be too much of a stretch to say that the Touran drives quite like the much smaller Volkswagen Golf, with tidy and secure handling despite its lofty size.
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