Cheapest 7 seater cars 2024

Seven seats and plenty of storage space from around £10,000: we've rounded up the best low-cost family-friendly seven-seaters

By John Evans

If you need a car that has space for lots of people, whether that's because you have a large family, or because you have a lot of friends you want to go on holiday with, buying a cheap car with seven seats could well be your best course of action. 

Seven-seater people carriers may have been replaced by equally spacious seven seater SUVs in the popularity stakes, but the likes of the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer and the rest of the models on this list are still very practical in their own right. 

They can also be incredibly cheap. The very cheapest seven-seater cars on BuyaCar are available from £8,495 - that's a lot of car, with a lot of seats, for a similar amount to what you'd pay for a basic Ford Fiesta.

Unfortunately, there are very few seven-seaters that are particularly exciting to drive, but that's not to say you can't enjoy being behind the wheel. Many of the cars on this list are well equipped, with decent comfort levels and a huge array of satisfyingly clever storage solutions to help you tuck away far more luggage than you might expect - who doesn't enjoy that moment when everyone and everything you need is successfully packed into the car ready for a summer holiday?

It's also worth considering the fact that a seven-seater car without all seven seats in use can offer a huge amount of boot space. If you are looking for a model with a bit more room in the back, it's worth looking options like the Renault Grand Scenic that come with separate seats that fold individually, because these will offer more adaptability when it comes to packing larger items.

Read on to see more of our selection of the cheapest seven-seater cars currently available on BuyaCar, or if you're more interested in driving an SUV with seven seats, you can check the BuyaCar search page to find yourself an excellent used car deal.

1. Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

Our pick Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 2.0 CDTi SRi
Used deals from £9,558

Compared with other used people carriers, the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is extremely practical and excellent value for money. The middle seats slide and the rearmost ones fold into the floor when not in use, making it extremely practical and versatile. With five seats in place, the boot can hold a useful 710 litres.

This expands to 1,860 litres with all rear seats folded - that's a huge space, so whatever you're looking to carry, the Zafira should have a good stab at it. The design is also reasonably stylish - as people carriers go - looking more like an inflated estate car than a boxy minibus.

If you want to avoid diesel power, there's a 140hp 1.4-litre petrol engine, however we think the extra grunt of the diesel engine will better suit a car full of people.

VAUXHALL ZAFIRA BUYERS' GUIDE

2. Ford S-Max

Our pick Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi Titanium Powershift
Used deals Limited stock

If you need the most space, the Ford Galaxy is a more complete proposition, but the seven-seat S-Max is just as good and arguably more fun to drive thanks to its slightly smaller dimensions.

There are a handful of 2.0-litre petrols and more recently some 1.5-litre petrols, but it's the 2.0-litre diesels that make the most sense in a vehicle of this size, especially if you expect to carry a car-full regularly. The 150hp variant provides a handy balance of performance and economy, but the more powerful 180hp isn't what you'd call uneconomical.

The latest models are only available with a 2.5-litre petrol hybrid setup, and because they're not plug-in hybrids, they won't be as economical as you may think. In terms of practicality, all rear seat fold flat, so it's great for the tip run, but take note that the boot isn't the largest with all seven seats up.

3. Renault Grand Scenic

Our pick Renault Grand Scenic 1.5 dCi Dynamique Nav
Used deals from £11,523

This larger version of the Renault Scenic has a couple of extra seats in the back plus some really thoughtful storage solutions, making it an appealing seven-seater despite being smaller than some of the alternatives on this list. A 233-litre boot expands to 596 litres with the rear two seats folded.

The interior space has plenty of flexibility options, with a 60:40 split middle row of seats and two individual rear seats making it easier to find a perfect balance between luggage space and seating. Dynamique models also have electric folding seats for an extra layer of convenience.

Passengers in the middle row of seats will be well catered for when they need something to do. Folding tray tables in the back of the front seats are designed to hold a tablet for easy watching, while under-floor compartments and a pair of USB ports mean device storage and charging solutions are simple are easy.

RENAULT GRAND SCENIC BUYERS' GUIDE

4. Citroen Grand C4 Picasso

Our pick Citroen Grand C4 Picasso 1.2 PureTech Feel
Used deals from £11,651

The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso proves seven-seat cars don't have to be worthy but dull. It looks refreshingly different both outside and inside, where the interior is light and airy.

Fortunately, practicality isn’t forgotten with the big Picasso boasting individual passenger seats (three spacious ones in the middle, each with Isofix child seat mounting points, and two relatively large ones behind). Fold all the seats down and there’s 2,181 litres of load space.

There's usually a decent pick of petrol and diesel engines available, and while the diesels may prove more practical with a car full of people, we really rate the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol which is available with up to 130hp.

CITROEN GRAND C4 PICASSO BUYERS' GUIDE

5. Ford Grand C-Max

Our pick Ford Grand C-Max 1.0 EcoBoost Zetec
Used deals Limited stock

Often, seven-seat cars are great at carrying people and large loads but bounce over bumps and lean in corners making them feel like a van to drive. The Ford Grand C-Max is different. It's a versatile and practical seven-seater but feels like a hatchback from behind the wheel.

The steering is direct and lets you know exactly what the front wheels are doing. The suspension is comfortable but the car resists leaning in corners well so your kids shouldn't get car sick. Grip is strong and reassuring and the 1.0-litre turbocharged 'EcoBoost' petrols and 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre diesel engines are powerful and economical.

FORD GRAND C-MAX BUYERS' GUIDE

6. Kia Carens

Our pick Kia Carens 1.7 CRDi '2'
Used deals Limited stock

Not only is this the cheapest seven-seater here for its age but the Kia Carens also has reasonable levels of versatility and practicality. All seven seats are individual, the middle seats slide and fold, and the outer ones at least are roomy.

The rearmost seats are really only big enough for children but there’s more room back there than you’ll find in a Vauxhall Zafira Tourer or Renault Grand Scenic. When not in use the seats can be folded into the floor.

The one petrol engine lacks oomph so you're better off with diesel, which provides a good balance of power and economy. Should anything go wrong, you also have the reassurance of the remainder of Kia’s seven-year warranty - which is a great benefit should you buy a car that's three years old or more, where in most cases you'd have no manufacturer warranty cover left.

KIA CARENS BUYERS' GUIDE

7. Ford Grand Tourneo Connect

Our pick Ford Grand Tourneo Connect 1.5 TDCi Titanium
Used deals Limited stock

Tourneo models are people carrier versions of Ford's popular Transit vans, and the Tourneo Connect is based on the Transit Connect. Only that the 'Grand' models have seven seats.

This van-based MPV won't turn heads; it's more of a head purchase than a heart purchase. The rearmost seats fold flat, but they do sit above the boot floor. It's a car that you'd buy to transport people rather than luggage.

While it won't be winning any drag races, the 1.5-litre diesel engine is reasonably punchy and, more importantly for families, cheap to run and tax.

8. Nissan X-Trail

Our pick Nissan X-Trail 2.0 dCi Tekna
Used deals from £14,551

Seven-seaters have long been associated with MPVs or people carriers, and it's only more recently that seven-seater SUVs have become more mainstream thanks to the rise in popularity for these high-riding vehicles.

If you're already a fan of the Qashqai, upgrading to an X-Trail should feel familiar, with both cars sharing a lot of interior equipment. It's also great for young families thanks to its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Be aware that not all X-Trails were sold with seven seats, it has been a £1,000 optional extra to purchase when new. If you can affort the 177hp 2.0-litre diesel engine, it's a worthy upgrade over the slightly underpowered 130hp 1.6-litre diesel. Avoid the petrols if mpg is important to you.

*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:

48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%

BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.