Some drivers may need to transport a lot of people at once, so many in fact that not even a seven-seater family car is big enough for the job.
If you need a car that includes at least eight seats onboard, then admittedly your options aren’t huge and virtually each option is based on a van. However, there are still some appealing examples in today’s new car market which combine practicality, comfort and handling in a convincing manner.
Here we pick out four of the best new cars to look out for if you’re looking to buy an eight seater. Some of the entries in this guide actually come with a nine-seater configuration, offering buyers even greater practicality.
Mercedes V-Class
Based on the latest Mercedes Vito van, the V-Class is a huge and classy MPV which is available with six, seven or eight seats. You’ll have to pick the V-Class’s extra-long wheelbase if you want the maximum eight seat configuration.
Whatever its configuration, the V-Class is incredibly roomy and is filled with high quality materials that give it a similar premium feel to smaller Mercedes models. There’s also plenty of boot space, especially if you slide forward the rear bench or take advantage of the various shelfs and collapsible shopping baskets.
The standard equipment list is plentiful too, featuring Bluetooth, sat-nav, heated seats, parking sensors and a reversing camera.
The V-Class also has impressively efficient engines for such a big vehicle. Included is a 2.1-litre diesel unit with 187bhp, hooked up to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which allows the Mercedes to cover the 0-62mph sprint in 9.1 seconds.
Find prices for the Mercedes V-Class MPV
Vauxhall Vivaro Combi
One of the largest vehicles in Vauxhall’s line-up, the latest Vivaro Combi is a van-based passenger vehicle which can measure nearly five and a half metres long with its biggest wheelbase chosen.
The Combi can actually seat up to nine people rather than eight, giving owners flexibility should they find the need to bring yet another passenger. For front, middle and rear passengers there’s plenty of space all-round and the separate air con units for middle and rear passengers is a nice touch.
Even if you fill up every seat the low, easy-to-access boot offers plenty of room and if you remove the rear or middle seats then you can probably fit most of your household or flat items within it.
What also impresses about the Vivaro is how small and easy-going it feels when driving. This is undoubtedly a huge, practical car, but thanks to the large windows that provide good visibility and the nicely weighted steering, it doesn’t feel so big or scary behind the wheel.
Hyundai i800
The i800 is one of the older cars in the current Hyundai range but still delivers versatile eight-seater transport and immense practicality for those motorists that need it at a relatively affordable price.
While its drive and interior quality are nothing really to shout about, that’s not really what you’d buy this car for. The huge, airy cabin and easy access doors are the main strengths of the i800 and it may even surprise you how manoeuvrable it is. This car is so tall that even with every seat up the i800 can offer 851 litres of boot capacity as standard.
The equipment list satisfies too with the likes of air conditioning, adjustable headrests and a radio/CD/MP3 player included.
Find prices for the Hyundai i800 MPV
Peugeot Traveller
Peugeot’s latest van-based MPV is the modern-looking Traveller available in three different lengths. Customers can specify the versatile Traveller with either five, seven, eight or nine seats.
Engines are really frugal for a car of this size, with two 1.6-litre diesels delivering 94bhp and 113bhp and averaging up to 51.3mpg and 55.3mpg respectively. For more oomph, there’s also a 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp or 178bhp and the former can still average over 50mpg.
The total load capacity, depending on wheelbase length and seat configuration, can measure up to a mesmerising 4,900 litres. That’s about the same as the total load space of a few SUVs combined.