The past decade or so has seen a massive switch from the buying public toward compact, medium and large SUVs alike, due to their size, safety, features lists and the ability to carry a family and their belongings on daily commutes and holidays.
Manufacturers have been quick to respond to growing public demand, with constant additions to the SUV market from almost every major manufacturer, including luxury car makers like Lamborghini, Aston Martin and even Ferrari bringing their take on the SUV body shape to the market.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best seven-seat SUVs headed to Australian shores in 2022, and talk about their price, family-friendly features and their expected arrival dates to the SUV market.
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Request a quoteToyota LandCruiser 300 Series
We’re going to kick off our list with perhaps the most iconic seven seat SUV on the Australian market, the almighty Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. While the latest generation LandCruiser is already officially on sale, Toyota has been struggling to maintain production in the wake of production slowdowns and material shortages.
This has meant that only a small handful of latest-generation LandCruiser units are in Australia, with the floodgates set to open in 2022.
The Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series brings the rugged platform further into the 21st century with a raft of new features, safety and entertainment equipment, as well as replacing the V8 engine with a V6 turbo diesel unit that improves fuel economy while maintaining power outputs perfect for off-road driving and thousands of highway kilometres.
Expect to see the LandCruiser 300 Series hitting Australian shores, albeit with a sizable waitlist, throughout 2022.
Nissan Pathfinder
2022 will also see the arrival of the next generation Nissan Pathfinder, which is set to receive a major overhaul from the current generation. The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder is set to receive a bold new styling overhaul, improved interior design and a new nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system, making for the most advanced Pathfinder we’ve seen yet.
The Pathfinder will be available in both seven and eight-seat configurations, with the option of a pair of captain’s chairs for the second row for improved second-row comfort.
Nissan is yet to confirm Australian prices specs for the upcoming Pathfinder, but expect it to receive more storage and practicality than ever before, the latest infotainment technology and a raft of creature comforts to keep your family comfortable on long road trips.
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Mercedes is gearing up for the launch of an all new, revolutionary SUV to its lineup, in the form of its first-ever fully electric seven-seat SUV, known as the EQB.
Mercedes says that the EQB’s 66.5kWh battery pack has been certified with a range of 478km on the NEDC cycle, which gives it a usable real-world range that looks set to meet the needs of the buying public.
As per usual with creations from Mercedes-Benz, the EQB will be produced with an exceptionally high level of attention to detail, combining a smooth, powerful electric powertrain with the latest safety and entertainment technology for the family, in a visually appealing and luxurious interior design.
While the EQB has officially launched in some key European and Chinese markets, Australian deliveries are expected to take place in the first half of 2022, with a number of EQB variants planned in the coming years.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Jeep is planning on bringing a seven-seat version of its iconic Grand Cherokee to Australia some time in the first half of 2022, with the introduction of the Grand Cherokee L. Not only will the new model introduce three rows of seating in the Grand Cherokee for the first time in more than a decade, Jeep looks set to incorporate a new hybrid engine option into the lineup for its launch.
The Grand Cherokee L will feature a comfortable, handsome interior filled with entertainment options for the family, including a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and 10.1-inch infotainment system, as well as a host of family-friendly features. It will also feature active noise cancellation and special acoustic glass to ensure the ride is every bit as quiet as it is comfortable.
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace
Volkswagen is giving its large Tiguan SUV the seven-seat treatment, with the introduction of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace set to take place in the second quarter of 2022. Aside from a moderate styling refresh, the Tiguan Allspace is set to receive a larger wheelbase, offering more interior comfort and the availability of a third row of seating in the rear of the cabin.
Prices for the Tiguan Allspace lineup are set to kick off from $40,990 for the entry-level 110 TSI Comfortline, and stretch out to $43,690 for the 132 TSI Comfortline, $53,190 for the 162 TSI Highline and $54,690 for the 140 TDI Highline diesel variant. All variants receive the latest version of Volkswagen’s MIB3 infotainment system with capacitive controls, family-friendly features and a host of active safety technologies to keep your family protected.
Hyundai Santa Fe & Kia Sorento Hybrid Variants
2022 will see the arrival of hybrid versions of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, which are effectively identical under the skin due to the two Korean companies partnering for a joint development of a SUV.
After last year’s launch of the latest generation Santa Fe SUV, Hyundai is planning on introducing its first-ever hybrid variant of the family-favourite Santa Fe some time in 2022. The company initially said that the car was set for a Q4, 2021 arrival, however that was pushed back in the wake of production slowdowns.
When they do arrive, the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe hybrid versions look set to receive a turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 44kW electric motor and small battery pack, with a claimed fuel economy figure of 5.7L per 100km, which is pretty impressive for a seven seat SUV. The companies are yet to confirm pricing, however, we expect them to launch at around $55,000 for the entry-level variants, with prices potentially rising to $70,000 for a range-topping model with all the bells and whistles.
Land Rover Range Rover
2022 is set to be a massive year for the seven seat SUV market, and one of the major acts headlining the show will no doubt be the arrival of an all-new Range Rover lineup. The British go-to for luxurious seven-seat driving is planning a broad assault on the market, with both short and long wheelbase variants set for a mid-2022 arrival, with a plug-in hybrid P510e set to arrive later in the year.
Land Rover says that the Range Rover P510e pairs a six-cylinder petrol engine with a 105kW electric motor which offers around 80km of pure electric driving, while massively reducing the overall fuel usage during hybrid driving.
As per usual with a new Range Rover, expect to find a huge amount of space inside the cabin, with luxurious and exotic materials used throughout the interior, and a heap of smart entertainment, off-road driving and safety technology as standard.
Mitsubishi Outlander Hybrid
One car featured on our list that you can actually go out and buy today is the all-new and updated Mitsubishi Outlander, with the company also planning a plug-in hybrid version some time in the first half of 2022.
The updated platform has been taken from the Nissan X-Trail, with Nissan packaging a range of new entertainment and safety technologies across the range. The platform offers more space than ever before for passengers seated inside the seven-seat Outlander, with a raft of creature comforts available in higher-spec variants.
Nissan is yet to confirm specs or pricing for the plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander, but we expect it to come at a premium over the range-topping Outlander Exceed Tourer all-wheel drive which is priced at $49,990.
Tesla Model X
After Tesla’s move to give its ageing Model S a refresh and facelift for the modern age, the company has announced that it will be giving its all-electric seven-seat SUV the same treatment, with the first deliveries expected to arrive here in Australia in late 2022.
Aside from the styling refresh, added technology and a completely overhauled interior design, it looks as though Tesla is keen on offering a high-performance Plaid variant to the lineup, similar to what we’ve seen in the Model S lineup.
The Model X Plaid may well prove to be the fastest seven-seat SUV on the market, thanks to a 761kW output from three electric motors, while offering a range figure of 547km on the WLTP cycle.
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