7 seater cars are large vehicles that can carry seven passengers including the driver. In many countries, medium or large families use them as their main family car. Car manufacturers often classify 7 seater cars as minivans and SUVs but in Australia they are commonly referred to as people movers and four wheel drives.
People movers tend to be more spacious than four wheel drives and have a more box type shape to them. They are designed for sealed roads in built up areas and have limited off road capabilities. They have better fuel consumption than four wheel drives because they are not built as solid and the maintenance costs will also be lower.
In Australia there are many people movers available including Chrysler Voyager, Citroen C4 Picasso, Hyundai iMax, Mitsubishi Grandis, Renault Grand Scenic, Toyota Tarago, Toyota Avensis, Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life, Volkswagen Multi Van, Volkswagen Caravelle and the hugely popular Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey.
Four-wheel drives have become very popular due to their versatility, looks and high driving position and are now offered by most manufacturers. Models include Audi Q7, Ford Territory, BMW X6, Hyundai Santa Fe, Land Rover Discovery, Kia Sorento, Mercedes GL Class, Mitsubishi Pajero, Mitsubishi Challenger, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Tribeca, Nissan Patrol, Volvo XC90 and Toyota Kluger, Landcruiser and Prado. These models seat 6 to 8 passengers and come with various drive options including two-wheel, four-wheel and all-wheel drive.
Two wheel drives are appropriate for families that travel mostly on sealed roads. They are generally driven by the 2 rear wheels only and have lower fuel consumption than the four wheel drive alternative.
Four wheel drive 7 seater cars work best for families that like to take off-road trips because they often have more powerful engines and all four wheels are driven. This enables the car to be driven through difficult terrain such as off road sandy or muddy tracks. Some four wheel drives can switch between two-wheel and four-wheel drive depending on the usage and some have all-wheel drive which means all wheels are driven all of the time.
With the amount of 7 seater cars on the market it is an exciting time for vehicle buyers who are looking for a car that will not only carry a large family but will also suit their lifestyle needs.