7 Seater Car Hire

Hiring an MPV abroad is becoming more popular as larger groups and families take advantage of competitive pricing at airports. When you’re hiring a people carrier, you need to think about the number of people in your party and amount of luggage they will be carrying. If you are on a tape budget you will want to rent a diesel MPV or minivan, as this will save considerably on fuel costs.

You have to book early in order to get the best price, there is no way round this, so make sure you are organised. Many websites allow you to use a booking engine where you can input your travel dates and other information once and get all the available prices displayed, which will save you time and money. Do your homework before committing to any people carrier hire, read the small print if you can, and don’t let the car hire experience ruin your visit. Check out each company’s policy on fuel, do you need to fill the car up on the way back or do you return the car empty.

Overseas car hire companies often charge large excesses, but you can insure yourself in advance to protect yourself from this tape of nasty shock. Nowadays the range of seven seaters, eight seaters, nine seaters, minivans, and people carriers is mind-boggling – some of our favourites are listed below.

Citroen C4 Grand Picasso – Strong Contender for Best People Carrier.

One of the most popular people carriers you can hire is the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, with good reason. It can pack seven people in with all the luggage without any problems and it’s a nice overall experience for driver and passengers.

The third row of seats can be brought into use very easily, and a range of petrol and diesel engines and manual or automatic gearboxes should mean there’s a model to suit everyone. You will probably notice that the Grand Picasso doesn’t have quite the same taut handling and cornering as some of the other available people carriers The Grand Picasso, all things considered, is a very comfortable, versatile peple carrier, and once you are used to the feel of the vehicle you will enjoy driving it.

It’s certainly among the most comfortable people carriers we have experienced and if you’re travelling long distances when on holiday then this is the MPV for you. The seating is really well designed, can be changed quickly as the situation dictates, and there’s plenty of nooks for passenger use. The internal cabin space is very good indeed and the Grand Picasso will seat 7 adults comfortably.

Depending on the version you choose to hire, you can expect to achieve anything from 30mpg right up to 57mpg in the 1.6 e-HDI people carrier. In summary, there are very few people carriers out there that can match the Grand Picasso for comfort, reliability and economy.

Ford Galaxy – Still Going Strong.

Although it’s been over a long time now, the Ford Galaxy people carrier is still considered king of the hill by many people. There’s plenty of space inside the cabin, excellent headroom and legroom, and plenty of room in the boot. It’s a very versatile vehicle, seeking seven adults no problem, and yet capable of folding away seats to transform into a van to all intents and purposes. Don’t let the external looks put you off, there’s no debate – this is a good car to drive.

It has a nice driver position and the overall driver experience is excellent. Even the basic models come with air conditioning and electric windows, while the top-end models are fitted in full leather. Fuel economy is outstanding in the diesel versions with around 45 mpg achievable – the petrol engines aren’t as good so we recommend diesel every time.

Reliability is pretty much guaranteed with the Galaxy although some of the early models were not so good. For larger parties with plenty of baggage, you should think about adding a roof box to your hire options, as boot space will be very limited. In summary, if you’re looking for a luxurious, comfortable people carrier hire, the Ford Galaxy is an excellent choice.

VW Touran Compact 7 Seater.

Although it’s been around for a long time, the VW Touran is still right up there as one of the best 7 seater MPVs of all time. It’s pleasant interior and excellent handling along with reasonable fuel economy make a great choice for most families. With great all round insulation, there is very little wind noise when driving the Touran, however, the diesel engines are a bit noisier than the petrol versions.

Great handling and comfortable seating go hand-in-hand with a strong record for safety in the VW Touran. Seven people can fit in easily, there is plenty of legroom and headroom, and the people in the front will still be able to hear the people in the back even at motorway speeds.

SEAT Alhambra – Affordable 7 Seater People Carrier.

Without doubt the SEAT Alhambra is a great choice for families looking for a reliable MPV hire. Above-average performance and excellent fuel economy make the Alhambra the first choice of many when hiring an MPV. Amazingly quiet for its size, it also has taut handling and feels remarkably responsive to drive. It has an excellent safety record it’s easy to drive and it’s extremely well-equipped. On the downside, the sheer size of the Alhambra means that parking can be a bit problematic. One small niggling point, the back seats take a bit of manoeuvring before folding away. However, a few small niggles are more than compensated by the money you’ll save on hiring this car.