7-seater car hire in Nairobi

Which seven-seater?

• Mazda CX-8: a quiet, premium SUV with three rows and the lowest running costs. Best for families on good roads.
• Toyota Prado: four-wheel drive and ground clearance for long drives upcountry and the rainy season.
• Land Cruiser V8: the most space and presence, for VIP family trips and weddings.
• Toyota Alphard: a luxury van with sliding doors and captain seats, always with our chauffeur. The kindest choice for elderly parents.
• Toyota Noah: a practical family van with sliding doors, at a lower daily rate. Seat layouts vary, so we confirm the seats for your dates.

Luggage: the honest guide

Three-row cars trade boot space for seats. As a rule of thumb:

• Seven people and soft bags: fine in any of them.
• Five or six people and big suitcases: fold the third row and the CX-8, Prado or V8 takes the suitcases of a family flying home.
• Seven people and seven big suitcases: you need two cars, or the Alphard plus a second car, or a Toyota Hiace.

Tell us how many people and how many suitcases are coming when you book, and we will tell you honestly whether it fits. Our guide to which car for 5, 7 or 10 people works through common family sizes.

Children and car seats

Third rows suit children and teenagers best. If you need child seats, ask us when you book. Every passenger needs their own seat and seat belt: do not plan on squeezing an extra person in.

Seven-seaters at JKIA

Most seven-seater hires start at the airport with a family and a trolley of bags. Add your flight number and we track your flight; your driver meets you in arrivals with a sign bearing your name and helps load the car. If the luggage will not fit, we will have told you before you fly. See how JKIA car hire works.

Self-drive or with a driver

Every seven-seater except the Alphard can be self-drive. On a long day of family visits, many families add a chauffeur: KES 4,000 ($31 USD / £23 GBP / €28 EUR) a day within Nairobi or KES 5,000 ($39 USD / £29 GBP / €34 EUR) outside, plus food and overnight accommodation away from Nairobi.

December

Seven-seaters are the first cars to go for December. If you are coming home for Christmas, read December car hire in Kenya and book as soon as you know your dates.

How it works at Urban Escape

• Delivered anywhere in Nairobi and JKIA: JKIA arrivals, your hotel or your home. Delivery and collection cost KES 1,000 ($8 USD / £6 GBP / €7 EUR) each way anywhere in Nairobi.
• Flight tracking: add your flight number and your driver works to the real landing time. The evening before you land, we send your driver's name and number on WhatsApp.
• A video walk-round: we film the car with you at handover and again at return, and you leave with a written return receipt.
• 2019 or newer cars: every car is a 2019 model or newer, serviced and cleaned before each hire. In most cases you will know the exact car assigned to you in advance: your booking page shows it, with its licence plate and photos.
• A replacement car if the car has a manufacturer (mechanical) issue.
• 24/7 support: one call or WhatsApp message reaches a person, day or night.

The rules that matter

• Drivers must be 25 or over and have held a full licence for at least 2 years. We can sometimes waive the 2-year rule; ask before you book.
• The minimum hire is 3 days.
• Mileage is unlimited on every car.
• Paved roads only. Game drives only in our Land Cruiser Safari.
• No border crossing: our cars stay in Kenya.

These are the headline rules. The rental agreement you sign for each booking is the one that counts, so check it before you drive. Our rental terms in plain words explain every clause.

Paying today

No credit card is required for checkout. You pay a refundable 30% reservation deposit within 2 hours of booking (card payment link or M-Pesa), and the balance when you see the car, by M-Pesa, bank transfer, credit card or cash. Cancellation is free until the car is handed over. Paying from abroad? Our guide to paying for car hire from abroad explains each option.