Hi Chris,

You have a vast array open to you, simply vast – but you’re looking at SUVs and MPVs, as the seven-seat estate seems to have died off in recent years. You can choose from all of the Audi Q7, BMW X5, BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (Spacetourer), Ford Galaxy, Ford Grand C-Max, Ford S-Max, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Carens, Kia Sorento, Mercedes GLS, Mercedes Vito, Mitsubishi Outlander, Land Rover Discovery, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Range Rover Sport, Nissan, X-Trail Opel Zafira, Peugeot 5008, Peugeot Partner, Renault Grand Scenic, SEAT Alhambra, Skoda Kodiaq, SsangYong Rodius, Toyota Verso, Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life, Volkswagen Sharan, Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, Volkswagen Touran and Volvo XC90. And we might have missed a few.

If you need seven full-sized seats, some of the vehicles above will be out, because they’re more ‘5+2’ (which means five full-sized seats and then two in the very rear that are small and best suited only for younger children). And some of the above will be reasonably expensive, as premium choices. But, of this long list, let’s whittle it down for you to five really good ones – which are the Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (full seven-seat MPV), the Kia Sorento (good value seven-seat SUV), the Peugeot 5008 (stylish 5+2 SUV), the SEAT Alhambra (straightforward, but very clever seven-seat MPV) and the Volvo XC90 (premium seven-seat SUV).