You’ve decided you want your next drive to be an electric car....but you need something a little bigger? Perhaps you need as even seater for the whole family to comfortably fit but you're not sure which electric cars can cater for more passengers than your average 5-seater? We’ve found 7 of the best 7-seat electric vehicles (EVs) so you don’t have to.
Mercedes-Benz EQV from £681p/m inc. VAT
This van-like EV from Mercedes-Benz is a luxurious all-electric MPV and is based on the company’s V-Class. With 3 model grades to choose from – Sport, Sport Premium or Sport Premium Plus – Mercedes even lets you then select the seat formation in the Sport version, between 2-2-3 or 2-3-2. And for Premium and Premium Plus, you get the 2-2-3 layout but can opt for a fold-out table for your middle passengers. Performance when out and about is good, too. The EQV has a range of 213 miles with an impressive 110kW DC charging capacity, which means if you can get from 10-80% charge in as little as 45 minutes on the go.
Tesla Model X from £1132p/m inc. VAT
It’s one of the pricier 7-seat electric vehicles available to lease, but if futuristic is your thing, you’ve got to choose the Tesla Model X. This family wagon has such a distinctive look, including electronically operated Falcon Wing rear doors which make it easy to climb into – as well as great for a bit of kerbside theatre. Once inside, you have enough space for 7 passengers, but if you would rather have more space and could do without extra seats, the Model X also comes in 5- and 6-seater versions. All seats are mounted individually with the front and middle rows adjusting electronically, so you can change depending on the required legroom. It’s ridiculously speedy, too, as the latest Plaid version does 0-62mph in 2.6 seconds. Yes, 2-point-6 seconds...
Peugeot E-Rifter From £419p/m inc. VAT
New to the market, the Peugeot E-Rifter is a passenger-carrying version of the Peugeot E-Partner van. Available with both 5 and 7 seats, it’s ideal for families as it caters for up to 4000 litres of boot space too. The 7-seat version is available in the Allure Premium trim, which features parking sensors and a reversing camera for those tricky-to-get-into spots, plus 16-inch alloy wheels for a stylish look. You also have 3 driving modes and 2 regenerative braking modes to choose from, giving you greater control over the battery’s energy consumption in order to maximise the driving range.
Vauxhall Combo-E Life from £466p/m inc. VAT
Another new-to-the-market offering this year, the Vauxhall Combo-E Life is a fantastic addition to the all-electric passenger car. With 2 wheelbase lengths offered, these being the medium (with 5 or 7 seats) and the XL with a 7-seat configuration only, there’s plenty of choice for customers to go at. The Combo-E Life has a range of 174 miles on a single charge and is able to recharge at 100kW, allowing you to top up from 10-80% from a public charger in just 30 minutes. Interior space is great too, as on the XL version the boot has 850 litres for you to bundle shopping or luggage into, even with all 7 seats in place. Each model has ISOFIX child-seat mounting points too, allowing for 3 children to sit next to each other in the 2nd row.
Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge PHEV from £782p/m inc. VAT
OK, we are cheating slightly on this one. But if you aren’t ready to commit to fully electric just yet, why not opt for a plug-in hybrid? This Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge looks more like your average family car than the others in this round-up and is one of the best 7-seater plug-in hybrids on the market today. If its 11.8kWh battery is fully charged up and raring to go, the XC90 can do up to 28 miles 40 miles on electric power alone, while its 87hp e-motor will do a good job of moving you along in silence. If you worry about space, especially with the battery installed, have no fear – the Volvo has 314 litres of boot space in a full 7-seat configuration and if you fold all seating down, this increases to a whopping 1838 litres.
Citroen E-Berlingo From £399p/m inc. VAT
This van-based people carrier is new to 2021 and is the electric version of Citroen’s small MPV. It’s also related to the Peugeot E-Rifter and the Vauxhall Combo-E we’ve already talked about. Anyway, offering 3 driving modes – of Eco, Normal and Power – the E-Berlingo has a claimed driving range of 174 miles. With 2 trim levels, Feel and Flair XTR, to choose from and a choice of body lengths, there’s plenty of variety – but make sure you opt for the Feel trim level if you need the 7-seat option. Both versions of the E-Berlingo use the same 50kWh battery with 100kW DC charging capability. Feel models also come with an 8-inch touchscreen for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an impressive safety roster too. All versions come with Citroen’s Safety Pack, which includes active lane-keeping assist, active safety brake, cruise control with a speed limiter, driver attention alert and loads more!
Vauxhall Vivaro-E Life from £347p/m inc. VAT
If you’re looking for something made in the UK, why not take a look at the offering from Vauxhall? Say hello to the Vivaro-E Life. This electric van-derived vehicle has multiple seating options, including 5, 7 and 8 seats, and has up to 3 rows if you opt for the maximum passenger capacity. When out and about, the Vivaro-E Life has 3 driving modes, including Power (maximum performance), Normal (everyday driving) and Eco (uses the least amount of energy). Charging is simple and quick too, as 0-80% takes a mere 30 minutes at a 100kW charging station. Or, if you hook it up to a domestic wallbox (at 7kW), it will take it around 11 hours to fully recharge.
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