Best 7-seater EVs 2022

For larger families, with three or more children, a seven-seat EV better fits the bill. Here are our top choices.

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Citroen e-Berlingo 

Launched in the mid-1990s, the Multispace version of the Citroen Berlingo van provided a lot of passenger space within a relatively small footprint. An electric version was included almost from the off.

Fast-forward to today and, of the M and XL versions available, it’s the longer e-Berlingo XL that carries seven people, thanks to its third row of seats.

Powered by a 136PS motor and 50kWh battery, the official range of the e-Berlingo is 174 miles. The compact electric Citroen MPV takes less than 30 minutes to rapid-charge from 0 to 80 percent on a 100kW connection – and a full charge from a 7.4kW home charge point takes 7.5 hours.

Practicality is an e-Berlingo strong point, with between 1,050 and 4,000 litres of boot space. Another 167 litres can be found among the total of 26 cabin storage compartments.

The Peugeot e-Rifter and Vauxhall Combo-e Life are variations on the same theme – and essentially the same vehicle. However, for a funky-looking people carrier, you’ll want to choose the Citroen.

Read our Citroen e-Berlingo review.

Nissan e-NV200 Combi

The Nissan e-NV200 Combi is a passenger-carrying version of the popular e-NV200 van. It uses much the same technology as the Leaf electric car.

With a 109PS electric motor and 40kWh battery, the e-NV200 Combi’s all-electric range of 124 miles is down on the e-Berlingo, but the fast-charging time of between 40 and 60 minutes is similar. Charging at home takes 7.5 hours. 

The seven seats fold for ultimate flexibility. With them all in place, there is 870 litres of load space up to the roof, and 443 litres beneath the rear shelf. The 13 stowage spaces around the cabin include under-seat drawers.

The e-NV200 Combi has been around for a while longer than its Citroen, Peugeot, and Vauxhall rivals – most obvious from its shorter range – but it still provides a practical, zero-emissions solution to carrying the whole family.

Read our Nissan e-NV200 Combi review.

Mercedes-Benz EQB

More SUV than MPV, the Mercedes-Benz EQB is smaller than the EQV, but still offers room for seven people and some of their luggage (340 litres with the rear seats in place).

The third row can accommodate family members up to 5ft 4in (162.5cm) tall. These seats also come with Isofix fixings, meaning child seats can be easily fitted for added safety.

All EQBs are four-wheel drive and use a 66.5kWh lithium-ion battery. A choice of 228PS or 292PS electric motors is available, although it’s worth noting that both versions offer the same 250-257 miles of range.

Once you’ve depleted that distance, if you plug the EQB into a home charging point, you’ll need to wait nearly six hours for the battery to be replenished. If you’re on the move and have to rapid-charge, a 10-80 percent refill takes 32 minutes.

Read our Mercedes-Benz EQB review.

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Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S has been around since 2012, and is a familiar sight on the UK’s roads. But did you realise it can actually seat seven people?

OK, so those in the back need to be child-sized, and the recently refreshed version of Tesla’s trailblazing liftback saloon doesn’t have a seven-seat option. However, the company has confirmed a pair of ‘jump seats’ is coming. They were a feature of earlier Tesla Model S versions.

When they arrive, they will make the Tesla Model S one of the most powerful seven-seat cars on sale (Tesla’s own Model X is the other). Even the entry-level Model S has 670PS and can hit 60mph in 3.0 seconds. The Plaid-spec car has a whopping 1,020PS, along with an estimated 396 miles of range.

As well as a suite of automated driving features, you can use Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network with the Model S. With 30,000 charging points available at 3,000 ultra-fast charging stations worldwide, you can potentially add 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes.

Read our Tesla Model S review.

Tesla Model X

Unlike the Model S, Tesla’s Model X is a full-sized and practical six- or seven-seater, where the rear seats are less of a squeeze to climb into. 

Tesla calls the Model X an SUV, but its styling suggests more of a traditional MPV silhouette. Still, however you categorise it, the Model X looks like no other seven-seat car on the road.

Sharing its EV technology with the Model S, the Model X is available with power outputs of 670PS and 1,020PS. Its official estimated range is 333-348 miles on a single charge. Tesla’s ultra-rapid Superchargers add up to 175 miles of range in 15 minutes. 

Inside, the 17-inch centre display, 12.3-inch driver’s display and 8.0-inch second seat display give a high-tech feel. There is wireless charging, too, as well as USB-C ports and a 22-speaker audio system. Don’t forget those ‘falcon wing’ rear doors either. They give the Model X a sense of theatre every time they open.

Read our Tesla Model X review.

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Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life

Just as the e-Berlingo MPV is the passenger version of the e-Berlingo light commercial vehicle, the Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life is the family-friendly version of the Vivaro-e electric van. 

Of course, this is a relatively easy way for car manufacturers to make a multi-passenger-carrying vehicle, but that doesn’t mean there are no creature comforts. Air conditioning, a DAB radio and cruise control are all standard, with the entry-level Combi model able to carry up to nine passengers. The more luxurious Vivaro-e Life Elite can manage eight.

If you take out the second and third row of seats, there’s a maximum load space of 4,900 litres. For added practicality, the rear sliding doors are operated electrically.

Using the same 50kWh battery and 136PS electric motor as the smaller Combo-e Life, total driving range of the Vivaro-e Life is 143 miles, with a 100kW charge taking from 30 minutes.

Also, just as the e-Berlingo has a pair of near-identical relatives, so does the Vivaro-e Life. The Citroen e-SpaceTourer and Peugeot e-Traveller are similar takes on the same idea.

Read our Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life review.

Mercedes-Benz EQV

A premium large electric MPV, the Mercedes-Benz EQV comes with a choice of six, seven or eight seats, for maximum passenger-carrying and load flexibility. Opt for six individual seats and the EQV becomes a luxurious shuttle vehicle, ideal for business trips and functions. 

A 90kWh battery and 203PS electric motor give the Mercedes a driving range of 213 miles, which is more than rival electric people carriers from the Stellantis group (Citroen, Peugeot, and Vauxhall). The Mercedes is much more expensive to buy, though.

EQV charging times are very similar to other electric vehicles. Fitted with 110kW rapid-charging capability, a 10-80 percent battery refill can take 45 minutes, with a full charge from a home charging point requiring up to 10 hours. 

High-tech EQV features include radar-based energy recuperation, a 10.25-inch media system and the ‘Mercedes Me Connect’ suite of connected services, including remote charging and preconditioning settings. One year’s membership to the Ionity high-speed charging network is also included with every EQV.

Read our Mercedes-Benz EQV review.

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The RAC is leading the way when it comes to supporting drivers in the switch to electric vehicles.

A growing number of our patrol vans have built-in emergency mobile charging systems that can give an out-of-charge electric car enough power to be driven a short distance home or to a working charge point.

Find out more about RAC EV Boost.​

Our All-Wheels-Up recovery system also allows our patrols to rescue electric cars safely with no need for a flatbed. Find out more about RAC Electric Car Breakdown Cover.