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Top 10 Best 7-Seater SUVs in Australia 2026 | Auto Buyers Guide
The Hyundai Santa Fe is our pick for the best seven-seat SUV in Australia for most families in 2026, with the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-80 also strong choices. The right model depends on your budget, third-row requirements, fuel preferences, towing needs and intended use.
Not every model here is a seven-seater in every grade, so the table and sections below spell out which versions have a third row.
Best 7-Seater SUVs in Australia 2026: Quick Comparison
| Rank | Model | Seating layout | Starting price and price basis | Powertrain | Claimed fuel economy or electric range | Braked towing capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyundai Santa Fe | Seven seats; six-seat option on selected Calligraphy variants | About $54,400 before on-road costs | Turbo-petrol or hybrid | 9.1L/100km petrol; 5.6L/100km hybrid | 2,000kg petrol; 1,650kg hybrid | All-round family use |
| 2 | Kia Sorento | Seven seats | About $54,630 before on-road costs (S diesel) | Diesel, hybrid or plug-in hybrid | 6.0L/100km diesel; 5.4L/100km hybrid FWD; 1.6L/100km plug-in hybrid | 2,000kg diesel | Powertrain choice |
| 3 | Mazda CX-80 | Six or seven seats, depending on grade | About $56,100 before on-road costs | Petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid; AWD | 8.4L/100km petrol; 5.2L/100km diesel; 2.7L/100km plug-in hybrid | Up to 2,500kg | Premium feel on sealed roads |
| 4 | Toyota Kluger | Seven seats on every grade | About $62,410 before on-road costs | 2.5-litre hybrid AWD | 5.6L/100km | 2,000kg | Simple hybrid ownership |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander | Seven seats on selected variants | About $42,540 before on-road costs (ES seven-seat) | Petrol or plug-in hybrid | 7.6L/100km petrol; 1.2L/100km plug-in hybrid | 1,600kg petrol | Lower-cost mainstream buy |
| 6 | Chery Tiggo 8 | Seven seats | $38,990 drive-away (petrol Urban, October 2026 offer) | Turbo-petrol; Super Hybrid priced separately | 8.1L/100km petrol | Check with Chery | Equipment for the money |
| 7 | Nissan X-Trail | Seven seats on selected petrol 4WD grades | About $41,305 before on-road costs (ST 4WD) | 2.5-litre petrol 4WD | 7.8L/100km | 2,000kg | Compact footprint |
| 8 | Ford Everest | Five seats on Active, seven optional; seven on other grades | About $60,340 before on-road costs (Active with seven-seat option) | Diesel 4WD | Check with Ford | Up to 3,500kg | Towing and 4WD touring |
| 9 | Isuzu MU-X | Seven seats on every grade | $49,990 drive-away (4x2 LS-M 2.2L offer; conditions apply) | Diesel; 4x2 or 4x4 | Check with Isuzu | Up to 3,500kg | Diesel touring and off-road |
| 10 | Kia EV9 | Seven seats; six on GT | About $97,000 before on-road costs (Air RWD) | Electric | 443km to 512km WLTP | Check with Kia | Electric family transport |
Prices are indicative and were checked in October 2026. Prices before on-road costs and drive-away offers are not directly comparable. Prices, specifications, dealer offers and on-road costs can change, so confirm details with the manufacturer or a dealer.
How We Ranked These 7-Seater SUVs
This is an editorial ranking based on practical family ownership, not official sales results. We weighed price and equipment, third-row comfort and access, boot space with every seat in use, child-seat anchor points, ANCAP rating and its date, fuel use, towing, warranty and servicing.
The 10 Best Seven-Seat SUVs for 2026
1. Hyundai Santa Fe
The Santa Fe leads because it handles most family jobs well. Every grade has seven seats, and selected Calligraphy variants offer six seats with second-row captain's chairs.
Hyundai quotes about 9.1L/100km for the turbo-petrol and 5.6L/100km for the hybrid. It holds a five-star ANCAP rating dated 2024. Towing is the weaker point, at 2,000kg for the petrol and 1,650kg for the hybrid.
2. Kia Sorento
The Sorento is a seven-seat SUV offered with diesel, hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Powertrain availability can vary by build year and remaining stock.
Claimed fuel use ranges from 1.6L/100km for the plug-in hybrid to 6.0L/100km for the diesel. Kia backs it with a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. The caution is safety currency: its five-star ANCAP rating is dated 2020 and is due to expire in December 2026.
3. Mazda CX-80
The CX-80 comes with six or seven seats depending on grade, and all-wheel drive is standard across the range. Buyers can choose petrol, diesel or plug-in hybrid power.
Mazda's 2026 price list starts at about $56,100 before on-road costs, and upper grades cost considerably more. ANCAP rated it five stars in 2024. It suits buyers who want a more premium cabin for long sealed-road trips.
4. Toyota Kluger
Every Kluger grade has seven seats and the same 2.5-litre hybrid all-wheel-drive system, rated at about 5.6L/100km. Toyota lists 2,000kg of braked towing and roughly 241 litres of cargo space behind the third row.
Its five-star ANCAP rating dates from 2021. The drawback is price, with the highest entry point of the combustion models here.
5. Mitsubishi Outlander
The Outlander is one of the lower-priced mainstream options. The seven-seat layout is available only on selected petrol and plug-in hybrid variants, so confirm the exact grade before buying.
The third row is better suited to occasional use. ANCAP's 2025 five-star rating notes there are no top-tether points back there, so check child-seat anchor points carefully. Mitsubishi's 10-year warranty depends on meeting its servicing conditions.
6. Chery Tiggo 8
The Tiggo 8 has the lowest advertised price in this group. Chery's offers page lists the petrol Tiggo 8 Urban from $38,990 drive-away under its October 2026 offer. The plug-in Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid is priced separately.
The petrol model claims about 8.1L/100km, while the Super Hybrid claims about 1.3L/100km. Space is tight, at roughly 117 litres behind the third row. ANCAP's five-star rating is dated 2025, and it notes the third row has no top-tether anchorages, so child restraints are not recommended there.
7. Nissan X-Trail
Seven seats in the X-Trail are limited to selected petrol four-wheel-drive grades. The e-POWER versions are five-seat models.
The seven-seaters use a 2.5-litre petrol engine rated at about 7.8L/100km, with 2,000kg of braked towing. The ST 4WD is priced from about $41,305 before on-road costs. Its five-star ANCAP rating is dated 2021. As a medium SUV, it has a smaller third row than the large models here.
8. Ford Everest
The Everest is a diesel four-wheel drive built for towing and touring. Ford quotes up to 3,500kg of braked towing with the correct equipment. Towing figures and features vary by variant, so check payload and combined mass limits for the one you want.
The Active has five seats as standard and is priced from about $58,990 before on-road costs. The seven-seat option adds about $1,350, making it roughly $60,340. Other grades have seven seats as standard. Its five-star ANCAP rating is dated 2022.
9. Isuzu MU-X
Every MU-X has seven seats, diesel power and a choice of 4x2 or 4x4. Isuzu covers it for six years or 150,000 kilometres. Check cargo space with all seven seats raised before you buy.
Isuzu's current offer is $49,990 drive-away for the 25.5MY 4x2 LS-M with the 2.2-litre engine. It applies at participating dealers to private, ABN and business fleet customers, with conditions, until 31 October 2026. ANCAP rated the MU-X five stars in 2022.
10. Kia EV9
The EV9 is the electric option. The Air, Earth and GT-Line are seven-seat models, while the GT has six seats.
WLTP range runs from about 443km to 512km depending on grade, and Kia says it works with both 400V and 800V fast chargers. ANCAP rated it five stars in 2023. Its main drawback is the higher purchase price, with the Air RWD at about $97,000 before on-road costs.
Which Is the Cheapest 7-Seater SUV in Australia?
It depends on the price basis. By advertised price, the cheapest 7 seater in this group is the petrol Chery Tiggo 8 Urban at $38,990 drive-away under its October 2026 offer.
On prices before on-road costs, the Nissan X-Trail ST 4WD (about $41,305) and Mitsubishi Outlander ES seven-seat (about $42,540) are the lowest. Those figures exclude registration, stamp duty and dealer delivery, so ask for a drive-away quote before comparing them with the Chery.
What Should You Compare Before Choosing?
- Whether the third row suits adults or mainly children.
- Boot space with every seat in use.
- How easily the second row moves for third-row access.
- ISOFIX points and top-tether anchors in each row.
- Third-row air vents.
- The ANCAP rating date and the variants it covers.
- Fuel or charging costs for your own driving.
- Warranty and servicing conditions.
- Towing capacity and payload.
- Vehicle size against your garage and parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best 7-seater SUV in Australia in 2026?
For most families, the Hyundai Santa Fe offers the best balance. The Everest or MU-X suit heavy towing, and the EV9 suits buyers who want electric power.
Which 7-seater SUV has the lowest fuel consumption?
On claimed figures, the plug-in hybrids lead: Outlander (1.2L/100km), Tiggo 8 Super Hybrid (1.3L/100km) and Sorento (1.6L/100km). Those results depend on regular charging. Among conventional hybrids, the Sorento is rated at 5.4L/100km and the Santa Fe and Kluger at 5.6L/100km.
Are 7-seater SUVs safe?
Each model here has a five-star ANCAP rating on record, but the ratings are not directly comparable. They date from 2020 to 2025, and the covered variants differ. Check the rating year and any third-row child-seat limits.
Is a 7-seater SUV better than a people mover?
A people mover usually gives easier access and more boot space behind the third row. An SUV offers a higher ride, and often all-wheel drive and stronger towing.
Compare Seven-Seat SUVs on Auto Buyers Guide
The best family 7 seater is the one that fits your passengers, budget and driving. On Auto Buyers Guide you can compare new, demo and used listings, check variant details and contact dealers directly. For more ideas, see our guide to seven-seater cars for sale in Brisbane.