What are the best seven-seat SUVs for families?

We know that seven-seat SUVs are bought by families of various sizes – not just those with four or five children who use all the seats on a daily basis.

There are families with three kids that will squabble if seated next to each other and those for which three child seats across the back row of a five-seat SUV can feel cramped.

Moving to a seven-seat SUV allows you to move a child to the third row, giving more space and the flexibility of being able to give friends and family a ride too.

Other families have two children and find their five-seater cramped because it’s full of all their kids’ equipment like prams, scooters and bikes. They need a bit more room to spread out.

Some are not sure if their family is complete and want to future-proof by upsizing the car.

Even if you have one or two kids and a family dog, or often give friends or cousins a lift to school or for playdates, it’s helpful to have the extra seats. Especially when the grandparents come up to visit, too!

If you don’t want to go as large as a people-mover but are looking at seven-seat SUVs, do you need a full-size model or will a more compact 5+2 model do?

Over the past seven years as a mum of two, family car journalist and founder of BabyDrive.com.au, I have tested a lot of full-size seven-seat SUVs and 5+2 SUVs, so here’s my pick of the best for families…

Full-size seven-seater SUVs are often the best for larger families that want to use all three rows of seats on a daily basis.

Some can fit five child seats in the back with great access to the third row without you having to uninstall child seats in the second row for passengers to climb in and out.

In some, interior space is good for a tall driver even with two rows of child seats behind them while still leaving room in the boot to fit a single or double pram, making them a great choice for larger or blended families.

There are so many great seven-seat SUVs, and these are my pick of the best:

Replacing the much-loved CX-8 and CX-9 are the new and more luxurious CX-80 and CX-90.

With top-tether anchorages in all five of the rear seats and ISOFIX in the two outer second-row seats, both can comfortably accommodate five child seats (or four if you have the captain’s chair option).

Legroom is especially good in the larger and more expensive CX-90, which has room for a tall driver when you have a forward-facing child seat in the third row and rear-facing infant capsule in the second-row (with the same setup the CX-80 has room for a 180cm driver).

Third-row access is possible with child seats installed in row two, although it is easier if one second-row seat is empty. The rear doors open nice and wide, making access easy for passengers.

Boot space is excellent, with the CX-90 being one of the few cars that can fit a double sibling pram behind the third-row seats and the CX-80 having room for a single stroller when all three rows of seats are in use.

An elegant and futuristic fully electric seven-seat SUV, the Hyundai IONIQ 9 is very practical for families.

With enough anchorages and space for five child seats to be installed, the IONIQ 9 also has excellent third-row access even with that many child seats installed.

Both third-row seats have ISOFIX and top-tether anchorages so you can install two child seats comfortably in the very back, while the second row features a trio top-tether anchorages and ISOFIX points in the two outer seats.

The second-row seats slide for easy distribution of legroom across the three rows and the footwells are flat throughout so passengers can easily move around the cabin.

A beautiful and sporty (if you get the SQ7) seven-seat SUV for families, the big Audi Q7 does so many things right – as you’d expect for the price.

It has ISOFIX and top-tether anchorages for all five rear seats, making installation of five child seats easy and providing ultimate flexibility of where you position passengers of various ages.

Third-row access relies on one of the three second-row seats being empty so it can tumble forward. Each second-row seat can slide and recline independently to distribute legroom and shoulder space as you need to.

One limiting factor worth bearing in mind is that if you have small age gaps between your youngest children, we could only fit a shorter driver with a rear-facing child seat in the second row and forward-facing child seat behind it in row three. However, with forward-facing child seats in both rear rows, a taller driver can fit.

Boot space is practical in the Audi Q7 and SQ7 when using seven seats, fitting a family’s weekly shopping or a single pram behind the third row. When using five seats, double prams are easily accommodated.

A fantastic luxury seven-seat SUV for families, the BMW X7 has top-tether anchors in all five rear seats and ISOFIX in the two outer second-row and both third-row seats.

This means all families have flexibility of where they position their child seats. There is also great access to the third row without having to remove child seats installed in the second row.

Interior space is particularly good in the X7; a tall driver can sit in front of a rear-facing child seat in the second row, and a forward-facing child seat in the third row.

A double pram fits in the boot even when using all seven seats.

The Kia Sorento has large families covered.

With five top-tether anchors in the rear seats and ISOFIX in both the third-row seats and the second-row outer seats, you can install child seats in all five rear seats.

In the Kia Sorento hybrid, the rear footwells are almost flat making access easy for passengers and there is good head and legroom. With a forward-facing child seat in the third row and a rear-facing infant capsule in the second row, a 180cm driver fits in the front.

With just two child seats installed in the second row, you can bring the single seat forward (with a child seat installed in it using ISOFIX and not the seatbelt), and you will have good access through to the third row.

Boot space only allows families to fit a compact pram when using all seven seats or the weekly shop.

The Chery Tiggo 8 has ISOFIX in the two outer second-row seats, top-tether anchorages for all second-row seats and three child seats fit comfortably across the second row.

There are no ISOFIX or top-tether anchorages in the two third-row seats, so you can’t install child seats back there. With only two child seats installed in the second row you have good access to the third row.

Legroom is good in the Chery Tiggo 8. We found a taller-than-average driver could sit in front of a rear-facing infant capsule, or a 186cm driver in front of a forward-facing child seat.

Given it’s a medium-to-large SUV, boot space is minimal when using all seven seats, so just a single stroller will fit. Yet, when using five seats the cargo capacity is large enough for double prams.