While most mainstream car makers have several hybrid models, there aren’t so many options if you’re after a seven-seater hybrid.
The trouble is, finding room for a big battery and an electric motor plus an engine and fuel tank is a struggle. Something has to give. Even the best hybrid tow cars can have less boot space, or in the case of a car with seven seats there’s no longer space for a third row.
So, what do you do if you want a hybrid but have one of the best caravans for families and need room a seven seater? Well, there are some hybrid cars with space for seven. Better still, some of them make very capable tow cars.
These five are all approved for towing duties with room for seven to enjoy the ride.
Vehicles pictured may not be exact model or year
Seven-seater hybrid cars: our favourite options for towing
Volvo XC90 T8 Plus
- Price: £77,760
- Kerbweight: 2297kg
- 85% match: 1952kg
- Towing limit: 2400kg
Lots of big 4x4s have room for seven. Plenty have hybrid power. Combining both in one car? That’s not so common.
The Volvo XC90 offers both. It’s a compelling reason to choose the Volvo over other luxurious SUVs such as the BMW X5, which only has five-seats when specified with hybrid power.
The XC90 is a plug-in hybrid, so many journeys can be completed on electric alone. The official all-electric range is 44 miles, with a full recharge taking around three hours.
Of course, you don’t have to recharge until it’s convenient for you, which is one of the benefits of choosing a plug-in hybrid rather than a fully electric car.
With or without a healthy state of charge the Volvo is a quick car, with more than enough muscle to pull those larger types of caravan, such as a twin-axle tourer.
Pace combines with stability. The big Volvo feels secure at speed, so long towing trips should be stress-free.
The cabin is pleasingly minimalist in its design and with a luxurious standard of finish. There’s plenty of space in the first two rows, although seats six and seven are better suited to children rather than adults.
Kia Santa Fe Hybrid Premium 4WD
- Price: £50,445
- Kerbweight: 1965-2095kg
- 85% match: From 1670kg
- Towing limit: 2000kg
When this generation of Santa Fe launched, it was approved to tow just over a tonne – a hopeless towing capacity for a big 4×4.
Updates for the 2026 model year include more power for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models and a more respectable 2000kg towing capacity.
That should put the Santa Fe back on the radar of caravanners. We’ve yet to tow with the car, but it’s a close relative of the Kia Sorento, which tows very well. With a combined petrol-electric output of 239bhp and 280lb ft, the full hybrid drivetrain should be capable of towing any well-matched caravan.
Beneath the striking exterior design is a roomy and practical cabin. Even the third row is spacious enough for adults and the boot is huge. Go for the top-spec model and you can choose six armchair-like seats instead of seven.
We like the entry-level Premium specification, which includes wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control, a 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation system, and 20-inch alloys.
We’d recommend the previous generation sold from 2018-2024 if you’re thinking of buying a used car, because it has more sensible towing limits than the current model did until this year.
Nissan X-Trail e-Power e-4orce Tekna 7st
- Price: £47,135
- Kerbweight: 1988kg
- 85% match: Above max tow
- Towing limit: 1650kg
Nissan has taken a different approach with the X-Trail hybrid. Instead of turning the wheels with a mix of petrol power and electric motors, the Nissan is propelled with electrical power. The engine acts as a generator but never drives the wheels.
It makes for very quiet driving at low speeds, although the engine can sound strained when accelerating hard. Performance is strong, although some alternatives offer better economy.
As a tow car, the X-Trail performs well, with solid stability and the power to cope with a suitable car/caravan match. Four-wheel drive puts the Nissan’s power down cleanly, even in the wet.
As a seven-seater, though, the X-Trail is a little disappointing. The third row of seats is very cramped, even when the middle row is moved forwards on its runners.
Ultimately it works better as a five-seater with a couple of extra places for emergencies and short journeys.
In daily driving, the X-Trail is comfortable and there’s little wind or road noise. Handling is neat and tidy if not particularly sporty.
If you like the look of the X-Trail but not the price, we’ve seen a 2023 car with 23,000 miles advertised for £24,000.
See what we made of a five seater Nissan X-Trail e-4orce Tekna for an idea of what to expect.
VW Multivan 1.5 eHybrid 4Motion Life DSG
- Price: £55,355
- Kerbweight: 2392kg
- 85% match: Above max tow
- Towing limit: 1600kg
The VW Multivan is one of the most underrated cars on sale. The electric VW ID.Buzz has a much higher profile, but the Multivan is a better MPV. It’s a brilliant choice for large families and tows extremely well, too.
Choose the plug-in hybrid for an electric range of up to 56 miles. Finding space for the battery and motor hasn’t compromised the Multivan’s practicality – there is still space for seven as standard, with the option of a six-seat layout if preferred.
This is a very heavy car in plug-in hybrid guise, which helps with matching ratios. However, the restricting factor is the relatively modest 1600kg towing capacity rather than the 85% match figure. Towing a van of this weight, the Multivan is extremely stable.
It’s more capable in bad weather than you might expect of an MPV, because this 4Motion model sends power to all four wheels.
From day to day, the Multivan is easy to drive and rides comfortably, while the high-up driving position makes for ache-free long journeys. There’s space to stretch out in all seven seats.
We’ve seen a used example from 2024 with 44,000 miles offered for £37,995, which is a big saving over new.
Dacia Jogger 140 Hybrid Expression
- Price: £23,305
- Kerbweight: 1336kg
- 85% match: Above max tow
- Towing limit: 750kg
The full hybrid Jogger is a very capable seven-seat car, although it’s only suitable for towing very light caravans due to the 750kg towing capacity. Micro-tourers from the likes of Freedom make good matches.
It’s a shame the towing limit is so low, because the hybrid Jogger is considerably more powerful than the petrol model. However, if you’re a glass-half-full person then being restricted to a lightweight tourer should make for stable towing.
In everyday driving the Jogger offers comfort over agility, which is no bad thing. So long as you are not in a hurry it drives well with few excuses needed, despite the budget price tag.
The biggest surprise is how much space Dacia has crammed inside the Jogger. Even the third row has respectable head- and legroom.
With the third row of seats upright the boot is still a useful size. If you don’t need the third row it can be folded away to give loads of space for holiday luggage.
The budget price hasn’t stopped Dacia including plenty of standard equipment, although some modern driver aids are missing.
Shop around for a used Dacia Jogger for an even lower price. A 2023 car with around 50,000 miles can be bought for £16,000 or less.
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