More than ever, family buyers are looking to trim down their fuel bills with the help of a hybrid or battery-electric vehicle with seven seats.
The rush to electrification and hybrid powertrains has been most notable in the hatchback, sedan and midsize SUV segment, meaning that up until recently, it’s been slim pickings for buyers looking for a family-friendly EV or hybrid.
Let’s look at ten of our favourite seven-seat EVs and hybrid cars on sale here in Australia in 2024.
Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 is one of a very small number of seven-seat family SUVs that come powered entirely by electricity.
With its sleek, futuristic styling package, acres of interior space and a hefty list of features packed into the base model, the EV9 range provides buyers looking for a seven-seat EV some serious food for thought.
The EV9 range is offered with a choice of two battery packs, the smallest of which offers 443km of driving range while the most efficient of the bunch can drive up to 512km from a massive 99.8kWh pack.
- Type: Electric
- Driving Range: 443 - 512km
- Energy Efficiency: 19.5 - 22.8kWh/100km
- Boot Space: 333 - 828 - 2,318L
- Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2023)
Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
Fresh off a major update, the Hyundai Santa Fe is bigger, better equipped and more fuel-efficient than ever before thanks to a hybrid-only range that is perfectly positioned for family buyers.
Inside, the revamped interior looks great and offers impressive legroom in the front and second row, while the option of a third row means the Santa Fe can stand up to the task of moving a family of seven.
The Santa Fe comes powered by a conventional hybrid setup that pairs a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol with an electric motor that drops its fuel use down to a very impressive 5.6L per 100km.
- Type: Series-Parallel Hybrid
- Fuel Economy: 5.6L per 100km
- Boot Space: 628 - 1,949L
- Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Unrated
Mazda CX-90 D50e
While it’s not the most efficient seven-seat hybrid on the market, Mazda’s latest flagship CX-90 is the company’s most luxurious seven-seat SUV to date, with a plug-in hybrid variant arriving in Australia later this year.
Step inside and the CX-90 feels palatial, with higher-ranking members of the family picking up luxurious touches that make it feel competitive with European SUVs.
There’s also the option of a six-seat layout with a pair of uber-comfortable captain’s chairs in the rear, though a seven-seat layout with impressive rear accommodation comes offered as standard.
For fuel-conscious buyers, opting for the D50e diesel offers the most efficient fuel economy figures while maintaining a tonne of torque from its glorious inline-six engine that offers effortless touring on the highway.
- Type: 48V Mild-Hybrid Six-cylinder Turbo-Diesel
- Fuel Economy: 5.4L/100km
- Boot Space: 608 - 2,025L
- Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Unrated
Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer
Mercedes has given its iconic Vito van a brand-new beating heart, offered in both cargo-focussed panel van and ultra family-friendly eVito Tourer form.
With a spacious eight-seat layout, the eVito Tourer is a great way for large families to step into Mercedes’ battery-electric people-mover while saving some serious cash over the luxurious EQV.
The eVito’s cabin is super practical, while a large 90kWh battery pack helps to ease any range anxiety with driving figures north of 421km on the NEDC test cycle.
- Type: Electric
- Driving Range: 421km
- Energy Efficiency: 26.15kWh/100km
- Boot Space: 1,030L
- Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre; eight years for battery
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Unrated
Toyota Kluger Hybrid
The company responsible for mainstreaming hybrid passenger vehicles remains one of your best options while shopping around for fuel-efficient, seven-seat hybrid SUVs.
The Kluger range doesn’t disappoint when it comes to driving comfort and sheer practicality thanks to its large platform, while the option of hybrid powertrains across the range is more accommodating to buyers with different budgets.
Under the bonnet, the Kluger picks up a super fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine working alongside three electric motors that offers huge fuel-savings over the standard Kluger petrol range and the added bonus of an all-wheel drive system.
- Type: Series-Parallel Hybrid
- Fuel Economy: 5.6km
- Boot Space: 241 - 552 - 1,150L
- Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2021)
Volvo XC90 Recharge Ultimate
Volvo’s flagship XC90 SUV comes powered by a plug-in hybrid engine that offers immense power figures and frugal economy figures when you’re not tempted into flattening the throttle pedal.
With three rows of seats perfect for a family of seven, the Volvo XC90 over-delivers when it comes to luxury inside the cabin and comes jam-packed with features.
Volvo is also planning to enter the seven-seat electric SUV game later this year with the confirmation that the EX90 will be headed to Australia, which is certainly worth a spot on your shortlist if you’re after a seven-seat EV.
- Type: Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV)
- Electric Driving Range: 77km
- Fuel Economy: 1.8L per 100km
- Boot Space: 709 - 1,868L
- Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2023)
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Buyers looking for a super-premium, battery-electric seven-seat SUV should definitely have the Mercedes-Benz EQS on the shortlist.
While it doesn’t come cheap, the EQS doesn’t disappoint no matter how close you shine the microscope.
The cabin is huge, making light work of a family of seven, while the technology suite makes it feel like a truly modern piece of machinery and 800Nm of torque offers huge pulling power when fully loaded.
- Type: Electric
- Driving Range: 592km
- Energy Efficiency: 21.2kWh/100km
- Boot Space: 195 - 645 - 2,100L
- Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre; ten years for battery
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Unrated
Land Rover Range Rover Plug-in Hybrid
If you’re after family-friendly practicality with effortless grand touring, towing and off-road potential, the Land Rover Range Rover PHEV range is a great shout.
Sitting as one of the most spacious and luxurious seven-seat SUV packages on the market, the almighty Range Rover can comfortably accommodate large families and cruise silently up to 126km on electric power alone with the help of a clever plug-in hybrid powertrain and substantial 38.2kWh battery pack.
- Type: Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV)
- Driving Range: 126km
- Fuel Economy: 1.6L per 100km
- Boot Space: 818 - 1,841L
- Warranty: Five-year/unlimited-kilometre
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)
Kia Sorento Hybrid
The Kia Sorento range is better than ever thanks to a recent update that has given it a styling refresh and more equipment as standard.
With the option of a front-wheel drive base model and a more sure-footed AWD range-topper, the Sorento Hybrid combines everything families have come to love about the large, practical interior with some serious fuel savings over the standard petrol range.
- Type: Series-Parallel Hybrid
- Fuel Economy: 5.4 - 5.7L per 100km
- Boot Space: 179 - 1,995L
- Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2020)
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Our list wraps up with a great value pick within the family-friendly plug-in hybrid segment, the Mitsubishi Outlander.
While it’s not the most spacious seven-seat platform, it is one of the most affordable and a package that ticks all the fundamentals that family buyers are looking for with its generous equipment lists, decent EV range and class-leading warranty program for long-term peace of mind.
- Type: Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV)
- Driving Range: 84km
- Energy Efficiency: 1.5L per 100km
- Boot Space: 163 - 478 - 1,387L
- Warranty: Ten-year/200,000-kilometre (when serviced in network)
- ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (tested 2022)
Request a Quote
If you’re looking at your best options for a fuel-efficient family car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.
Get in touch with one of our Car Buying Specialists today.
Request a quote
